9th May 2021 • RSPB Highnam Woods, Gloucestershire

Listen, and look up, as the finest musicians in the land duet with the sweet sounds of the nightingale.

Come on this singular and memorable journey with us, as darkness falls upon the springtime woodlands of southern England.

Each year, for a short period mid-April, a few thousand nightingales fly to southern UK from Africa. They can be heard in just a small number of special locations, taking up songful residence after dusk. The territorial males serenade loyally each night for no more than six weeks among the blackthorn and forest margins, giving unbelievable privilege to those who know where to go.

Running from 7pm through to 12:30am, this is not a typical gig, and each night is unique. Enjoy an escape into nature, learn about these majestic birds, and marvel at the incredible human-avian musical collaboration.

Your ticket includes dinner and drinks provided round the campfire.

Tickets are extremely limited, with a maximum of 30 places per night.

Special guest musicians for this date are Julie Murphy and Ceri Matthews.

Julie Murphy (voice and shruti box) and Ceri Rhys Matthews (flute) are founder members of groundbreaking Welsh folk group fernhill. Together they perform traditional songs and dance tunes from Wales and beyond, with particular emphasis on the music and poetry of West Wales.

For more information on Singing With Nightingales please click here.

What our audiences say:

“…lying under the stars listening to the nightingales everything lifted…Thank you so much.” – Janet

“It was, as promised, magical” – Dan Damon, BBC R4

“Still aglow. One of the most profound and magical nights of my life.” – John M

“It was just wonderful from beginning to end and is a very special memory.” – Caroline J

“The food and hospitality were wonderful, the music was spellbinding and the atmosphere was really very special indeed.” – Alison S

“What an experience; the company, the camp fire, the food, the (human) singing, the woods, the flowers and trees, the stars, the nightingales and other birds singing. Wow! Never to be forgotten.” – Colin & Marianne

“It was quite magical being in the woods as the wind dropped and the campfire warmed us. I thought we may hear one or two nightingales, but not four or five. Quite surreal!” – Kate L

“The food was delicious. The farm was a lovely spot too. I’m still buzzing from such an amazing evening.” – Fiona S

“Nothing could have prepared me however for the uncanny experience of tramping silently through the woods in almost total darkness, completely still and silent save for the echoing songs of numerous nightingales and the hootings of a far-off owl.” – Charles B

“It showed us a new way of hearing, seeing and being. Or perhaps not a new way at all, but a very old way.” – Fiona M