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A week later we gathered beneath the copper beech. Each tin was opened slowly. Inside lay our charcoal. Hard.
Soft. Blue-black.
Others carrying a faint golden sheen. Even the tins had changed-
their interiors studded with tarry black bubbles that Isa couldn't resist popping with his fingers. Only then did we remember to draw. Tree → wood → charcoal → mark. Circle complete. On leaving we scattered a little charcoal beneath the beech that had sheltered us. A small gift in retur

"This is the moment the wood changes state." Steam escaped from the tiny holes drilled into each lid. Inside the tins, wood slowly surrendered all except carbon. Around the fire there was conversation...
tea...
waiting... "Next week we'll discover what happened."

Once, moose stripped the bark of wild maple
foraging for its sweet under-layers through winter. Our own gathering was gentler. Sycamore peeled easily.
Its wet, soapy wood revealed beneath the bark. Stems were cut, packed tightly in a tin and made ready for fire. A reused shortbread tin-
still carrying the image of a moose. Almost by accident, the story came full circle.

A small experiment beneath the trees. A thin shaving from a Horse Chestnut twig placed in water. Within minutes the liquid began to glow under ultraviolet light. An effect of the natural compound, aesculin found in its seeds, bark, leaves, flowers, twigs and sap. Even now, the tree continues to reveal unexpected properties. There may be future Barrow Man experiments with light.

A small experiment beneath the trees. A thin shaving from a Horse Chestnut twig placed in water. Within minutes the liquid began to glow under ultraviolet light. An effect of the natural compound, aesculin found in its seeds, bark, leaves, flowers, twigs and sap. Even now, the tree continues to reveal unexpected properties. There may be future Barrow Man experiments with light.

Dandelion Root Coffee ‘It tastes’, said Annette, ‘of vegetation’ ‘and bitter’ said Gill Roots ran deep

About a tree or three Murmuring fizzes, pops, ticks ‘Morse code’ from silent partners ‘A gentle shoosh of a waterfall’ They wrote.

On Saturday a small research team conducted comparative bark texture analysis through surface mapping techniques to trace the outer bark morphology of participating tree species. A knotted world of interconnected forces partially grasped. Participants: Waheeda, Hazel, Gill and The Barrow Man with Dawn Redwood, Walnut, Kanzan cherry, Crimson King Maple and Weeping Ash.

David enjoying his walk Robin his run. Paused by the barrow Admiring the park

Neil showed me Willow Springing shoots From a fading trunk Can it lend itself to artist’s charcoal?

Wandering, looking listening. On a cold morning. Spring can't be too far away

Artist Waheeda Kothdiwala will assist me in delivering the project and we are looking forward to sharing ideas. Last week we spoke about oak galls and ink.

The Crow Nest of the 1880s shown in this map, is surrounded by dour Victorian terraces, many back to back. The park was created and opened to the public in 1893 and the area had little changed when I arrived off The Eightlands Road in 1954. Our family were moved away in 1965 when many of the smoky stone streets were demolished. The park was our only green space in a tightly knit warren with no trees or gardens. It's interesting to look back, to be back and to look forward to

By the Pond we fed the swans. It’s been happening in this park for over one hundred years. What’s our relationship with the swans today?

At the old hawthorn by the pond. Nancy said her Irish dad used to warn her to never damage a Hawthorn tree, use its dead branches or bring their flowers into the home as it brings bad luck. There might be crock of gold buried underneath it but you'd come into troubles if you dug it up! We gave it a green ribband.

Inside the Egg facing front. Circa 2017 The inside front of my new book is a duotone of the inside front of the Exbury Egg and the inside back is a duotone of the inside back. They top and tail 184 pages of stories, poems, speculation, art, mythology, science and alchemy illuminating the Eggman's particular view of the world at a time of environmental, spiritual and economic woe. The words arching over the sleeping platform in the image below are a quote from Walden (1854) by

Stephen Turner and Caroline Collier at the Royal Society of Sculptors on 15th February 2023 for the launch of his book

I will be speaking about my project the Exbury Egg and life as its Eggman, as part of Art for Your World for The Royal Society of Sculptors tomorrow. Please follow the link below to book a free place. Stephen Turner's Exbury Egg 9 November 2021 at 6.30pm Artists Talk Royal Society of Sculptors Stephen Turner’s Exbury Egg | Royal Society of Sculptors BOOK NOW

Stephen Turner (Eggman) looking in on the Giudecca Egg Photo ©Calum F Kerr 2021 The Giudecca Egg was made from waste plastic collected and donated by local people on the Venetian Island of Giudecca and exhibited at Palazzetto Tito, the home of the Fondazione Bevilacqua la Masa during La Biennale de Venezia 2019; where it was part of Stephen Turner's exhibition 'Natura Prima?' It was recently recreated as an installation in the Exbury Egg for the Thamesmead Festival 2021 on