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 around 50 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
Say hello to Blum 🐻
The first bear in ellenor’s We’re Going on a Bear Hunt art trail has been revealed – designed by Sussex artist Ana Zoob.
Bold, vibrant and full of life, Blum is just the beginning… 👀
This is more than an art trail. It’s about resilience, creativity, and facing life’s challenges together.
Read the full article here at ellenor.org/anazoob
#ellenor #BearHuntDartford #WildInArt #PublicArt #CommunitySpirit
How much does it cost to take part?
You can follow this trail for free, as often as you’d like! Beyond simply participating, you can also contribute to ellenor’s hospice care in various ways, both during and after the event.
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk for more info
🎨 We’re so excited to see @meganspencerillustration bring her bear to life!
This talented artist is getting ready to start painting her sculpture for the Dartford Bear Hunt 2026 🐻✨ We can’t wait to see her finished design out on the streets for everyone to enjoy this summer.
Find out more about the trail:
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
A very exciting delivery today… our bears have officially arrived at Bluewater! 🐻✨
With thanks to Pentagon for bringing them safely to us, they’re now settling into our Bluewater space—currently an art hub, but soon to transform into our official merchandise shop when the trail begins 👀
This is just the start… follow us for updates or visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk to find out more
#dartfordbearhunt #wildinart #ellenor #arttrail #kidsevents
Cheers to Lupus Films — supporting us and the magic of the Bear Hunt! 🐻🎬
By sponsoring a Bear or joining us in partnership, your business will step into the heart of this creative, community‑driven event… We can’t wait for summer! 🧡
Visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
to see how you can get involved.
#dartfordbearhunt #arttrail2026 #wildinart #ellenor #charityhospice #eventsinkent #thingstodoinkent
How is this raising money for ellenor?
Dartford Bear Hunt has been organised by ellenor. Many of the running costs for the trail will be met through our partnerships and sponsorships and the generosity of several organisations. Local schools will take part in the Learning Programme, and businesses displaying our Bear Cubs, are also making a fundraising contribution.
Opportunities to donate to the charity are available on our website and app, and at every Bear sculpture.
All proceeds from map and merchandise sales will benefit ellenor, as well as ticket sales for additional events such as the Farewell exhibition.
The most significant part of the fundraising will be the charity auction, where all of the large Bear sculptures will be sold to help fund local hospice care.
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk for more info
86 bears arrived in Dartford, kicking off a borough-wide celebration of creativity, community, and care. Over the coming months, 30 Big Bears and 56 Bear Cubs will be transformed by local artists, schools, and community groups for ellenor’s We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Art Trail, launching this summer.
The trail brings colour and fun to Dartford while raising vital funds for ellenor, supporting babies, children, and adults with life-limiting illnesses across North Kent and Bexley.
We’re hugely grateful to every single partners for helping make this magical trail possible.
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
🐻 We’re thrilled that the Trafalgar Entertainment Trust is partnering with ellenor for the “Dartford We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” Art Trail in 2026!
Next summer, more than 80 beautifully decorated bears will take over Dartford and Bluewater, bringing creativity, community and compassion together while raising vital funds for ellenor’s hospice care.
With support from The Orchard Theatre, this trail will be a joyful adventure for families across our community. Stay tuned… the bear hunt begins July 2026! 🧡
Read more via dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#dartfordbearhunt #bearhunt #arttrail #wildinart
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.