Singing Ringing Tree, Wind-activated musical sculpture in Lancashire, England.
The Singing Ringing Tree is a wind-activated musical sculpture in Lancashire, England, made from galvanised steel pipes arranged in a tree-like formation. The pipes extend at different angles from the central body of the sculpture and produce sounds when wind blows across Crown Point.
Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu designed the sculpture in 2004 for the Panopticons project, which aimed to mark the hills of East Lancashire with works of art. The Royal Institute of British Architects awarded the work three years after its unveiling.
Local residents in Burnley often refer to the installation simply as the singing tree and walk up to Crown Point to hear its sounds. Visitors often stand quietly among the pipes and let the wind decide what melody emerges, which shifts with each gust.
The hill sits southeast of Burnley, and the climb to the summit is steep, so sturdy shoes are helpful. On windless days the sculpture remains silent, so a visit during breezy weather rewards you most.
Each pipe has a different internal diameter, so the pitch shifts with the direction of the wind. Some visitors say the sculpture sounds more intense at night when the wind sweeps across the open hills.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
