Jim was interested in pursuing the theme of soil which was an appropriate choice for a land-based college as many students and staff had this as a common element in their studies and research. Jim collaborated with a number of student groups and individuals, both in the classroom and leisure time, even joining the College football team. In addition, he worked with academics interested in soil structure and those who wished to find new ways to explore the design process. There were various staging posts throughout the residency including a community event in the form of a ‘Labyrinth of Light’ created by students, and experimental work involving measuring the stability and aesthetic qualities of soils mixed with other materials. A turf cut labyrinth in the College campus celebrated the ending of the residency and illustrated Jim’s work for the conference ‘Sculpting the Landscape with Soil’ which involved a wide range of professional disciplines from leading soil scientists to landscape architects. Writtle College was guided by and collaborated with Commissions East to secure the residency, and funded by the Arts Council (The Year of the Artist), Essex County Council (Arts in Essex Awards) and Lloyds Bank.