A final call has been issued to Suffolk schools for their chance to get involved in Ipswich’s Pigs Gone Wild art scheme in aid of St Elizabeth’s Hospice.

Ipswich Star: St Margaret�s Primary School were the first to snap up a junior pig. (L-R) pupils Esme, Alex, Beth and CharlieSt Margaret�s Primary School were the first to snap up a junior pig. (L-R) pupils Esme, Alex, Beth and Charlie (Image: Archant)

A final call has been issued to Suffolk schools for their chance to get involved in Ipswich’s Pigs Gone Wild art scheme in aid of St Elizabeth’s Hospice.

Pigs Gone Wild will see around 40 lifesize pig sculptures displayed on an art trail across Ipswich town centre and the Waterfront this summer, each of which will be decorated by artists and sponsored by local businesses.

The fully-sized pigs will be joined by a host of junior pig sculptures which will be created by students and teachers schools across Ipswich and the surrounding areas.

The junior pigs will be displayed in litters in town centre stores and venues for the 10-week trail.

So far, 20 junior pigs have been snapped up by local schools, with Springfield Infant School and Nursery ordering four sculptures each.

Schools have until the end of January to request their sculptures if they wish to get involved in the initiative - the largest mass participation art event ever to be held in Suffolk.

Norman Lloyd, Pigs Gone Wild project manager, said: “Education is an integral part of Pigs Gone Wild. Together, with our education partner Suffolk Agricultural Association and our community engagement partner Ipswich Building Society, we will capture children’s imaginations, feed the appetites of young minds and create an atmosphere where everyone will discover, explore and share their learning.”

As part of their involvement with Pigs Gone Wild, schools will be given a detailed education pack to inspire pupils to get involved with whole-school activity, support and encourage health and wellbeing initiatives in schools and offer ideas for fundraising activities so that young people can contribute to raising much-needed funds for St Elizabeth Hospice.

“Children can be so imaginative and creative and this project is something they can really get their teeth into, not just in designing and decorating their own pig, but learning as they go about arts, heritage, culture, health and wellbeing,” said Mr Lloyd. “Schools only have until the end of the month to sign up.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from schools who want to find out more and in the next couple of weeks, we are going into schools and giving assemblies about the project to discuss how pupils and teachers can get involved and benefit.”

The event is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the town to follow the trail.

At the end of the trail, the larger Pigs Gone Wile sculptures will be auctioned off to raise vital funds for St Elizabeth Hospice, to help improve life for Suffolk residents living with a progressive illness such as cancer, motor neurone disease and heart failure.

The junior pigs will be returned to the schools for them to keep.

For more information or to download a schools pack, visit www.pigsgonewild.co.uk, email info@pigsgonewild.co.uk or call 01473 723600.