On April 3rd, 2025, we joyously celebrate the 70th birthday of Martyn Stewart, our co-founder and pioneer in wildlife sound recording. In honor of this milestone, we're thrilled to launch THE LITTLE LISTENING PLANET.

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A Boy Who Listened to the World 

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Martyn's journey began long before he ever held a microphone. When he was just 8 years old, he and his big brother, Alan, would slip away from the noisy streets of Birmingham, England, and disappear into the green, whispering countryside. To some, it was just a forest. To Martyn, it was a whole other world. The rustling leaves carried secrets. The streams murmured ancient lullabies. And the birds? They weren’t just singing—they were telling stories.

 

At 11 years old, Martyn found a way to save those stories. Borrowing his brother’s microphone and tape recorder, he captured the song of a Eurasian Blackbird. That one recording unlocked a lifelong adventure - one that would take him across the planet, collecting the voices of creatures great and small, from the roaring Arctic winds to the tiniest buzzing bees in the Amazon.

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A Keeper of Earth’s Hidden Voices 

 

For over 60 years, Martyn has traveled the world, listening to animals that most of us will never get to meet in person. He’s recorded the deep, wise rumbles of elephants, the splashy chatter of dolphins, and the lonely howls of wolves under a silver moon. But he doesn’t just record sounds—he keeps their stories alive, making sure the voices of our planet are never forgotten.

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That’s why we’re launching THE LISTENING PLANET KIDS - a new way for children (of all ages) to discover these magical sounds and stories, just like Martyn did when he was young. Because the world is full of voices waiting to be heard—and who knows? Maybe YOU will be the next great listener!

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Because when we listen, we learn. And when we learn, we love.