You will be interested to know the Cast Bronze sculpture adjacent to the Stoke Library is the work of Nelson sculptor Grant Palliser & was installed in December 1996. It is titled – Oracle, two piece sculpture of the fingers & thumb of a hand. The hand emerges from the ground in a cradling fashion inspired by advice “never let an opportunity slip through your fingers”. The piece has been described as a “sheltering hand”, related to the sheltering band of hills surrounding Nelson & represents the artistic hand of many craftspeople in our region. The sculpture includes several endangered native snails (Powelliphanta), under threat from forestry, climbing their way up the underside of the thumb. Their slow progress signifies the inability of some creatures to adapt quickly to change. They are representative of hanging on to the good things about Nelson & the things of the past.