Sounds Wild – Bristol

Sounds Wild uses music, sound, and natural multisensory resources to help us connect with nature.

Sounds Wild is designed to be accessible for Learning Disabled children and young people with complex support needs and their families.

Read more about Sounds Wild on the NHS Forest website.

Upcoming Sessions

Dates

Friday 23rd October 2026

Friday 30th October 2026

More dates coming soon!

Times

Friday 23rd October:

10.30am – 2pm

Friday 30th October:

Morning Session: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Afternoon Session: 2pm – 4pm

Please note, there will be a break / social time within the allotted time above.

Location and Travel

Address

181 Frenchay Park Road, Bristol, BS16 1EL

Parking

There are unmarked parking spaces at the front of the site.
There is additional parking at the Begbrook social club, if needed, which is across the road Frenchay Park Road, Bristol, BS16 1HY.

Families/staff are welcome to drop off and move vehicles if they want to.

Public Transport

Rail: The nearest train station is Filton Abbey Wood. From there, it is a 7 minute taxi ride to Grow Wilder.

Arrival

There will be staff members at Grow Wilder to direct you to
the sessions or you can spot a Soundabout practitioner in
their Soundabout blue tops!

Travel Support

We are delighted to be able to offer financial assistance to families / individuals who may need support with travel arrangements for Bristol Sounds Wild sessions. This has been made possible by the kind support of The Ernest Cook Trust.

Accessibility Information

Our practitioners will be running their session in The Pod and later, in the Willow Circle.

Visitor Centre Accessibility

The pod and kitchen are wheelchair accessible with suitable ramps.

Outdoor Accessibility

Weather permitting, most of the Sounds Wild sessions will be outside. As this is an outdoor venue, the grounds can be bumpy and uneven at times. The site is wheelchair friendly in terms of pathways being wide enough and level.

There are brambles, nettles, teasles, lords and ladies around the site and there is unripe fruit on trees/on the floor – as it to be expected in an outdoor, natural setting. Please take care as you make your way around the site. There is a pond on site, with no fence/barrier around it. Please take care.

Toilet Provision

There is an accessible toilet at the Grow Wilder, unfortunately it is not a ‘Changing Places’ style toilet, the nearest changing places toilet is 1.7 miles away at: Ikea, Eastgate Shopping Centre, BS5 6XX.

The opening times for the changing places toilet at Ikea Bristol is 09:30 – 21:00 on the days of Sounds Wild sessions.

Participant Wellbeing

Staff will take care to keep music and sound levels at a comfortable volume for all participants.

There is plenty of grounds to explore at Grow Wilder, if participants feel overwhelmed or upset, there will be plenty of space for a quiet moment.

If you have any concerns about the wellbeing or safety of anyone attending the sessions please contact Soundabout’s Community Support Lead and Designated Safeguarding Lead, Rebecca on rebeccatunley@soundabout.org.uk or 0773 7051135.

Getting to know you

When you sign up to Soundabout sessions you’ll be invited to share anything you’d like us to know about you. This could be how you communicate, accessibility information, sensory needs, and anything else you want to share. We’ll then use this information to help plan sessions.

You can contact Soundabout’s Community Support Lead, Rebecca, at any time to share information or ask questions.

Group Sizes

There are 8 participant spaces per session available for booking.

These sessions are designed for Learning Disabled people with complex support needs of all ages. Siblings and other family members are also welcome.

Parents / Carers

Participants must be supported by a parent or carer at all times when attending the sessions.

Venue Photos

Inside Space – The Pod

Outside Space – The Willow Circle

Outside Space – Pathways

Outside Space – Outdoor Kitchen

What to wear and bring

As this is an outdoor venue, wear something cool if it’s a warm day, but it’s also advised to bring a jacket or blanket in case it’s chilly in the shade or if it’s not a sunny day. In the case of rainy weather, the practitioners will move indoors or have a gazebo.

Please bring snacks / refreshments with you to have during the break. Please avoid sharing snacks between participants due to allergies. There is an on site cafe that sells sandwiches, snacks and hot/cold drinks.

Participants should have suitable clothing/skin protection for the weather. If hot and sunny weather hats, sunglasses, suncream; if it’s wet – rain protection (i.e. coats/all-in-one rainsuits/ponchos/umbrellas). Long sleeves are always advisable when outside – to
protect skin from bites and scratches. Sturdy footwear (for mobile participants) is also advised.
There is a communal kitchen on site which anyone is welcome to use. Participants/families/staff can get water from here, and
are welcome to make hot drinks or prepare their own food.

Booking Process

Advance booking is essential. Please don’t turn up on the day without booking as there might not be space for you!
We use a booking platform called ‘Enthuse’ for these sessions. You can book using the link below. If you have any issues using the booking system please contact us.
Sessions are ‘Pay-What-You-Can’ with a suggested donation amount and always a £0 option.

Helpful names and faces

Two Soundabout Practitioners will facilitate the sessions.

Isabel Bedford

Music Practitioner

23rd October 2026
30th October 2026

Emma Brookes