Egg base for green art project

Stephen Turner will be nestled in a corner of the Beaulieu Estuary in Hampshire’s New Forest until July next year to investigate 
the connection and disconnection people have with nature against the backdrop of climate change.

Armed only with a chemical toilet, a wood burning stove and electricity from solar panels, plus a small kitchen and living space, Mr Turner will document the landscape including litter that ends up in the estuary.

He has no fridge so food for the year will be dried, found on the estuary or tinned.

He is also aiming to swim in the water all year round as part of the connection with nature for the £140,000 project, funded by Arts Council England, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Hampshire County Council. Local businesses have donated a further £100,000 in materials.

The 58-year-old was approached to take part in the art project by the Winchester-based Spud (Space Placemaking and Urban Design) organisation, and his activity outside the egg is being followed 24 hours a day by two webcams and blogs and question and answer sessions, as part of an educational initiative with schools.

Mr Turner, who has degrees in art and studied the history and philosophy of science, said: “The seas are rising, the established salt marsh is eroding and the shore line is changing and that is happening around the world, and I think our emotional responses to these changes are interesting.”