Residents on the Isle of Wight are being asked to help flush away the taboo around poo by donating their own for an exhibition which could tour the UK.

The National Poo Museum, in Sandown, is encouraging the community - and maybe even some public figures - to be brave enough to take part in the scheme.

Daniel Roberts, one of the museum's directors, said he knows it (literally) takes guts but he is hoping the project can "get the country talking about their poo in a good way".

He told the County Press: "It is to tackle this taboo that was creating a neglect around such an important topic of life".

"Poo is something which is part of everyone's life and so back in 2016 we started a display of animal poo and that created quite a stir at the time.


How to donate your poo to the National Poo Museum

To organise a donation of your poo to the National Poo Museum, email poo.museum@gmail.com.


"What we've seen over the years is that that taboo has significantly diminished.

"When it's human poo it's quite a different matter.

"People are embarrassed about it and if there's signs something isn't right it takes people too long to go and seek help about it."

Daniel is hoping the project will encourage people to have their poo screened, although he said that would not be done through the museum as they are not medically-qualified.

Read more: Popular Isle of Wight attraction National Poo Museum's next targets

He said the project is mainly about "creating a culture of change" and ending the taboo.

Those willing to donate their poo should contact the museum, which will then provide a kit so people can cleanly collect a sample.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Although each number two will be anonymous, participants will be asked to provide a personal message alongside their donations, which will not be.

"You can't really tackle the taboo while hiding", he said.

"We're looking for people brave enough to be identified as being part of the project."

Daniel said he will be displaying his own as it would be "quite wrong" to ask others to do so, and then not take part himself.

Although still in the early stages, the plan is to have an illuminated aquarium of (preserved) floaters and have the exhibit tour libraries on the Island.

After that, it is hoped it will go UK-wide.

The project is very much at the collecting stage, Daniel said, and he already has some donations in the pipeline.

Leaflets are being sent out to members of the community.

To run alongside this, the National Poo Museum, Bath University and charity Guts UK are organising a nationwide stool survey using the Bristol Stool Scale.