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Ipswich's third St Elizabeth Hospice art trail arrives

BBC Future Holder - part of the Big Hoot trail in IpswichBBC
Future Holder, painted by Indigo Price, is the name of this owl on Ipswich's Cornhill

A parliament of owl sculptures has landed in a town as part of a charity art trail.

Some 50 decorated models have swooped into Ipswich as part of St Elizabeth Hospice's Big Hoot Ipswich 2022.

Owls were chosen as the charity has taken patients with progressive illnesses, and their families, "under the wing of its care" for 33 years.

The fundraiser is being officially launched with a sponsored walk around the 3.1-mile (5km) trail.

Luke Deal/BBC Owls painted on to one of the sculpturesLuke Deal/BBC
Different images have been painted on to the sculptures that will be dotted around Ipswich

The "Hoot Hike" would give people the chance to catch a "first glimpse of some of the sculptures", said Joanne Rodger, events and challenges manager at St Elizabeth Hospice.

The sculptures will be in place until 3 September, in what has been described by the charity as the "biggest free art event in Suffolk".

It is the charity's third art trail in partnership with creative producers Wild in Art, following Pigs Gone Wild in 2016 and Elmer's Big Parade Suffolk in 2019.

Elmer's Big Parade Suffolk raised £260,000.

Frutti Hooti - part of the Big Hoot trail in Ipswich
Frutti Hooti, painted by Alison Calvebert-Rearden, watches over the St Matthew's Street/Civic Drive roundabout outside BBC Suffolk
St Elizabeth Hospice The backs of some of the painted owlsSt Elizabeth Hospice
The art event will be held in Ipswich until 3 September
Luke Deal/BBC The Ipswich Town shirt painted on to one of the owlsLuke Deal/BBC
The Ipswich Town shirt has been painted on to one of the owls
Luke Deal/BBC An image of owls wearing hats that has been painted on to one of the sculpturesLuke Deal/BBC
The sculpture trail is 3.1 miles (5km) and is being launched with a sponsored walk
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