The huddle is ready for their makeover

February 18, 2025

Penguins for this summer’s Waddle-on-Sea art trail have flocked into the city ready for their makeover.

The 31 large and 64 baby penguin sculptures were delivered to aerospace company Ipeco Holdings in Southend-on-Sea, where they will be stored until the artists, local schools, and groups begin decorating them later this month, ahead of them making a splash in Southend-on-Sea when they arrive on our streets in the summer.

Volunteers from local companies, including Waddle-on-Sea Partners and Sponsors Able Group, Rossi’s and Rickard Luckin, were on hand to help manoeuvre the elegant sculptures from the lorry to their temporary home inside Ipeco.

Kim Aaronricks from Rickard Luckin said, “It's fantastic to see all the penguins in person, it’s really building excitement for the trail. It's important to us, as Waddle-on-Sea’s Community and Learning Programme Partner, that we get involved with the initiative and volunteer our time; it’s great for us as a team. The penguins are so much larger in real life and it’s lovely to see them all together before they go off to the artists, schools and groups. We can’t wait for the summer to get the whole team together to complete the trail alongside our family and friends.”

A representative from Able Group said, “This is our first year of being involved in one of the art trails and it’s so exciting to see the sculptures being delivered. We’re really looking forward to taking part in the trail this summer and seeing all the hard work and creativity from the artists. Havens Hospices is an amazing local charity to support and we really want everyone to get behind the trail so we can raise as much money as we possibly can for the great work they do in our community.”

Vanessa Harvey, Project Manager for Havens Hospices, said: “It’s exciting to see all the penguins arrive safe and sound, ready for the next stage of Waddle-on-Sea. We can’t wait for the talented artists, schools and groups to start decorating their penguins and bring the sculptures to life.”

The Waddle-on-Sea trail is a fun, free and accessible event taking place in the city of Southend- on-Sea, attracting thousands of people of all ages for an ‘ice’ day out.

The penguins will be dotted around the city from the middle of July to September, before being auctioned off to help raise thousands of pounds for the free, specialist hospice care Havens Hospices provides for local adults, children, and their families.

Waddle-on-Sea is made possible thanks to Presenting Partner, Ipeco, Official Partners BTMK, Highview, Able Group and Revive Digital, Rickard Luckin as Learning & Community Programme Partner, Atlantic Pacific as Logistics Partner, 6rs as Creative Partner, Main Media as Videography Partner, the Echo as Media Partner, BBC Essex as Radio Partner and with the valued support of Southend-on-Sea City Council.

To keep up to date with all penguin-related developments, follow Waddle-on-Sea on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Visit ww.waddleonsea.co.uk and sign up for our exclusive newsletter to hear all the latest news and information first.