New sculptures at the Botanic Garden

Three new permanent sculptures have been installed at the Botanic Garden thanks to an Arts Council funded project.

During the project, Jacky Oliver worked as Artist in Residence at the Botanic Garden in October 2014. Having originally trained in jewellery at the Royal College of Art, she later has been able to utilise her blacksmithing skills to allow her to create metal work on a much larger scale. Her piece, forged from stainless steel, is inspired by the Pin Oak by which it is sited, near the entrance.

As part of the project, Jacky assisted by Nyssa Walster and Lauren Moreland also worked with two local special schools, Ash Field Academy and Birch Wood School to create two additional sculptures.

Inspired by the plants at the Botanic Garden, the students pressed seeds and leaves into clay; the impressions were then used to form bronze casts and assembled to complete the sculptures. These are now on display in the herbaceous borders.