Dartford Bear Hunt Raffle
For just £5 per ticket, you could take the adventure home and win a one-of-a-kind Bear Cub Sculpture from the Dartford Bear Hunt.
Memory bear
At the heart of this stunning art trail is ellenor’s Memory Bear, which offers individuals the chance to dedicate a name in memory of someone they love. Each name will become part of the sculpture itself creating a shared space for remembrance within the community.
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!
On the 17 July 2026, Dartford and Bluewater 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.
Dartford Bear Hunt Art Trail
30 large Bear sculptures and 30 Bear Cubs will be arriving across the borough of Dartford in…
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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
Every bear on our We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Art Trail has a story to tell. But some of the most inspiring stories are the ones you might never see.
Beneath a number of our beautiful bear sculptures are handcrafted wooden plinths, created by learners at EKC Training Eastchurch. Through dedication, new skills and a shared sense of purpose, they have helped bring our trail to life while building brighter futures for themselves.
This is a story about second chances, community, partnership and the incredible impact that can happen when people believe in one another.
We are so proud that our trail celebrates not only creativity, but the people behind it, whose hard work will support thousands of visitors as they explore Dartford this summer.
Read the full story and discover the people behind the plinths at dartfordbearhunt.co.uk.
1 WEEK TO GO!
1 week to finally see the beautiful bears designed on the art trail
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#arttrail #wildinart #dartfordbearhunt #ellenor
🧸🎨 Pimm’s, painting and patio vibes… what more could you want? ✨
Join us for a ‘beary’ special evening designing and painting your own ceramic bear, while enjoying a glass of Pimm’s and delicious sharing platters 🍹🧀
The perfect night out with friends, all while supporting ellenor 💛
📅 Thursday 13 August
⏰ 6:30pm to 9:30pm
🎟️ £35 per person
Limited spaces available, book now via
[ellenor.org/events](https://www.ellenor.org/events?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Step into the woods and you can feel the world slow down.
For Wildwood Trust, nature has the power to connect, comfort and bring people together. It’s a feeling that sits at the heart of their support for ellenor’s Dartford Bear Hunt.
This summer, Wildwood’s bear sculpture Find and Feel the Forest will join more than 80 bears across Dartford and Bluewater, sharing stories of nature, community and the vital work of ellenor.
From caring for rescued bears to caring for local families through some of life’s most important moments, Wildwood and ellenor share a belief in the power of connection.
Discover the story behind the partnership and how the Dartford Bear Hunt will bring conversations about hospice care into the heart of the community.
Read more at dartfordbearhunt.co.uk/news
#arttrail #wildinart #wildwood #ellenor #dartfordbearhunt
Want to get involved in the art trail? we would love to have you part of it!
Please visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#wildinart #arttrail #kentevent #eventsinkent #ellenor
Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council said,
“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is a childhood classic, and I am honoured that the magic of this story is coming to Dartford through our very own bear art trail. We have such talented local artists, and I’m looking forward to seeing the different and creative ways the bears will be transformed. They’ll be dotted around the borough, and I encourage families to use this art trail as an opportunity to have a fun, free day out in the school holidays.”
Visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk to see more info!
#ellenor #arttrail #wildinart #eventsinkent #thingstodoinkent
🐻🧺This summer in Dartford, the adventure doesn’t stop at the trail… it leads to a Teddy Bear`s Picnic! 🧺🐻
Join us for our Teddy Bear`s Picnic, a fun-filled afternoon celebrating “Dartford, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”. Follow the trail, then take a well-earned break at our picnic spot for an afternoon of stories, activities and entertainment.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the Bear Hunt adventure! Whether you’re hunting bears, enjoying a story, or simply soaking up the summer vibes, it’s the perfect day out for families.
📅 Date: Wednesday 5 August
⏰ Time: 12 pm – 3 pm
Book here
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ellenor/2189167
This summer, we are celebrating the joy of reading and bringing stories to life.
From June to August, families can take part in the Summer Reading Challenge with brilliant book recommendations, library activities and plenty of opportunities to read together.
We are also excited to be bringing We`re Going on a Bear Hunt to life with our live art trail launching on 17 July. Featuring beautifully decorated bear sculptures inspired by the much loved story, the trail has brought together schools, businesses, artists and families across our community in a really special way.
Children have been inspired to get creative, local artists have shared their incredible talent, businesses have supported the project and schools have embraced the opportunity to be part of something memorable. Together, we have created an adventure that celebrates reading, creativity and community spirit.
Will you be joining the hunt this summer?
We’re going on an Art Hunt—are you coming?
Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to receive updates along the way!
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.