A SCULPTURE which has been inspired by fields of grain has been unveiled at a roundabout in Bury St Edmunds.

Today the artwork called With the Grain and a planting scheme was launched at the King’s Road roundabout at Parkway.

It is the result of a joint project co-ordinated by Bury in Bloom with the Bury Society, St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Bury St Edmunds Town Council.

Representatives from the organisations involved in the transformation of the roundabout attended the launch party, which was hosted by Handlesbanken in King’s Road.

The sculpture has been designed by local resident Roy Proctor, who is a member of Bury in Bloom and the Bury Society, and forged by Stowlangtoft blacksmith Nigel Kaines.

Mr Proctor, who is an artist, was inspired by the fields of grain he saw as a child.

He said: “I think Bury St Edmunds sits in a hugely productive cereal growing area and I think the sculpture reflects that and also Bury’s link with agriculture over the years.

“And I think it’s quite significant that we have put the sculpture here in that we are on a fairly high piece of ground and within a stone’s throw from here there were, centuries ago, many windmills grinding corn.”

Mr Kaines works from his forge in Stowlangtoft and has been involved with a number of projects in the town including the sculpture of St Edmund on the Risbygate Street roundabout.

Simon Pott, chairman of Bury in Bloom, said he had “really produced it beautifully”.

Caroline Brown, the borough council’s area parks officer, has designed a sustainable planting scheme that will complement the four-metre high sculpture.

Woolpit Nurseries has provided the unusual planting which will come to maturity over the next few months as the warmer weather arrives.

Melanie Lesser, Bury in Bloom co-ordinator, said: “This sculpture will complete the landscaping work on the Parkway scheme which has been ongoing over the past three years. Starting at St Edmund on Risbygate roundabout the scheme continues with sustainable planting along the central reservation and up to the With the Grain sculpture on the Kings Road roundabout. All the planting schemes have been chosen to try and ensure all year round colour and interest.

“Bury in Bloom are delighted to be working together with local groups who all have the common aim of ensuring Bury St Edmunds continues as an exceptional historic and floral town for both residents and visitors to enjoy.”

Havebury Housing Partnership currently sponsors the King’s Road roundabout.

Contact Mrs Lesser if you are interested in sponsoring other roundabouts around the town. Telephone 01284 766955.