'The Pace of Recovery'

Stainless steel sculpture 'The Pace of Recovery' by Francis Gomila depicting a swan, dated 29th  March 1994.
Located on mini-roundabout at the junction of Festival Way and Marina Drive

The Garden Festival site today:

The main part of site was converted in a retail site and was completed in 1995, it is now known as Festival Park. It was, for the most part, sympathetically treated by St. Modwen Properties who had taken on its management and development.

Much of the parkland, pools and trails have been retained as public open space, and are maturing very well. Some of the gardens, such as the Moorlands Heather Rock Garden and The Rocky Valley, survive with their planting scheme relatively intact. Although most wooden structures have been left to return to nature, Festival Park is actively maintained by groundsmen.

Some sculpture and a large Welsh slate water feature still remains, as does the full-size stone circle. The huge wooden suspension bridge across a wooded ravine remains and can still be used.

There is a large marina on the Trent and Mersey canal. Along the main road on the western edge of the site there is now a large pleasure swimming complex (Water World), a ski-slope, a ten-screen cinema, a ten-pin bowling alley, and a ski run.

Festival Park's large four-star hotel incorporates Etruria Hall, former home of Josiah Wedgwood.

part of the Festival Park retail and leisure site  
In the background is Hanley with the Potteries Shopping Centre
and St. John's church on the right hand side.  

In the background the huge wooden suspension bridge across a wooded ravine

The Festival placed great emphasis on sculpture. Some works still remain on the site, such as this work by Keir Smith.

Keir Smith, 'Windborne - The Phoenix' 1985/6 Bath Stone

full-size stone circle on the Festival Park ridge walk

Etruria Hall, home of Josiah Wedgwood, now part of the Moat House Hotel on the Festival Site