The festival will take place from Good Friday [7 April] to Easter Monday [10 April] from 10 am to 5 pm.
Visitors to the festival will see wildlife in mosaics, stone figures in the Garden’s Mediterranean display, sci-fi metal work, plant-like ceramics and in the Garden’s glasshouses huge African carnival faces.
Along with regular artists, the Garden is pleased to introduce four new sculptors to the festival. Toni Burrows will bring her mosaic urban foxes to the Garden; Richard Bindon is a metal artist whose work ranges from nature to sci-fi; ceramicist, Emily Gibbard creates sculptural representations of womanhood and Carol Sherman works with many different materials to create free standing and structural installations.
Nick Wray, Curator of the Botanic Garden, said: "I am delighted we are hosting the festival once again. It’s a great opportunity for local West Country artists to exhibit their work – many who live and work in Bristol and know the Garden well.
"I am especially interested to see Carol Sherman's pieces that are made with the purpose of showcasing them at community events. Our visitors will have the opportunity to be inspired and enjoy the work on display in the Garden as it shakes off its winter slumber and springs into life."
During the event visitors can view and buy sculpture, enjoy demonstrations and even have a go at willow weaving, pottery and stone carving with experts on hand to give tips and advice.
Tez Roberts of Labyrinth Arts will be giving potter’s wheel demonstrations and offering visitors an opportunity to try their hand. She uses a variety of firing methods with Raku and stoneware being her preferred mediums.
Willow weaver Maya Wolf will also be teaching visitors her craft and helping them create willow sculptures to take home.
Wood turner, Geoff Hannis, will be demonstrating his green woodworking skills and this year, for the first time, he will be displaying a collection of bowls turned in 52 different woods. His aim was to make bowl a week out of a different wood to show the diverse woods grown in the UK, and to help him, and others in the woodworking community to better understand their properties.
Other sculptors returning this year with new creations include ceramicists Karen Edwards, Jeremy Baines and Renee Kilburn, Adele Christensen and Aurora Pozniakow (glass art), Joanna Williams (blacksmith artist), Hayley Jones (3d wire sculptures), Frankie Hudson (mosaicist), and Christine Baxter (figurative sculptor).
There will be free guided tours of the Garden throughout the weekend and people will have the opportunity to see the spring flowers and learn about the wonders of the plant world, including many exotic tropical useful plants in the large display glasshouse.
The Friends of the Garden will be running their usual plant sale, selling plants on site. Horticultural books will be given away for anyone who is interested and would like to make a small donation. Refreshments will be available on the West Terrace.
The Easter Sculpture Festival at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden at The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, Bristol, BS9 1JG, will take place from Good Friday, 7 April until Easter Monday, 10 April from 10 am to 5 pm.
Entry to the Botanic Garden Easter Sculpture Festival is adults £10 with gift aid (£11 without); free to University staff, alumni and retired staff, Friends of the Garden, ALL students, children under-18 and carers of visitors.
Tickets can be booked in advance through the online shop.