In the expansive residency project Re-wilding the System, Urban Projections collaborated with ecologists, geologists, and data specialists to bring attention to the Humber Head Peatlands on Hatfield Moor, Doncaster.

Over three months, Rebecca immersed herself in the landscapes of this rare and endangered habitat, connecting deeply with environmental specialists to interpret the significance of these vital carbon stores and the complex ecosystems they sustain.

The Humber Head Peatlands, comprised of 90% water, are a powerful carbon repository, capturing vast amounts of carbon that are essential for climate balance. Despite covering only 3% of global landmass, peatlands store an estimated 25% of soil carbon—double that of all the world’s forests. Yet these landscapes are also under threat, with exploitation leading to significant carbon emissions. This residency aimed to bring forward the ecological importance of peatlands and inspire meaningful conversations about their conservation.

The residency began with a guided walk through Hatfield Moor with Mick Oliver, a dedicated conservationist and former mining surveyor. Oliver’s insights on the moor’s ancient pathways, native flora and fauna, and unique ecology provided a foundational understanding for the project. Details of peat-forming sphagnum moss, cotton grasses, and the hidden network of mycelium set the stage for an in-depth exploration of the peatland’s delicate balance.

Simon Pickles, an ecologist from the North & East Yorkshire Ecological Data Centre, then led an intensive lab session to demonstrate data capture techniques. The range of methods, from traditional surveying to high-tech ecological data recording, illuminated how essential non-visual data can be in forming a comprehensive “imprint” of a landscape. Rebecca saw the potential for technology to capture the unseen—ordered yet sometimes chaotic data that reveals layers of existence beyond immediate observation.

As part of this exploration, Rebecca joined a field recording and sonic data capture workshop led by acclaimed field recordist Jez Riley-French, known for his work with the BBC David Attenborough series. Riley-French’s custom-designed microphones capture subtle natural sounds, often undetectable to the human ear. This experience rekindled Smith’s audio background, inviting her to listen with a renewed, critical awareness—creatively and attentively—connecting her back to her roots in sound exploration.

With these foundational experiences, Rebecca began regular trips to the moors, walking through trails and absorbing the dynamic soundscape of warblers and cuckoos. This process also brought forward an interesting personal reflection on the landscape’s effect on the psyche, conjuring mixed feelings of freedom and vulnerability that resonated with Smith’s own childhood experiences in nature.

To capture the moors’ essence, Rebecca explored multiple forms of data collection, using everything from visual records to biofeedback recordings. One of the residency’s most unique methods involved biofeedback sampling of sphagnum moss to capture its electrical conductivity as it photosynthesised. Using a Plantwave device, these electrical fluctuations were converted into MIDI data, opening a way to “hear” the moor’s plants. This novel approach allowed her to create a resonant audio-visual experience that conveyed the peatlands’ “conversations”—a new way of listening to the land’s life force.

Through Re-wilding the System, Rebecca has created a multi-dimensional narrative that connects viewers with the fragile and essential nature of peatland ecosystems. This residency underscored the urgent need for conservation and presented a unique vision of the intimate, interconnected world of the Humber Head Peatlands, inspiring audiences to cherish and protect these invaluable natural landscapes.