It has been just over a month since the 115 owl statues made Ipswich their home as part of St Elizabeth Hospice’s Big Hoot Ipswich 2022.
50 Big Hoot and 65 Little Hoots have been nesting in Suffolk’s county town, bringing a sea of colour and creativity as part of the third art trail brought to Ipswich by the hospice in partnership with creative producers Wild in Art, following the success of Pigs Gone Wild 2016 and Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk 2019.
Since the trail launch on 19th June, the official Big Hoot app (available to download from the App Store and Google Play) has captured some amazing Hoot related statistics from hospice supporters and art trail enthusiasts. These include: over 6,100 miles being walked and more than 196, 500 sculpture collections recorded by participants in the trail, who have downloaded the app for their smartphone.
Celia Joseph, community relationships fundraising manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “We have been thrilled to see so many people of all ages engaging with the Big Hoot Ipswich 2022, learning more about the hospice’s work and supporting local businesses.
“It has been a brilliant start to the trail and we encourage you all to get out there and have a hoot exploring the trail before it closes in September!”
With the hospice’s previous art trails, Pigs Gone Wild 2016 and Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk 2019, generating both awareness for St Elizabeth Hospice and footfall for Ipswich – Pigs Gone Wild 2016, alone, brought an extra £1 million to Ipswich’s economy – the hospice team spoke to a number of local businesses supporting the Big Hoot Ipswich 2022, to see how the first month of the Hoot had been for them.
John Fender, Shop Owner of Music World, Queen Street, where Ozzie the Little Hoot is nesting, said: “There has been a big increase in footfall to the shop and the town centre, as lots of families have come to see all the owls and take photos with the statues.
“We have even sold quite a few ukuleles, which are near our Little Hoot, Ozzie, in our shop window, as people have come in after taking part in the trail.
“The Big Hoot has been a genuine positive for the town, while it also raises awareness for the hospice and the great job the team do there.”
Jennie Debenham, owner of Hullabaloo, St Peter’s Street, where the Little Hoot – Happy Hoots – can be found added:“Loads of people have been coming into Hullabaloo because of the Big Hoot, it makes people more aware of the independent shops on the St Peter’s Street and throughout Ipswich.
“All our staff love our Little Hoot statue and have been so pleased to see the trail bringing the town to life.”
While Charley Wynn and her daughter Millie explored the trail in July and said: “It has been a brilliant morning for us, finding all the Hoots. We have seen lots of the owls and they are all really cute.
“This is the first time we have taken part in one of the hospice’s art trails, but it is a great way of spending time together as a family.”
As part of the Big Hoot Ipswich 2022, 50 ornately decorated owl sculptures, featuring a range of designs have made their nests throughout Ipswich. These will be available for everyone to view and enjoy between 19th June and 3rd September, as part of the biggest free art event in Suffolk which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town.
For more information about the Big Hoot 2022 go to thebighoot.co.uk.