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!
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
Meet our Memory Bear 🐻🧡
At the heart of the Dartford Bear Hunt, this beautiful sculpture offers a special way to remember someone you love. Each name dedicated becomes part of the Bear itself, creating a shared space for remembrance within our community.
Designed by Dartford artist Becky Shepperson, the Memory Bear will be on display at Bluewater this summer before moving to its forever home at ellenor.
For a one off donation of £35, you can add your loved one’s name to the Bear while helping fund vital care for local families facing life limiting illness.
With limited spaces available, this is a truly meaningful way to honour a memory.
Dedicate here: https://www.ellenor.org/memorybearform/
#inmemoryof #dartfordbearhunt #arttrail #ellenor
Beautiful bears are being designed- we can`t wait for you to see the finished bears!
find out more about the Art Trail coming to Dartford this Summer via dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#arttrail #wildinart #dartfordbearhunt #bearhunt
Sneak peak at Otto, Higham Primary Schools bear they have painted for the Art Trail @dartfordbearhunt this Summer
Visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk for more info how you have be part of the summer fun!
#arttrail #artistinkent #kentartist #wildinart
Meet Henrika and Barbora the amazing duo behind this beautiful bear, soon to be part of the Dartford Bear Hunt art trail this summer.
Echoes of Dartford Bear in progress by the talented @myphotopoetry
We can’t wait for you to see it come to life! Find out more at dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#wildinart #dartfordbearhunt #arttrail #artistsinkent
Here’s a little peek at the journey so far of another bear design, ready for the art trail this summer in Dartford
The girls had such a fun time designing the badges and now they’re being added to the bear (it’s all starting to come together!)
Learn more about the trail via dartfordbearhunt.co.uk or follow our socials @dartfordbearhunt
#artistinkent #kentartist #dartfordbearhunt #wildinart
By day, Jack Bennett builds immersive, story led games. Now he has swapped pixels for paint.
Meet Peter Blake Bear, a bold sculpture inspired by Sir Peter Blake, created for ellenor’s Bear Hunt Art Trail in Dartford.
Read more: https://dartfordbearhunt.co.uk/the-game-developer-who-builds-worlds/
#BearHuntTrail #Dartford #PublicArt
A very happy birthday to Michael Rosen from all of us in the GEMS family at ellenor, here is a card made from our hospice GEMS team🧡
We came together to create a special card filled with warm wishes to celebrate his day.
Michael’s book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt has inspired something truly exciting for us. It is helping us create beautiful art sculptures for an art trail in Dartford this summer.
This will help bring more awareness to ellenor and the work we do. GEMS is a support group for children who have experienced the loss of a loved one while under the care of ellenor, and being part of this creative project means so much to everyone involved.
#michaelrosen #dartfordbearhunt #arttrail #wildinart
@iammichaelrosen
A very happy birthday to Michael Rosen today
We want to say a big thank you for the wonderful creativity of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. It has not only become a much loved story, but has also given us something really special here in Dartford.
The book has inspired an opportunity for artists, local businesses and supporters to come together to design bears based on the story, which will be brought to life on a joyful art trail across Dartford this summer.
This project with Wild in Art is also helping ellenor share its message more widely, using creativity and community spirit to raise awareness of the care and support it provides.
Find out more at dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#dartfordbearhunt #arttrail #wildinart #dartford #michaelrosen
@iammichaelrosen
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.