The hum of a small plane engine overhead followed by lots of brightly coloured parachutes slowly floating to the ground were a regular feature of my childhood – and I was often inspired to leap off a garden chair with a sheet tied to me in an attempt to fly.
Ipswich Airport has since closed (the last plane left in 1998) and the site has been developed for housing. I still find it strange thinking that planes used to take off and land where so many people now live. The area has been designed with the environment in mind so there are bike/pedestrian paths, a bus link to the town centre and several green spaces. I have no idea what it’s like to live there but it feels very different to the surrounding estates where I grew up (and where Freya and I returned at the start of the week).
Another nice thing about Ravenswood is the number of public “art” pieces dotted around the site. The one above is called Green Wind. It’s by Diane Maclean, a sculptor and environmental artist. The wings are made of stainless steel and stand between 7 and 10 metres tall (up to 32ft).
I was quite a way from the sculpture but a child running caught my attention. I initially thought I’d missed the shot because by the time I had my camera out s/he was gone but then they ran back (yay!). It’s not a great quality photo (the light was awful) but something about it appeals to me – probably the nostalgia element as at one point it looked like the child was pretending to fly.
To see what other people have been photographing for My Sunday Photo please click the link below.
After The Rain 
Hi Tara, it’s funny how certain sounds, smells and sights can transport us back in time. I like your photo. The child looks so tiny against the quite striking sculpture.
xx
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Thank you. Yes, it’s very strange isn’t it. There’s a certain type of furniture polish which always makes me think of somewhere we stayed on holiday when I was eight.
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Well, whether this was the artist’s intention or not, they look rather like a cross section or an aircraft’s wing. #MySundayPhoto
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Yes, quite a few of them have an aviation theme.
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What a great photo! The child running definitely enhances it. Like John says, the artwork has a feel of something aircraft related about it – I’m sure that would be down to the site’s history.
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Thanks, Sarah. You’re right. It’s been incorporated into some of the buildings too.
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The scale looks fantastic, a tiny human with the sculpture soaring above beautiful and lovely to reminisce.
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Thank you. It was nice to be back and have a wander 🙂
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Love how tiny the child running looks next to the artwork. It’s funny how places change and things that seem like they’ll always be there when we are children suddenly disappear and are replaced with something else.
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It really is. The strange thing is, it doesn’t seem wrong, just different.
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Well done capturing this Tara. I think they are both fascinating shots.
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Thank you, that’s kind of you to say.
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Great photo and I can see why it would bring back memories for you.😉
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Thank you 🙂 Hope you’ve had a great weekend.
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Yes, it’s been sunny and in the 40’s today. (That is warm for this time of year) We went for a walk yesterday and today on a snowy trail. I hope you’ve had a great weekend!:)
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Love the photo and the angle there running to the flags. Always a shame when an airport closes.
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Thank you. I think there was a public outcry at the time (and even a sit in).
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This is so beautiful. I wondered what they were at first. Looks like a new age wind turbine
Thank you for linking up
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Thank you for hosting, Darren.
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Great pictures! I once did a parachute course at Ipswich airport but it was too windy to do the actual jump, I could have waved at you!
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How funny! I remember some of them used to get blown off course and occasionally landed on our estate!
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That makes me even more thankful that I didn’t jump. I was alrady so scared that I had decided that I wasn’t going to and was then saved bt the windsock
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Love the child against this sculpture, great capture #MySundayPhoto
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Thank you 🙂
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Love the photo, with the child so faraway it gives a great idea of scale
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Thank you 🙂
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Nice framework, Tara – especially the first shot. You do have an eye for photography. Let’s see more of your talent.
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Thank you, that’s very kind.
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Great picture. The child certainly gives perspective. And the sculptures are lovely.
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It seems so long since I was in Ipswich! Really like this outdoors artwork 🙂
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