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
The Bears are finding their forever homes on Thursday 1 October
Bid in person at Bluewater Village Marquee or online — online bidding is now open!.
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 is coming to its spectacular finale.
On Thursday 1 October, our Bears will find their forever homes at the Dartford Bear Hunt Auction — with the option to join us in person or bid online from wherever you are.
Online bidding is now open.
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
A huge thank you to the wonderful team at Showcase Cinema for hosting two special screenings in support of ellenor this Sunday! 🎬
We’re so grateful for your incredible support, which helped raise a fantastic £538 for ellenor
And a special thank you for gifting free tickets to our Children’s Team too. Your kindness means so much and helps us continue supporting local families when they need us most.
Thank you, Showcase Cinema!
@showcasecinemasuk @bluewatershopping
#showcasecinema #bluewatershowcase #ellenor #hospiceinkent #arttrail #wildinart
We love to see your photos of you all doing the trail, please tag us so we can share them!
Get involved in the Art Trail this summer at dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#arttrail #wildinart #ellenor #eventsinkent #thingstodoinkent
🐻 From England to Saudi Arabia, the Bear Hunt adventure continues!
Meet brothers Khalil and Faris, who became completely obsessed with our Bear Hunt during their summer in England. They managed to find an amazing 39 bears along the trail before heading home to Saudi Arabia!
Their mum tells us the Bear Hunt was their favourite memory from their summer in England, which we think says it all.
And because they simply couldn’t stop talking about the bears, their very determined auntie decided to finish the hunt for them! After a few hours exploring Dartford and Bluewater, she managed to find the final bears and complete the trail. Needless to say, Khalil and Faris were VERY happy when they heard the news!
We’re so pleased the Bear Hunt has created memories that will travel all the way from England to Saudi Arabia, while also helping to support such an important cause.
Where have you travelled from for the Art Trail? Comment below
#summerevents #thingstodoinkent #kentevents #thingstodoinsummer #arttrail
The art trail this summer, is supporting ellenor, a hospice charity. All funds towards the art trail, go towards people like Darcie.
Every family we support has a unique story. This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, meet Darcie and discover how ellenor’s specialist care is helping her family make precious memories together.
Read Darcie’s story at ellenor.org/darcie
#cancerawarenessmonth #hospicecharity #charityinkent #kentcharity #cancerstory
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
This art trail is here to bring funds and awareness to your local hospice charity, ellenor.
Discover why Dr Anita Banerjee unexpectedly fell in love with hospice medicine, and how her time at ellenor changed her perspective on palliative care.
Read a story here via ellenor.org/dranita
#ellenor #hospicecharity #hospicecare #charityinkent #arttrail
We love a selfie with our bears from the art trail!
Make sure to tag us!
Find out more via dartfordbearhunt.org or download the app
#eventsinkent #thingstodinkent #summereventsinkent #ellenor
How many bears have you found on the Art Trail this summer?
Visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk to discover more about the art trail taking over Bluewater and Dartford this summer
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.
