Location : KCC Residential Youth Centre, Hardelot, Nor Pas de Calais, France

Eight young people from Kent, and ten from Nor Pas de Calais, came together on a five day course during March 1994. The aim of the residential week was to introduce the youths to environmental art. Hardelot Centre is set in eight acres of woodland, and is part of a much wider ranging forest which covers miles of sand dunes, on a coastal fringe of northern France.

My most important concern was to tune the teenagers to the environment of the forest, and to help them to see the gifts it has to offer. Collaborating with my French counterpart, Jean Paul Battas, we gave talks and showed slides and videos on many environmental artists and their work. In just three full days, ten sculptures were produced, celebrating themes from nature. The work came essentially from the young artists, with suggestions and positive criticism from Jean Paul and myself.