The National Trust and Golden Tree production company are working on an ambitious project around coastal erosion and the loss of heritage along the Cornish Coast.

Five artists will be working at three different harbours and beaches that are looked after by the National Trust and are affected by coastal erosion - Penberth, Mullion Cove and Godrevy. Each artist’s residency will produce a performance or installation that becomes part of a program of activities during the final weekend of October.

It costs the National Trust around £3,000 per mile along the coast to care and maintain these areas for the benefit of people and wildlife. It is thanks to membership, donations and volunteers that the charity is able to do this.

Programmes such as this one are a chance for people to experience the outdoors in a different way, deepening their understanding and value of the care and conservation that goes into preserving the outdoors and the future these coastlines might have.

Ian Marsh, general manager for West Cornwall said: “The National Trust's core purpose as a charity is to look after special places for ever for everyone. But under influence of the sea many places along the Cornish coast are crumbling, shifting and falling away and we need to be able to understand this and respond to the challenges this poses to us.

“With climate change and rising sea-levels the issues of erosion are becoming increasingly stringent. Perpetually reinforcing harbour walls and cliff faces has proven to be unsustainable. So, as part of caring for a place we sometimes have to let nature take its course. As part of this process we have commissioned Golden Tree to start communicating with local communities, exploring the changes we can expect to see in the long-term."

Penberth Cove will see the creation of a film by renowned Cornish filmmaker Mark Jenkin. Interviews with local people and images of the cove will be captured on a clockwork camera, the black and white film will be hand-processed and set to an original soundtrack by Newlyn musician, Rick Williams.

At Mullion Cove performance-maker Louise Ann Wilson will transpose ideas of palliative care of people onto this ‘dying’ harbour. Learning from a palliative nurse and engaging local residents by creating ‘rituals of retreat’, she will create a walking performance that will take an audience from Poldhu to Mullion cove.

At Godrevy Dutch artist Titia Bouwmeester will create a piece of work that responds to and works with the tide and sea.

The natural environment is under pressure, and these artists will be able to tell this story and story of the Trust’s part in its care, that will bring a new experience to people who visit.

The events will become part of a three-day programme around coastal change. In the weekend of October 28 to 30, people will be able to visit the installation at Godrevy and join the performance on the Lizard, enjoying the artwork and reflect on questions such as what is the best way to retreat? What will we lose when? What does change look like exactly? How can one reduce the pain that comes with losing something that is loved?