WATCH: Birdsong 'tweet tree' getting Merry Hill shoppers feeling chirpy
A "tweet tree" has been installed at a Black Country shopping centre in a bid to help people relax during their visit.
Shoppers at intu Merry Hill can now listen to soothing songs from British birds underneath a cherry blossom tree at the site.
The sounds, which feature on a 10-minute track, feature a blackbird, nightingale, robin and wren along with other songbirds.
LISTEN to the birdsong here:
The tree is an artwork with music created by Bafta-winning ambient music producer Laurence Love Greed and is one of several which were installed at intu shopping centres nationwide on Thursday.
It follows research conducted on behalf of the shopping centre which found 79 per cent of people in the region find listening to a birdsong makes them feel happier.
Mental wellbeing
Wildlife TV presenter Kate Humble, who is backing the campaign, said: "I'm fortunate enough that I wake up to the sound of birdsong most mornings.
"Scientific studies undertaken last year demonstrated that contact with nature – trees, seeing the sky, listening to birds singing – has a hugely beneficial impact on our mental wellbeing.
"So many people shut out the natural sounds around them by wearing headphones to listen to music or podcasts, but they are denying themselves the wonderful effects nature can have on our mental health.
"So I love this initiative from intu to reconnect millions of people with the wonder of birdsong, the most beautiful and beneficial music of all.”
Survey
Thirty six per cent of adults surveyed said they hear fewer birds now then they did 10 years ago and 82 per cent said listening to birdsong helps them relax.
Meanwhile 30 per cent said it helps them to work or study while 34 per cent worried they are losing touch with nature.
Shopper Jennifer Danks, 69, from West Bromwich, said: “We love birds, we feed them every day before we go out. It’s a brilliant idea.”
“It looks very pretty, and I like the sounds of all of the different birds,” added Lynne Collins, 62, from Cradley Heath.
Rob Pickersgill, marketing manager at intu Merry Hill, said: “We’re bringing the sounds of the great outdoors into our centres to encourage our shoppers to reconnect with nature.
"We work really hard to create experiences that will bring a smile to the faces of our customers, and knowing that birdsong is proven to make people happier, we hope our tweet tree will bring joy to our shoppers and help them leave happier than when they arrived.”
