Animal trail sculptures from Eye and Harleston go under the hammer for Blossom Charity

Animal sculptures from a charity’s art trail have raised more than £21,000 after going under the hammer at auction.

The Blossom Charity’s ‘Go on Safari’ trail saw 16 large animals and 27 mini creatures go on display in Eye and Harleston during July.

With everything from a rainbow-themed hippopotamus, a patchwork giraffe and an Ipswich Town-supporting owl, each one was sponsored to help the charity which helps people facing challenges and financial hardship in East Anglia.

The event culminated in an auction held at The Oaksmere, in Eye, on September 25, hosted by auctioneer Hayden Foster from Clarke and Simpson.

Bridget McIntyre, the charity’s founder, said: “It was so great to see all the sculptures in one place and the smiles on people’s faces as they were bidding for their favourite sculpture.

“The money raised is so important for us to continue the work we do and it really does make a difference to people’s lives, whether it’s for someone recovering or suffering from cancer being able to shine on a makeover day or a person attending a programme gaining confidence to make significant changes in their lives.”

This was the sixth trail the charity has put on, but the first one to include Harleston.

The previous five trails, which have included pigs, sheep and benches, and have raised more than £162,000 for the charity, which makes it the biggest event in its calendar.

Clare Jackson, who organised the event, said: “It was a great team effort and I want to thank everyone that helped make it a success – the extremely talented artists, generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers in many guises.

“It was certainly an unusual, emotional rollercoaster this year with one of the sculptures getting vandalised and then two getting stolen and returned, but it all came together well in the end.”

As well the auction, one of the sculptures, a blue eagle owl called Orion, was raffled off and raised more than £500.

Ms Jackson added: “The community spirit that goes into our trails means so much to us and we love that it is a free activity for people to enjoy outdoors.

“I would like to thank all of the artists, sponsors and the public who put so much into the trail. We could not do this without them.”

The next fund-raising event for the charity, entitled ‘Race Across Suffolk’, started today.

Taking inspiration from the BBC’s Race Across the World series, participants have to make their way across the county with a limited budget and no mobile phones.

For more information on the charity, go to www.theblossomcharity.co.uk.