A-ha! It’s safe to say we’re no stranger to Alan Partridge here in Norwich and Norfolk. And now you can experience his legacy in new way- at Pensthorpe’s Alan Partridge Sound Bath Garden!
After wow-ing at the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival, the 700-acre nature reserve is the garden’s new home- it’s the first permanent sound bath garden in Norfolk! Stop and listen to native Norfolk plants, absorb otherworldly sounds across the seasons and immerse yourself in Pensthorpe’s incredible landscape. In this sound bath garden, nature, art and science blend effortlessly together.
Here, Pensthorpe’s Managing Director, Ben Marshall, tells us what to expect!
The original sketch for the sound bath garden
This garden was originally created to launch Alan Partridge’s podcast, commissioned by Amazon Audible, and wow visitors at the world-famous RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival. Designed by Norfolk-based Carey Garden Design Studio, it brought Alan’s voice and sense of humour to life in a whole new way!
Here at Pensthorpe, the garden is being transformed into a permanent feature that uses bio-sonification, a fascinating technique that turns real-time plant data into sound. Tiny sensors pick up the plants’ natural electrical signals, and a specially designed system converts those signals into music-like soundscapes. On a sunny day, you might hear faster, lighter tones; on a rainy one, deeper, slower sounds. It’s part art installation, part scientific experiment, and completely unique.
We were first approached in late 2024 to see if Pensthorpe could become the garden’s permanent home. At that point, we were under complete blackout. We couldn’t talk about it publicly or even tell most of our own team until after its Hampton Court unveiling. Following the garden’s success at the show, it was generously gifted to us so that it could continue to be enjoyed by visitors well beyond its London debut.
We have carefully rebuilt and reimagined it here as the Biosonification Garden, proudly the first permanent sound garden of its kind in East Anglia. Bringing a Hampton show garden to Norfolk is no small feat! Every element had to be lifted, transported and reinstalled with care to keep its character intact, but also adapted to sit beautifully within our landscape.
The garden is calming and ethereal- take your time to listen to the sounds
Yes! The planting celebrates Norfolk’s natural character, with airy grasses, soft perennials and pollinator-friendly blooms that feel right at home in our countryside. The planting style is deliberately naturalistic, so it has the relaxed, slightly wild feel of a Norfolk meadow. Alongside the planting are sculptural speakers and interactive elements that invite you to get close, listen and engage- a perfect backdrop for Alan’s quirky legacy.
It has to be the sound bath itself. Sitting among the planting and hearing live plant signals turned into music is unexpectedly moving. And because the sound changes with the weather, the season, and the plants’ daily rhythms, every visit feels completely different. It’s a garden you do not just see, but you listen to too. The music the plants produce is ethereal, calming and oddly joyful, the sort of experience that makes you stop in your tracks.
You’ll recognise grasses and plants from Norfolk’s landscape
Absolutely. The garden is included with general admission to Pensthorpe and will open in time for October half-term (from 25 October). Unlike many Hampton Court gardens that only live on in photos, this one is here to stay. Visitors will be able to return across the seasons to hear how the garden’s soundscape evolves as the plants grow, bloom and rest through the year.
Pensthorpe’s mission is to help people connect with nature, through wildlife-rich wetlands, five stunning gardens, and immersive play spaces. The Biosonification Garden adds a completely new dimension to that mission. It is art, science, and technology working together to let visitors experience nature in a totally new way. It is calming, creative, and just a little bit tongue-in-cheek, very Pensthorpe, and very Alan Partridge!
Visit The Alan Partridge Sound Garden at Pensthorpe from October- included in general admission, from £14.95. Book tickets via their website!
