Plans revealed for Maid Marian statue in Nottingham

Plans have been unveiled for a new Maid Marian-themed statue in Nottingham city centre.

The statue will be located in the new "rain garden" at the corner of Maid Marian Way and Upper Parliament Street.

It is part of an £8.97m government-funded project to "reshape and regenerate" the Maid Marian Way roundabout and attract more pedestrians to the area.

Nottingham City Council said the artwork was part of a commitment to address the "under-representation" of women in public sculpture in the UK.

The statue, due to be completed by July, is being created using local native plants from around Nottinghamshire, including English oak, silver birch, hawthorn, bluebell, common nettle and alpine pennycress.

The process of creating it will involve foraging and Nottingham City Council said it will reveal details later this year about how the public can get involved.

Polish artist Alicja Biala was selected by Nottingham City Council to create the sculpture.

"I'm excited to spend time in Nottingham and to work with the local community in weaving this sculpture together," she said.

"Every plant included in the work has been chosen for its connection to local folklore and ecological importance, so that the sculpture can grow out of the stories, meanings and habitats of Nottinghamshire."

Funding for the project has come from the government's Future High Streets Fund, which is supporting work to transform the Maid Marian Way area of the city.

A roundabout was turned into a T-junction as part of the Maid Marian Way project in October 2024.

It initially led to complaints from bus company Trentbarton, which said it was causing "significant delays" before the phasing of the traffic lights was changed.

The city council said the artwork was the final phase of the project.

Councillor Linda Woodings, executive member for regional development, growth and transport, said: "Maid Marian Way was previously a run-down, unattractive area of the city - this project has regenerated this area.

"Alicja's design for the statue reflects the city's commitment to go green and become carbon neutral, and it feels great to see the legend of Maid Marian represented in this way."

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