past events
SongPath Durham 2026
words we gathered as pleasant flowers
Durham University Botanic Garden
In June 2026 SongPath came to Durham as part of MUSICON series.
We heard singing under the trees with SongPath co-founders Joanna Harries and Jess Dandy, unearthed poetry in the glasshouse, followed clarinettist Jessica Lee through the bamboo, joined a cuckoo chorus in the woodland, a handbell choir by the foxgloves and nourished a new work by composer James Weeks into existence.
SongPath Brighton 2025
in nature nothing is perfect and everything is perfect
Stanmer Park, Brighton
In October 2025 SongPath came to Brighton Early Music Festival and the beautiful Stanmer Park. Joining singer and SongPath co-founder Joanna Harries were Adrian Butterfield (violin), Angela Hicks (soprano) and Nick Casey from Brighton Permaculture Trust.
We had music from Purcell, Handel, Bach, Morley, Lanier, and de Boussett, apple wassails and apple juice tasting in the orchard and everyone singing a 13th century round about the coming of autumn.
“I just wanted to say how wonderful the SongPath was today. A real treat and so grounding”
SongPath London 2025
where all is green
Royal College of Physicians' gardens, London
In March 2025 SongPath came to London for the first time as part of the London Handel Festival, with a musical tour of the Royal College of Physicians‘ gardens.
With the help of Toby Carr (theorbo) and John Newton (Lead Garden Fellow, Royal College of Physicians) we explored the hidden treasure of medicinal plants tucked away in the centre of London. Along the way we discovered Handel beneath a plane tree, mandrakes, songs for insomnia, breathwork and group singing, Hildegard von Bingen’s hymn to greenness, leaf wound dressings, time & thyme. Thank you to Head Gardener Jane Knowles for welcoming us to the gardens!
We also ran a series of free community workshops at Victoria Library, where participants worked on breath and music-making, and wrote their own lullaby over a ground bass.
SongPath Oxford 2024
to be close to the trees as they whisper together
Worcester College Gardens, Oxford
In October 2024 SongPath returned to Oxford International Song Festival for a fourth year for a magical, autumnal visit to the beautiful Worcester College Gardens.
This time our wonderful collaborators were Flora Curzon (violin), Phil Muil (taiji & qigong) and Simon Bagnall (head gardener of Worcester College), and together we heard Purcell beneath the 200 year old giant, veteran trees and Klezmer tunes by the lakeside, explored the taiji elements through music and movement in composer Alex Mills‘ new piece Between Heaven and Earth, sang apple wassails in the orchard and tasted delicious apple juice made from the orchard apples!
We were also joined by Oxfordshire Mind members, who had written a new verse to our Apple Wassail in our series of workshops with their Peer Support groups over the autumn.
SongPath Beverley 2024
now is this meadow fair and green
Beverley, Yorkshire
In May 2024 SongPath came to Beverley Early Music Festival for the first time for an afternoon of walking, music-making and attuning ourselves to some of Beverley’s beautiful green spaces.
Joining singers Jess & Jo was recorder player Olwen Foulkes, whose playing even charmed the cows of Westwood Pastures…From the Coronation Gardens to the meadows, we walked, listened and sang together – before ending with tea overlooking the famous Black Mill.
One attendee noted all the birds that we’d heard as we walked around – chiffchaff, blue tit, great spotted woodpecker, robin…20 species in total!
SongPath Leeds 2024
there is no time like spring, when life's alive in everything
Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds
In April 2024 SongPath returned to the Leeds Lieder festival for a third year, bringing SongPath once more to the 900 year-old ruins of Kirkstall Abbey.
In an afternoon exploring music, dance, poetry breathing, skygazing, and a good cup of tea, SongPath co-founders Jess Dandy and Joanna Harries were joined by multi-instrumentalist and Indian classical music specialist Jesse Bannister and dancers from the Balbir Singh Dance Company.
We also ran three days of free Music & Wellbeing workshops at Kirkstall Abbey across March and April in collaboration with mental health organisation Arts & Minds Network Leeds.
SongPath Oxford 2023
the woods are lovely, dark and deep
Harcourt Arboretum, Oxford
In the autumn of 2023 we returned to Oxford International Song Festival for a third year with a SongPath combining music, words, movement and mindfulness in the beautiful autumnal woods of Harcourt Arboretum.
International shurangiz player Vahid Taremi performed music by Meshkatian in the groves and Phil Muill from the Oxford School of Tai Chi & Qigong led everyone in nature inspired tai chi beneath the trees. Singers & SongPath co-founders Jess Dandy and Joanna Harries sang duets inspired by birdsong and everyone joined in singing folksongs. There was also leaf drawing and woodland teas (Hawthorne and Nettle) under the barn.
We also ran a series of creative music-making workshops for Oxfordshire Mind service users at The Mill, and a group joined us at our event at the Arboretum.
SongPath Leeds 2023
the wandering of the legs gives rise to the wandering of the mind
Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds
In June 2023 SongPath returned to the Leeds Lieder festival for a second year, this time to explore where nature intertwines with Gothic architecture in the 900 year-old ruins of Kirkstall Abbey.
Joining SongPath co-founders Jess Dandy and Joanna Harries were multi-instrumentalist and Indian classical music specialist Jesse Bannister and ecological artist David Haley.
We also ran three free workshops at Kirkstall Abbey in collaboration with mental health organisation Arts & Minds Network Leeds.
SongPath Oxford 2022
not all those who wander are lost
Oxford Botanic Gardens
In October 2022 we returned to Oxford with two SongPaths at Oxford Botanic Garden as part of Oxford Lieder’s festival. We journeyed with a hundred participants through the trees, plants, ponds, and orchard of the historic 400-year-old gardens with acclaimed lutenist Elizabeth Kenny and poet Kate Wakeling, as well as guest speakers Deputy Director of the gardens Chris Thorogood and Associate Professor at Oxford University Department of Psychiatry Kate Saunders. We also premiered a brand new interactive piece “About a Place”, written by composer Alex Mills.
We also gave six free workshops at Oxfordshire Mind over three weeks, working with two groups. As well as group singing and breath work, we created a special song with words by the participants, which we performed at the Botanic Garden events.
SongPath Leeds 2022
hope is the thing with feathers
RSPB St Aidan's, Leeds
In the magnificent spring scenery of RSPB St Aidan’s nature reserve, we explored Leeds’ rich and fertile heritage as part of the Leeds Lieder 2022 festival.
Joining us for music, poetry, science, amazing views and wonderful wildlife (including bitterns, avocets, black terns, skylarks and meadow pipits) were Jesse Bannister (saxophone), Giuliano Modarelli (guitar), Lucas Mander (ornithologist) and Rufus Harrington (psychotherapist).
We also gave two free workshops at Inkwell Arts for Leeds Mind, and offered free tickets to our events at RSPB St Aidan’s.
SongPath Oxford 2021
a green thought in a green shade
Oxford Botanic Gardens
Autumn was the season for planting a SongPath at Oxford Botanic Garden. We created two SongPaths at the Oxford Botanic Garden as part of Oxford Lieder’s 20th anniversary festival, journeying through the trees, plants, ponds, and orchard of the historic 400-year-old gardens, from the mighty Dawn Redwood to the colourful Autumn border.
We also worked with Oxfordshire Mind, giving six free workshops about music and nature and providing free places for service users at our events.
SongPath Cumbria 2019
a song sleeps in all things
Bardsea, Birkrigg Common, Swarthmoor Hall
Our first SongPath event took us on a creative journey in South Cumbria, in partnership with the Ulverston International Music Festival and local branches of Mind. We created a trail bursting with music, song, poetry, meditation and dance from the coastal village of Bardsea on the Furness Peninsula, across Birkrigg Common’s stone circle and woods to Swarthmoor Hall, original home of the Quakers.
Joining our one hundred and twenty walkers were twenty professional classical & folk musicians including internationally renowned concert pianist Martin Roscoe, the Furness Music Centre Community Choir, a newly formed Mind Choir, cognitive behavioural therapist Rufus Harrington and local poet Neil Curry. All gave their time and skills on a voluntary basis.
Everyone, performers and participants, walked together. Those with reduced mobility were provided with a minibus service and people were free to take part in as much or as little of the day as they liked.
In the months leading up to our public event we worked with two local branches of Mind (Mind in Furness & Ulverston Mind), giving free workshops and providing free places at the event for service users. We were thrilled to raise a total of £5796.75 including GiftAid to support their furture work.
Questions?
If you’d like to find out more about SongPath or ask us about an upcoming event, we’d love to hear from you!