Artist Spadge Hopkins creates trail of cormorant sculptures along River Deben in Woodbridge

A Suffolk artist has created a new sculpture trail in Woodbridge which he hopes will encourage people to get out and about in the town.

For the last few months, Spadge Hopkins has been working to make lifesize sculptures of the cormorant waterbird which he has installed at various points along the River Deben.

He was inspired to make the sculptures, which are created by scanning in hand drawings which are then laser cut in steel, after he held an exhibition in the town's The Longshed by the river.

"I loved seeing the cormorant sitting on a post in the Deben and a fellow artist suggested I create one," said Spadge, who lives in Framlingham.

"I liked the idea but I wanted to do something for the public so I came up with the idea of an unofficial trail of lifesize cormorants along the Deben which is an area I love."

Seven cormorants have been installed on the riverside so far, at the Deben Yacht Club, Woodbridge Boatyard, Art Safari at the Harbourmaster's office and on three private boats.

Spadge has also confirmed four more sites along the waterside where the steel birds will appear.

"I hope people appreciate how they change with the light," he said.

"The black birds often shine in reality because they are wet and I've tried to capture that as well as the wonderful shapes when they are in silhouette."

And Spadge hopes that they will provide some entertainment for families out on walks as well as encourage them to visit and support businesses along the river.

"I hope people will enjoy spotting them; I love the birds and the river," he said.

"It givens children something to do on a walk and it will help attract customers to the lovely cafés along the trail too.

"Small businesses need all the help they can get at the moment."

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