250,000 visitors expected as Bear Hunt art trail transforms Dartford
More than 250,000 visitors are expected to explore Dartford this summer as We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, local hospice charity ellenor’s biggest community project to date, opens on Friday 17 July. The trail is expected to attract visitors from across Kent and beyond, creating a major new attraction for the town.
Created in partnership with Dartford Borough Council and Wild in Art, the free public art trail will transform Dartford into an outdoor gallery, bringing together local artists, schools, businesses and community groups while raising vital funds and challenging misconceptions about hospice care. The campaign aims to help more people understand the support ellenor provides to babies, children and adults living with life-limiting illness.
But the campaign is about far more than bears.
Over the summer, families will discover 80 bear sculptures – including 31 big bears and 49 Bear Cubs – across Dartford town centre and surrounding locations. The trail runs until 13 September, after which selected sculptures will be auctioned in October to raise further funds for ellenor’s specialist hospice services.
Sue Piper, Director of Income Generation at ellenor, said: “Many people still believe hospice care is only about the final days of life, but that’s simply not the case. Every day we help babies, children and adults live as well as possible while supporting the families who care for them.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt gives us the chance to introduce thousands more people to ellenor in a new way. We hope families have a wonderful day out together, but we also hope they leave with a better understanding of what hospice care really is and the difference it makes to local families.”
The project has been made possible thanks to the support of Dartford Borough Council, Wild in Art, local businesses, schools, artists, community groups and hundreds of supporters who have helped bring the trail to life.
“Today marks the start of a fantastic adventure across Dartford as our Bear Hunt officially begins. Inspired by the much-loved childhood classic ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’, this wonderful trail brings together art, community spirit, and family fun. Talented artists have transformed each bear into a unique work of art, creating a free family activity that will encourage people to explore the borough. Whether you’re tracking down every bear or simply enjoying a day out together, I hope families make some wonderful memories along the way. I’m also delighted that the trail is helping to shine a spotlight on the incredible work of ellenor, whose vital services make such a difference to local families.”
-Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council
Contact
For more information/media enquiries relating to ellenor, please contact:
Basia Wilson, PR Manager
T: 01474 320007
M: 07932 601517
E: basia.wilson@ellenor.org
- The trail supports ellenor, raising vital funds and awareness of the specialist hospice care ellenor provides to babies, children and adults across North Kent and Bexley.
- Inspired by the much-loved animated television adaptation of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, produced by Lupus Films.
- The free trail runs from 17 July to 13 September 2026.
- The trail is delivered in partnership with Dartford Borough Council and Wild in Art.
- It features 80 sculptures (31 Big Bears and 49 Bear Cubs). (Subject to confirmation.)
- More than 250,000 visitors are expected over the course of the trail.
- Selected sculptures will be auctioned in October 2026 to raise further funds for ellenor.
ABOUT ellenor:
ellenor is the local hospice charity providing vital support to patients and families facing life-limiting illness across North Kent and Bexley. For more information visit www.ellenor.org.
Instagram: @ellenorcharity| Facebook: ellenorcharity | X (formerly Twitter): @ellenorcharity
LinkedIn: ellenor Charity | Threads: @ellenorcharity.
ABOUT Dartford Borough Council:
Dartford Borough Council serves the town of Dartford and its surrounding parishes within the Thames Gateway growth area. It delivers a wide range of local services, including housing, planning, waste collection, and leisure facilities. The council also supports sustainability and community development through projects like Princes Park Community Stadium and local educational initiatives.
Facebook: facebook.com/dartfordboroughcouncil
Instagram: @dartfordbc X/Twitter: @dartfordbc
ABOUT Bluewater Shopping Centre:
Bluewater, Europe’s leading retail and leisure destination, offers great shopping with free, extra wide parking and has over 280 stores and places to eat. Plus, with a 17 screen Showcase Cinema de Lux including IMAX, Gravity Trampoline Park, Dinotropolis Giant Soft Play, and brand-new attractions at Hangloose Adventure – including the UK’s only outdoor skydive machine and Europe’s largest swing – there’s something for everyone. Find out more at bluewater.co.uk |
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluewatershopping/?hl=en
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ABOUT Wild in Art
Wild in Art is the leading producer of spectacular public art events that entertain, enrich, inform and leave a lasting legacy. It brings together businesses and creative sectors with schools and local communities through the creation of uniquely painted sculptures.
Since 2008 Wild in Art has animated cities across the world including Sydney, Auckland, Cape Town and Sao Paulo, and created trails for the London 2012 Olympics, the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Historic Royal Palaces and Penguin Random House.
Wild in Art events have:
- Enabled over £28.4m to be raised for charitable causes.
- Injected £4.8m into local creative communities.
- Engaged over 1.3 million young people in learning programmes.
- Helped millions of people of all ages to experience art in non-traditional settings.
- Wildinart.co.uk | @wildinart | #wildinart
ABOUT The Walker Books Group
The Walker Books Group is one of the world’s leading independent publishers of books and content for children. This vibrant international group includes Walker Books UK, London; Candlewick Press, Somerville, Massachusetts; and Walker Books Australia, based in Sydney and Auckland. Renowned for its truly original publishing and outstanding quality, the Walker Books Group is home to books for readers of all ages. Award-winning authors and illustrators for the group include National Ambassador for Children’s Literature emerita Kate DiCamillo, M. T. Anderson, Patrick Ness, and Jon Klassen, and major brands for the group are Maisy, Guess How Much I Love You, the widely acclaimed Judy Moody,
and the best-selling Where’s Wally?/Where’s Waldo? by Martin Handford. Further information can be found at www.walker.co.uk, www.candlewick.com, www.walkerbooksus.com and www.walkerbooks.com.au. @lupusfilms and @WalkerBooksUK
ABOUT Lupus Films
Multi award-winning London-based studio Lupus Films was set up by Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding in 2002 and has since grown to become one of the world’s leading film and television production companies.
The company specialises in high quality family entertainment and adaptations of much-loved works of children’s literature, such as BAFTA nominated half-hour specials THE SNOWMAN AND THE SNOWDOG, WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, MOG’S CHRISTMAS and THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA, which won an International Kids Emmy® Award. Lupus Films has produced a number of animated feature films including the award-winning ETHEL & ERNEST, based on the autobiographical graphic novel by Raymond Briggs; KENSUKE’S KINGDOM, an adaptation of the bestselling children’s novel by Michael Morpurgo, and THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN WONDERLAND, based on the popular picture-book by Carys Bexington and Kate Hindley.
@lupusfilms and @WalkerBooksUK.
