You Are Here

Levenshulme Old Library

A podcast exploring the hidden stories, voices, and landscapes of Levenshulme’s green spaces. Each episode takes you into a different park in the area, uncovering layers of memory, imagination, and community. Expect evocative short stories inspired by place, real voices from the people who shape these spaces every day, and immersive soundscapes created using field recordings. Whether you know these parks well or are discovering them for the first time, You Are Here invites you to listen in a new way. Episodes include: Story – A newly commissioned short story inspired by the park Portrait of the Park – Local voices Audio Soundscape – An atmospheric journey through sound You Are Here is produced by Levenshulme Old Library. The project was commissioned by The Space and made possible by Arts Council England.

  1. Secret Lake Stories

    20/12/2025

    Secret Lake Stories

    Secret Lake Stories is a soundwork by sound designer and composer Emily Zurowski, recorded on and around a small, enclosed body of water known locally as the Secret Lake, on the border of Levenshulme and Reddish in Greater Manchester. Largely hidden from surrounding streets and reached by footpaths through scrub and woodland, the lake sits within a patchwork of former industrial land, housing, railway edges and informal green space. The piece is centred on the voices of people who know the lake well and spend time there: walkers, neighbours and those who return to it regularly. Their reflections, memories and observations are interwoven with field recordings made at the site, capturing water movement, birdsong and distant human activity. The lake itself originated as part of an industrial-era water system, later falling out of use and gradually becoming rewilded. Over time it has developed into a quiet, unofficial local landmark, shaped as much by neglect and chance as by design. Best experienced on headphones. Composed and created by Emily Zurowski Produced for Levenshulme Old LibraryExecutive producer - Richard V. HirstRecorded on location in 2025 at the Secret Lake To find out more, visit levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk.

    15 min
  2. 5.2 - Field Notes: Knots | Form | Strut

    24/04/2025

    5.2 - Field Notes: Knots | Form | Strut

    Knots | Form | Strut (Cringle Park Soundscape) Sound design by Oscillate A soundscape created using field recordings gathered in Cringle Park Cringle Park presents as a traditional Victorian park - wide paths, open spaces and quiet corners where people pass, pause and play. However at its centre sits a small stone circle whose origins are unclear but whose presence is quietly magnetic. This soundscape captures the layered sonic textures of the park: footsteps, birds and the steady hum of passing lives. Part of You Are Here, a podcast from Levenshulme Old Library featuring five original short stories, soundscapes, and audio portraits inspired by Levenshulme’s parks and green spaces. Produced by Levenshulme Old Library, commissioned by The Space and supported by Arts Council England Explore the full project: levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/you-are-here We’d love to hear what you think - share your feedback here.

    4 min
  3. 5.1 - A Portrait of a Park: Cringle Park

    24/04/2025

    5.1 - A Portrait of a Park: Cringle Park

    Cringle Park – Portrait of the Park Sound design by Oscillscope Cringle Park is a space for walking, sitting, drifting - a park with open paths and quiet corners, home to a mysterious stone circle and the routines of daily life. In this portrait, writer Marie Crook reflects on the role Cringle Park plays in her creative process, and how the textures and rhythms of the space shaped her story, Jean, Darlene, Jacqueline. Part of You Are Here, a podcast from Levenshulme Old Library featuring five original short stories, soundscapes, and portraits inspired by Levenshulme’s parks and green spaces. Produced by Levenshulme Old Library, commissioned by The Space and supported by Arts Council England Explore the full project: levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/you-are-here We’d love to hear what you think - share your feedback here.

    12 min
  4. 5.0 - Jean, Darlene, Jacqueline by Marie Crook

    24/04/2025

    5.0 - Jean, Darlene, Jacqueline by Marie Crook

    Jean, Darlene, Jacqueline Written and performed by Marie Crook Set in Cringle Park Each morning, Jean puts on a different version of herself - a different wig, a different name. One day, a stranger in her local park mistakes her for someone else entirely. And for a little while, Jean plays along Set in Cringle Park, Jean, Darlene, Jacqueline is a quietly uncanny story about reinvention, care and the longing be someone else. Marie Crook is a writer based in Levenshulme. Her work has appeared in The Real Story, The Caterpillar and Confingo, among others. You Are Here is a podcast from Levenshulme Old Library featuring five original short stories inspired by Levenshulme’s parks and green spaces. Levenshulme Old Library is a community-led arts and culture space in South Manchester. Based in a former Carnegie library, it supports local creativity through workshops, performances and place-based storytelling projects that reflect the neighbourhood’s unique character and voices. The podcast is produced by Levenshulme Old Library, commissioned by The Space, and supported by Arts Council England. Series editor: Richard V. Hirst Production and sound design: Oscillate Explore the full project at: levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/you-are-here We’d love to hear what you think - share your feedback here.

    17 min
  5. 4.2 - Field Notes: Gives | Splice | Agents

    24/04/2025

    4.2 - Field Notes: Gives | Splice | Agents

    Gives | Splice | Agents (Highfield Country Park Soundscape) Sound design by Oscillate A soundscape created using field recordings gathered in Highfield Country Park Highfield Country Park is one of Levenshulme’s largest green spaces - a mix of woodland, meadow, paths and water, where people and wildlife move together through the seasons. This soundscape weaves together fragments of that environment: birds, trees, quiet footfall and distant conversation - creating an immersive portrait of a space that feels both natural and lived-in. Part of You Are Here, a podcast from Levenshulme Old Library featuring five original short stories, soundscapes, and audio portraits inspired by Levenshulme’s parks and green spaces. Produced by Levenshulme Old Library, commissioned by The Space and supported by Arts Council England. Explore the full project: levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/you-are-here We’d love to hear what you think - share your feedback here.

    6 min
  6. 4.1 - A Portrait of a Park: Highfield Country Park

    24/04/2025

    4.1 - A Portrait of a Park: Highfield Country Park

    Highfield Country Park – Portrait of the Park Produced by Levenshulme Old Library Sound design by Oscilloscope Highfield Country Park stretches across woodland, open ground and winding trails - a space for wandering, noticing and sometimes getting a little lost. In this portrait, writer Dipika Mummery shares her personal connection to Highfield, reflecting on how its landscape and wildlife shaped her story, Parakeet. Part of You Are Here, a podcast from Levenshulme Old Library featuring five original short stories, soundscapes, and portraits inspired by Levenshulme’s parks and green spaces. Produced by Levenshulme Old Library, commissioned by The Space and supported by Arts Council England Explore the full project: levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/you-are-here We’d love to hear what you think - share your feedback here.

    10 min
  7. 4.0 - Parakeet by Dipika Mummery

    24/04/2025

    4.0 - Parakeet by Dipika Mummery

    Parakeet Written and performed by Dipika Mummery Set in Highfield Country Park As snow falls on Highfield Country Park, Neena walks with her partner Mo. He’s made a decision - one that could take them away from the life they’ve built together. Parakeet is a quiet, powerful story about belonging, uncertainty, and what it means to put down roots. Dipika Mummery has written short stories and flash fiction across genres including sci-fi, fantasy, realist fiction and horror. Her work has been published by Comma Press, Arachne Press, Fox & Windmill, Tasavvur, and Fly on the Wall Press. She has an MA in Creative Writing from The University of Manchester and is currently working on a novel. You Are Here is a podcast from Levenshulme Old Library featuring five original short stories inspired by Levenshulme’s parks and green spaces. Levenshulme Old Library is a community-led arts and culture space in South Manchester. Based in a former Carnegie library, it supports local creativity through workshops, performances and place-based storytelling projects that reflect the neighbourhood’s unique character and voices. The podcast is produced by Levenshulme Old Library, commissioned by The Space, and supported by Arts Council England. Series editor: Richard V. Hirst Production and sound design: Oscillate Explore the full project at: levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/you-are-here We’d love to hear what you think - share your feedback here.

    18 min
  8. 3.2 - Field Notes: Lease | Moves | Slower

    24/04/2025

    3.2 - Field Notes: Lease | Moves | Slower

    Lease | Moves | Slower (Chapel Street Park Soundscape) Sound design by Oscillate An audio piece created using field recordings gathered in Chapel Street Park Tucked behind terraced streets, not far from the railway, between a primary school and a pub, Chapel Street Park is a quiet, open space threaded with memory and movement. This soundscape brings together the ambient textures of the park, creating a layered listening experience that captures the pace and rhythms of the place. Part of You Are Here, a podcast from Levenshulme Old Library featuring five original short stories, soundscapes, and audio portraits inspired by Levenshulme’s parks and green spaces. Produced by Levenshulme Old Library, commissioned by The Space and supported by Arts Council England. Explore the full project here: levenshulmeoldlibrary.org.uk/you-are-here We’d love to hear what you think - share your feedback here.

    5 min
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About

A podcast exploring the hidden stories, voices, and landscapes of Levenshulme’s green spaces. Each episode takes you into a different park in the area, uncovering layers of memory, imagination, and community. Expect evocative short stories inspired by place, real voices from the people who shape these spaces every day, and immersive soundscapes created using field recordings. Whether you know these parks well or are discovering them for the first time, You Are Here invites you to listen in a new way. Episodes include: Story – A newly commissioned short story inspired by the park Portrait of the Park – Local voices Audio Soundscape – An atmospheric journey through sound You Are Here is produced by Levenshulme Old Library. The project was commissioned by The Space and made possible by Arts Council England.

Information

  • Creator
    Levenshulme Old Library
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Levenshulme Old Library
  • Show Website
    You Are Here