5. Flow

“I look down at my feet, not quite sure how I’m going to follow the course of the river North Tyne from its source to the sea when I’m having trouble putting one foot in front of the other”.

So says wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson as he recalls a journey he made, capturing the sounds of the river and the landscape through which it flows from its source to the sea.

This is an immersive journey in sound through moorland, bogs, rushy flats and steep valleys, past scrapyards and rowing clubs, under bridges and past ferry landings and through the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Then heading out to the Black Middens and the sea at Tynemouth where eider ducks bow and coo in the swell.

Narrated and recorded by Chris Watson.

Last of five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.

Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson

Natural History Unit Producer: Sarah Blunt

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2016.