VISITORS to Morwellham Quay will be using remnants of Victorian 'dock dung china' to create a mosaic table and tea set during family art days on August 30 and September 5 and 6.

The free art event is organised by Devon Artist Network as part of its annual celebration of local artistic talent, Devon Open Studios, which runs from September 5 to 20 .

'Dock dung china' gets its name from the street sweepings taken from Plymouth Dock, which contained fishbone and butchers offal and was used to fertilise fields and market gardens around the Tamar.

'Dock dung china' is still found along the foreshores, fields and pathways of the Tamar and Lynher valleys, long after the original fertiliser has rotted away.

Chrissy Wallis, the artist who will be running the project at Morwellham, said: 'This project will be a fun way of learning a little about Victorian life and is environmentally sound in re-using "waste" from 100 years ago.'

She recently completed a commission to create a 'dock dung china' mosaic seat in Fore Street, Saltash.

Chrissy collects materials herself during her daily dog walks in the Danescombe Valley, where the woodland that now covers the land was previously a market garden, covered in the prized dock dung manure.

She said: 'When it rains more china is exposed. People in the area regularly find it in their gardens.'

Visitors can find the art project in the Marquee at Morwellham Quay on August 30 and in the Museum Room on September 5 and 6. Entrance to Morwellham is free, though there is a charge for parking.