Eye art trail raises £21,000 for The Blossom Charity

The Go on Safari trail, organised by the Blossom Charity in Eye, culminated on Wednesday, September 25 as 42 sculptures went under the hammer. 

Held at The Oaksmere in Eye, bidders joined from near and far to raise more than £21,000 for the charity. 

Bridget McIntyre, founder of the charity, 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. 

Clare Jackson, fundraising manager for the charity (Image: Charlotte Bond)

"The money raised is so important for us to continue the work we do. 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 to their lives."

Now into its sixth year, 2024 was the first time the trail was held in both Eye and Harleston. 

The colourful trail encountered problems with both vandalism and theft while it was on display throughout the summer.

An Ipswich Town-themed statue was destroyed after it was vandalised overnight. The perpetrator came forward to claim responsibility for the damage. 

Charity bosses then opted to move the trail into shop windows around Eye after two of the sculptures were stolen. 

Both of the statues were later returned.

"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," added Clare Jackson, fundraising manager for the charity.  

"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 together well in the end."