Hippos Make EDP
09/02/09 10:23 Filed in: Updates
Hippo hunting is turning into a major success story for North Walsham.
While the high profile Norwich herd of Go Elephants! numbered 53 last summer, the organisers of the North Walsham event have managed to attract more than 40 hippo owners as they warm up for the big launch later in the year.
While the figure could rise slightly through extra interest from organisations who missed the official deadline, there will be at least 42 hippos decorated and placed around town in May half term. The herd arrived in Norfolk on the back of a lorry all the way from Poland on Friday and on Saturday an open morning was held at North Walsham Infant School and Nursery for the 'naked' white, undecorated hippos to be picked up.
The buzz of excitement was clear among those at the session, with school headteacher Clare Fletcher and chairman of governors Paul East organising the distribution of the African beasts. The event has attracted interest from as far away as Ludham, closer to home at Worstead, Bacton and Mundesley, as well as a host of North Walsham schools, businesses, charities and organisations.
Mrs Fletcher said: “To start with we thought it would be nice if we could get 10, which would have been fine for a town of this size. But it grew and it grew and now here we are with more than 40.” Jeanette Thompson, headteacher at Mundesley First School, said they had chosen one of the large hippos thanks to the generosity of a number of local businesses meeting the £395 price tag through sponsorship. Mrs Thompson said: “All the children will be able to contribute their ideas and we will use as many of those ideas as possible in the final design.”
Mr East said he had been “living, eating and dreaming” about hippos for a number of weeks. “Once they are ready and out there in the last week of May, North Walsham will become hippo land for a week,” he said. Businesses in town have already come up with plans to make hippo smoothies and hippo burgers, said Mr East.
The hippos, like the elephants, come from a company called Wild in Art, which was taking particular interest in the North Walsham project because they had only ever dealt with cities in the past, said Mr East. They will be on display from May 23 to 30 and sold at a charity auction at the town's Divine restaurant on May 31.
Original article HERE
While the figure could rise slightly through extra interest from organisations who missed the official deadline, there will be at least 42 hippos decorated and placed around town in May half term. The herd arrived in Norfolk on the back of a lorry all the way from Poland on Friday and on Saturday an open morning was held at North Walsham Infant School and Nursery for the 'naked' white, undecorated hippos to be picked up.
The buzz of excitement was clear among those at the session, with school headteacher Clare Fletcher and chairman of governors Paul East organising the distribution of the African beasts. The event has attracted interest from as far away as Ludham, closer to home at Worstead, Bacton and Mundesley, as well as a host of North Walsham schools, businesses, charities and organisations.
Mrs Fletcher said: “To start with we thought it would be nice if we could get 10, which would have been fine for a town of this size. But it grew and it grew and now here we are with more than 40.” Jeanette Thompson, headteacher at Mundesley First School, said they had chosen one of the large hippos thanks to the generosity of a number of local businesses meeting the £395 price tag through sponsorship. Mrs Thompson said: “All the children will be able to contribute their ideas and we will use as many of those ideas as possible in the final design.”
Mr East said he had been “living, eating and dreaming” about hippos for a number of weeks. “Once they are ready and out there in the last week of May, North Walsham will become hippo land for a week,” he said. Businesses in town have already come up with plans to make hippo smoothies and hippo burgers, said Mr East.
The hippos, like the elephants, come from a company called Wild in Art, which was taking particular interest in the North Walsham project because they had only ever dealt with cities in the past, said Mr East. They will be on display from May 23 to 30 and sold at a charity auction at the town's Divine restaurant on May 31.
Original article HERE
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