International prize winner to add artworks to Groby’s new Sensory Garden

August 2025   Groby Parish Council is seeking sponsors for artworks at a new sensory garden planned for Marina Park, with easy access for all adjoining the car park.  Local resident Nicola Wood is working with the Council on producing the artworks, which will complement the planting scheme.  Those who do not recognise or remember Nicola’s name will probably have seen the mural she created for the Newtown Linford Lane side of the Community Library, or some years ago may even have seen her large scale sand sculpture, described by Sven Eriksson as “really amazing,” at Leicester City Library.

And then there’s her many TV appearances,  having presented CBBC’s Deadly Art, where she introduced young audiences to a wide range of artistic techniques while creating large-scale works inspired by the animals of Deadly 60 with Steve Backshall. Or perhaps on Britain and the Sea with David Dimbleby, Live ‘n’ Deadly, This Morning, Fish Fight with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Countryfile, or Newsround . She has also shared her expertise in radio features, appearing as an art expert across various programmes.

Despite her international experiences Nicola has returned to the County in which she was born.   “Leicester means a lot to me as I grew up here,” she explained.  “I’ve travelled in many different countries, all with something brilliant to offer.  But my roots are in Leicester and my memories are in Leicester.”

Nicola, educated at South Charnwood High School and the De Montfort University, now works primarily from her home studio in Groby, where she balances creative work with raising her three children.

So what happened in between?

She became internationally recognised for her  sculptures crafted from natural materials such as sand, snow, ice, and earth.   Nicola has travelled to Australia, Indonesia, Europe, Kuwait, America, Canada, Japan and more,  creating large-scale artworks for exhibitions, festivals, and museums. 

After working as a  accomplished portrait painter, painting and drawing commissions for galleries, exhibitions and celebrities, she discovered a passion for sculpture. She directed the Weston Sand Sculpture Festival for 15 successful years, helping establish the UK as a key player on the international sand art scene.

The Sensory Garden artworks

Nicola’s sculptures have won multiple awards, including 2 Gold Medals at the World Sculpting Championships. Her work outdoors at the Groby Sensory Garden will be of a much more permanent nature, creating a number of 4 foot square long lasting weather resistant  murals at the rear of the garden. Subjects being considered are a ladybird, bee, butterfly, dragon fly, caterpillar, frog and robin.

Would you like to be a sponsor?

Around £300 per mural needs to be raised by sponsorship, and the donors good deed will be recognised on an acknowledgement board.  Sponsors will have the opportunity to choose which mural they wish to fund.  Businesses, organisations or individuals are all welcomed as sponsors for this project, and anyone interested should contact the Parish clerk’s office on 0116 287 6985, by email at admin@grobyparishcouncil.gov.uk, or by using the contact form at https://grobyparishcouncil.gov.uk.

But what is a Sensory Garden?

Sensory gardens are designed to engage the five senses of Sight, Smell, Sound, Taste and Touch, offering a unique and multi-sensory experience. They are designed to be accessible and enjoyable for people of all ages and abilities, including those with disabilities.

The work to create the garden is about to begin, with an official opening probably late September.

Want to see Nicola’s work?

Go to @nicola.wood.art.

Wildflower bed would be managed to avoid traffic hazard

April 2023  The housing development on Highway Close is no stranger to controversy. Originally the route of the old A50 by-pass, residents were alarmed when the County Council put it up for sale for development. Despite local opposition planning permission was eventually granted by the Borough Council.

This didn’t end the controversial nature of the development and an argument ensued with the developers, who felt it was unjust that they should pay the financial infrastructure contributions agreed as part of the granting of planning consent. With this resolved the next controversy related to the overgrown condition of the open space at the intersection of Highway Close and Leicester Road. This created a hazard for vehicles joining Leicester Road. Although not a Parish Council responsibility, clearance work and improvements were done with the co-operation of Borough and County Councillors.

Once resolved, residents may have assumed that all was quiet on this south eastern front. Until the Parish Council initiated a consultation on a wildflower scheme for the Leicester Road verge. Some residents are concerned that this plan could adversely affect visibility for vehicles leaving Highway Close, and increase the risk of accidents.

One resident raised the issue during Public Participation at a monthly Parish Council meeting. Public participation is part of the long standing open door policy of the Council, and it enables residents to raise concerns about items scheduled for discussion. She said that the junction was very dangerous until the overgrown verges were cut back and although she was in favour of planting wildflowers she thought that this was the wrong location.

The Council shares her concerns about the safety of the junction, but feels that using the right plants in the right place will ensure a hazard is not created. A spokesperson explained that part of the verge would continue to be grassed and suitable for regular mowing, and part would be wildflowers. They would not be the 2 to 3 foot high long grasses or weeds sometimes seen, but would be low profile ground cover plants. If it is approved the wildflowers will be restricted to that part of the verge where they would not cause a visibility risk.

The proposal is part of the Parish Council’s initiatives to improve the environment of the village. The hanging baskets have been a great success, and it’s thought that the strategic placing and careful management of wildflower beds will give similar benefits.

Anyone who wants to plan a nectar-rich, low profile wildflower meadow at home, ideal for situations where more visibility is required, should google wildflower low profile.