AN ARTIST behind a sculpture, designed to be one of the focal points of a west Suffolk town’s entry for Britain in Bloom, has said he hopes the work will provoke public discussion.

The four-metre high representation of wheat, called With the Grain, is scheduled to be sited on the Kings Road roundabout in Bury St Edmunds by the start of February.

Designed to reflect the market town’s agricultural roots, the steel sculpture has been made by the same artist and blacksmith behind the representation of St Edmund’s martyrdom - located on the nearby Risbygate/Parkway roundabout.

Nigel Kaines, who made the Bury in Bloom-funded work at his forge in Ixworth Road, Stowlangtoft, said the project had taken about six months to complete from receiving the first design.

He added: “The concept and design of the piece originated with an artist called Roy Proctor and Bury In Bloom and we have all worked in conjunction to get where we are now. I’m really pleased with it.”

Mr Kaines, who cut and positioned the mild steel structure by hand, said similarities between the wheat and St Edmund’s arrows were coincidental.

“Any motifs are not intentional, the wheat is stylised but I wasn’t thinking of arrows. I find that different people see the sculpture different ways. People from an agricultural background say ‘It’s wheat’, while others say ‘It’s arrows’.

He added that after his involvement with the Risbygate piece he expects a mixed reaction.

Mr Kaines said: “Most of the people were very positive about the St Edmunds work, but there is always some negatives. I think if something goes up and it generates a discussion then that is a good thing. That is part of what public art is about.”

Melanie Lesser, Bury in Bloom coordinator, said the sculpture is the result of a joint project coordinated by Bury in Bloom that included the Bury Society, the Town Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council.

She added that Caroline Brown a St Edmundsbury’s parks officer has designed a sustainable planting scheme that will complement Mr Proctor and Mr Kaine’s work.

The site will be landscaped by the council shortly before the half-tonne sculpture, which is currently oxidising to achieve a more weathered look, is put into place.

n Roundabouts around the town are available to sponsor through Bury in Bloom. Havebury Housing Partnership currently sponsor the Kings Road roundabout.

If you are interested in sponsoring a roundabout call Melanie Lesser on 01284 766955.