Knitters, Stitchers & Crafters
As we prepare for the Summer 2026 Dartford Bear Hunt Art Trail, we’re rallying our amazing community of makers to help bring this heart warming event to life.
Get Ready for a Bear-illiant Art Adventure!
In Summer 2026, Dartford will be transformed by 30 stunning large Bear sculptures inspired by the beloved classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Designed by local and national artists, these Bears will form an exciting, free public art trail through the town’s streets, parks, and open spaces.
Alongside them, 30 Bear cubs, decorated by local schools and community groups, will be displayed in indoor locations such as museums, libraries, and storefronts—making this an event for the whole community!
The story’s famous mantra—”We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it… we’ve got to go through it!”—perfectly reflects ellenor’s mission. Just as the family in the book faces obstacles together, ellenor supports families through life’s challenges.
Working with Walker Books
We are delighted to be working with The Walker Books Group to bring We’re Going on a Bear Hunt to Life!
This beautiful, hand-drawn animation based on the classic book by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury follows the intrepid adventures of a family of children as they venture through whirling snowstorms, oozing mud and dark forests in search of bears…
‘This is an exciting and unique opportunity for ellenor to partner with Walker Books and the beloved classic, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Based on our experience, this partnership is a perfect fit for Dartford, offering not only a high-profile, family-friendly theme but also the potential to create a truly engaging and successful art trail.
It’s a wonderful chance to bring people together, celebrate creativity, and raise valuable funds for ellenor’s work in the process’.
Charlie Langhorne MD and co-Founder Wild in Art
Join the conversation #dartfordbearhunt
🐻✨ Get ready for a bear-illiant art adventure! ✨🐻
In Summer 2026, Dartford will be transformed by 30 stunning large Bear sculptures, inspired by the much-loved classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Designed by local and national artists, the Bears will create a free public art trail winding through the town’s streets, parks and open spaces.
Alongside them, 30 Bear cubs, decorated by local schools and community groups, will pop up in indoor spaces like museums, libraries and shopfronts — making this a trail for the whole community 🧡
The story’s famous words — “We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it… we’ve got to go through it!” — beautifully reflect ellenor’s mission. Just like the family in the book, ellenor is there to support families through life’s challenges, every step of the way.
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#dartfordbearhunt #kent #kentcharity #hospicecharity #charityhospice #wildinart #arttrail #arttrail2026
The Creative Journey Behind the Trail
The We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Art Trail in Dartford, delivered by ellenor, is inspired by the BAFTA-nominated animated adaptation created by Lupus Films. Its distinctive animated style informs the look and design of the sculptures that will appear across Dartford in summer 2026.
Read here https://dartfordbearhunt.co.uk/the-story-behind-the-trail/
#dartfordbearhunt #bearhunt #arttrail2026 #arttrail #wildinart #ellenor #teamellenor #hospicecharity #dartfordarttrail #wildinart
Exploring the trail
Designed to be explored at your own pace, the trail can be completed in an epic single adventure or spread out over multiple days.
A printed map will be available to guide you, and a dedicated trail app will add an extra layer of fun—track your steps, collect rewards from local businesses, and challenge yourself to find every Bear along the way!
While the exact route is still being finalised, the trail will take you to well-known locations across Dartford, offering a fresh perspective on the town’s streets, parks, and landmarks.
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk for more info
#dartfordbearhunt #arttrail #wildinart
Join the Bear Hunt Adventure – Volunteer with Us!
We need a brilliant team of volunteers to help bring the Dartford Bear Hunt to life for ellenor – and we’d love for you to be part of it!
Whether you’ve got a few hours or a few days to spare, your time and energy will make a big difference. By joining our Bear Necessities Team, you’ll help families, friends, and visitors enjoy a magical trail while supporting a cause that really matters.
Volunteer roles include
🐻 Bear Checkers – stroll the trail to make sure our Bears are looking their best and staying safe.
🐻 Trail Makers – guide families and groups on special walks and share the adventure.
🐻 Trail Hub Helpers – welcome visitors and support at our two hubs in Dartford town centre and Bluewater.
🐻 Trail Preppers – get hands-on in the lead-up with varnishing, polishing, and prepping our Bears.
🐻 Event Support Crew – bring the fun and energy at our Farewell Weekend & Auction.
No matter your skills or experience, there’s a perfect spot for you on the team. Every volunteer helps make the trail unforgettable — and we’ll make sure you have a role that suits you.
Register your interest today and one of the ellenor team will be in touch soon. Together, let’s make the Bear Hunt an adventure Dartford will never forget!
darfordbearhunt.co.uk for more info
#dartfordbearhunt #wildinart #ellenor #teamellenor #arttrail #arttrail2026
Public art events that enrich, entertain, inform and leave a lasting legacy.
Connecting businesses, artists and communities through the power of creativity, Wild in Art events have enabled more than £26.3 million to be raised for charitable causes through auctions alone and helped millions of people of all ages to experience art in non-traditional settings.
Our art trails provide a platform for amateur and professional artists to showcase their work and to date our events have contributed more than £4.3 million to creative communities.
We design programmes that resonate with children and young people, the outcomes providing a unique insight into the aspirations, hopes, and dreams of future generations. Our learning programmes have engaged over £1.2 million young people so far.
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#dartfordbearhunt #ellenor #hospicecharity #teamellenor #arttrail #wildinart #arttrail2026
Calling all Creative Crafters – We need you!
As we prepare for the Summer 2026 Dartford Bear Hunt Art Trail, we’re rallying our amazing community of makers to help bring this heart warming event to life.
Your handmade Bears and Bear-themed crafts will not only bring smiles to visitors across Dartford and Bluewater, but also help raise vital funds for ellenor, your local hospice in Dartford.
We’re on the lookout for
🐻 Crocheted Bears – big or small, colourful or classic!
🐻 Felted Bears – adorable keepsakes that capture your creativity.
🐻 Knitted Bears & Accessories – plus other bear-themed goodies to welcome visitors at our two trail hubs.
🐻 Any Other Crafty Creations – if it celebrates bears, we’d love to see it!
Every stitch, loop, and creative idea makes a difference — together we can craft something truly special for our community and for the hospice.
Read on below to discover inspiration, our creative timeline, and how your crafting group can get involved!
Find out more via dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#dartfordbearhunt #ellenor #charityhospice #wildinart
This is a huge, free public Art Trail across the borough of Dartford. The trail will run for 8 weeks from July to September 2026. There are 30 large Bear sculptures and 30 Bear Cubs that will be popping up across public spaces, shops, museums and more!
visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk for more info
#wildinart #hospicecharity #arttrail #dartfordbearhunt
In Summer 2026, Dartford will be transformed by 30 stunning large Bear sculptures inspired by the beloved classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Designed by local and national artists, these Bears will form an exciting, free public art trail through the town’s streets, parks, and open spaces.
Alongside them, 30 Bear cubs, decorated by local schools and community groups, will be displayed in indoor locations such as museums, libraries, and storefronts—making this an event for the whole community!
The story’s famous mantra—”We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it… we’ve got to go through it!”—perfectly reflects ellenor’s mission. Just as the family in the book faces obstacles together, ellenor supports families through life’s challenges.
Visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk to learn more
#dartfordbearhunt #ellenor #wildinart #arttrail2026 #arttrail #teamellenor #wildinarttrail #arttrail
We’re going on an Art Hunt—are you coming?
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Become a Sponsor
By sponsoring a Bear or joining us in partnership, your business will step into the heart of this creative, community-driven event. You’ll connect with customers in a unique and engaging way, showcase your support for the arts, and make a real difference by raising funds for ellenor, your local hospice charity.
Our Sponsors & Partners
YOUR DONATIONS CREATE REAL CHANGE
ellenor needs £9.6 million each year to continue caring and supporting thousands of patients and families facing life limiting and life-threatening illness in Kent. We are a charity that relies on the generosity of our local community. Your donation however big or small makes a real difference to patients and their families.
Walker books
Walker Books UK is part of the vibrant international The Walker Books Group that includes Walker Books Australia, Candlewick Press, Holiday House and Peachtree Press in the USA.
Walker Books UK is an award-winning publisher making magical new stories for children of all ages. For generations, they have been the home of stories that feel both classic and fresh. From beautiful picture books to curl up with at bedtime to rib-tickling middle grade adventures, and from epic fantasy thrillers to fascinating, expansive non-fiction, there is something in their range of bestselling books for everyone.
The major bestselling brands for the group are We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Guess How Much I Love You, Maisy, the widely acclaimed Judy Moody, and the phenomenal Where’s Wally? /Where’s Waldo?
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.