Trail App
Find and collect 31 Big Bears, 51 Bear Cubs and 1 special book bench. All while unlocking rewards and milestone rewards along the way. Plus the chance to get discounts on our exclusive Bear Hunt merchandise.
Dartford Bear Hunt Auction
Bid for a Bear, Support Your Local Hospice
Join the Dartford Bear Hunt Auction on 1 October 2026.
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.
Get Ready for a Bear-illiant Art Adventure!
This summer Dartford has been transformed by 31 stunning large Bear sculptures inspired by the beloved classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Designed by local and national artists, these Bears form an exciting, free public art trail through the town’s streets, parks, and open spaces.
Alongside them more than 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!
Dartford bear hunt auction 1st October 2026
The Dartford Bear Hunt Auction, taking place on 1 October 2026, is your exclusive opportunity to give one of our stunning Bear Sculptures a forever home! Join us for an evening of celebration and bid on a beautifully and uniquely decorated sculpture to make your own — all while supporting your local hospice.
Register your interest today to be the first to hear when auction tickets go on sale, and to start choosing the lot you will be bidding on!
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
🐻🧺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
Celebrate National Wellness Month with a fun outdoor adventure in Dartford! 🐻
Taking time to get outside, explore and enjoy new experiences can be a great way to support your wellbeing. The Dartford Bear Hunt Art Trail is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a gentle walk, discover something new, and make special memories along the way.
Whether you’re exploring with family, friends or enjoying the trail at your own pace, step outside, soak up the summer and enjoy the magic of Dartford’s free art trail.
Don’t forget to share your bear hunting adventures and tag @Dartfordbearhunt so we can see which bears you discover!
#DartfordBearHunt #NationalWellnessMonth #Dartford #OutdoorAdventure #FamilyFun #SummerDays
🐻🧡 A little Bear Reminder…
Our bears love meeting visitors, but they are works of art and need a little TLC to stay looking their best for everyone to enjoy.
Please help us by not climbing on the bears. If you fancy taking a break during your adventure, keep an eye out for our book bench. It`s the perfect place to sit, relax, and enjoy the trail. 📚💛
If you spot a bear that looks like it needs a little repair, we`d really appreciate you letting us know by contacting dartfordbearhunt@ellenor.org.
Thank you for helping us keep the Dartford Bear Hunt looking pawsome for everyone! 🐾💚
A man who spent his life making people smile is continuing to bring joy through Magic Ken. 🐻✨
Created in memory of Bluewater legend Ken Francis, this very special bear celebrates the kindness, humour and magic of a man who became known as “Mr Bluewater”.
After receiving care from ellenor at the end of his life, Ken’s family, friends and colleagues wanted to honour his legacy in a way that would continue supporting other families.
Magic Ken is one of more than 80 incredible bears bringing the Dartford Bear Hunt Art Trail to life this summer, helping raise awareness and vital funds for ellenor’s specialist care.
A huge thank you to Bluewater, artist Natelle Quek, Ken’s family and everyone involved in creating this beautiful tribute.
Discover the full story behind Magic Ken and the inspiration behind this very special sculpture at dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#DartfordBearHunt #ellenor #WildInArt #Bluewater #MagicKen #CommunityArt
Celebrate International Day of Friendship with a summer adventure to remember! 🐻
Gather your friends and family, head out into Dartford, and explore the free Dartford Bear Hunt Art Trail together.
From discovering beautifully designed bears to capturing special moments along the way, it’s the perfect opportunity to get outdoors, make memories, and enjoy some family fun this summer.
We’d love to see your bear hunting adventures! Share your photos and videos with us and tag @Dartfordbearhunt so we can follow along with your journey.
Who will you bring along for the hunt? 🐾
@agirlcalledzoex image
#DartfordBearHunt #InternationalDayOfFriendship #Dartford #FamilyDaysOut #SummerFun
This bear is officially the most voted bear on the trail so far. Have you found it yet? 🐻
Find out more about the Dartford Bear Hunt by visiting dartfordbearhunt.co.uk. You can also discover every bear, track your progress, and see the latest trail stats by downloading the Dartford Bear Hunt app.
Every app download helps support ellenor, your local hospice charity.
Bear sponsored by @imagewksphoto
#dartfordbearhunt #ellenor #arttrail
If you have been on the Dartford Bear Hunt Art Trail this summer do not forget to visit one of our shops in Bluewater
upper guildhall, bluewater ( next to Starbucks)
& we have another in Dartford in the priory centre
@Bluewater
@wildinart
#bluewater #dartfordbearhunt #thingstodothissummer #kentevents #thingstodoinkent
🎉 A huge congratulations to Isaac Salter, our FIRST EVER Dartford Bear Hunt Trail Completer! 🐻👏
Isaac is the very first person to complete the trail and collect his certificate. What an incredible achievement. Thank you for being part of the adventure and leading the way!
Think you can follow in Isaac`s footsteps? 👣
🐾 Visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk to find out more and get involved.
📍 Explore the trail
🐻 Find the bears
🎉 Earn your very own trail completion certificate!
Who will be our next trail completer? We cannot wait to find out!
#DartfordBearHunt #BearHunt2026 #TrailCompleter #FamilyFun #Dartford #ExploreDartford #Community #Adventure #HospiceFundraising #ellenorCharity
We’re going on an Art Hunt—are you coming?
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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.