Researchers: Dr Balandino Di Donato and Dr Brian Davison
Pentland Hills, July 2025
Soundscapes play a fundamental role in shaping the experience of natural parks. For both visitors and wildlife, the sounds of a landscape—chirping birds, rustling leaves, flowing water—create a unique atmosphere that fosters tranquillity, immersion, and ecological harmony. However, human-made sounds, or “anthrophony,” especially from drones, increasingly interrupt these experiences. This is particularly concerning in the Pentland Hills, a popular natural destination in Scotland, where drone activity is on the rise as enthusiasts capture aerial footage.
This project, Echoes of Nature, invited the public to participate in a soundwalk through the Pentland Hills. Guided by a team led by Dr Balandino Di Donato and Dr Brian Davison, and support from Christine Surridge and Valeriano Bosso, participants experienced and evaluated natural soundscapes while drones fly overhead, replicating real-life disruptions caused by drones.
The project raised awareness about this emerging conservation issue and educated participants on how to protect natural acoustic environments, which is a new and meaningful aspect of environmental stewardship.
The public engagement activity also helped participants experience first-hand the impact of drones on the natural soundscape, offering valuable perspective on the unintended consequences of human activities on both visitors and wildlife.
This activity attracted participants by creating a space for community interaction. Through shared activities like the soundwalking and the feedback sessions, participants connected with others who share a love for nature and conservation values. This sense of community enriched the experience, allowing attendees to share perspectives, deepen their connection to the environment, and engage in a meaningful dialogue about conservation.
In addition to engage with the community, we also collected data about people’s perception of the soundscape using the ISO 12913-2 soundscape standard ( and participants’ interviews as methodology, which results will be published through a conference paper soon.