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, 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.
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
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.
Your handmade Bears and Bear-themed crafts will not only bring smiles to visitors across Dartford and Bluewater, but also help raise vital funds for ellenor, your local hospice in Dartford.
We’re on the lookout for
🐻 Crocheted Bears – big or small, colourful or classic!
🐻 Felted Bears – adorable keepsakes that capture your creativity.
🐻 Knitted Bears & Accessories – plus other bear-themed goodies to welcome visitors at our two trail hubs.
🐻 Any Other Crafty Creations – if it celebrates bears, we’d love to see it!
Every stitch, loop, and creative idea makes a difference — together we can craft something truly special for our community and for the hospice.
Read on below to discover inspiration, our creative timeline, and how your crafting group can get involved!
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
Want to become a sponsor?
Sponsor benefits
Just some of the benefits include:
Contributing to Dartford’s economic, cultural, social, and wellbeing growth
Raising vital funds for adults and children with life-limiting conditions accessing hospice care
Associating your brand with a high-profile and truly unforgettable event
Visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk for more info
#dartfordbearhunt #wildinart #arttrail2026 #arttrail
Huge thanks to Orchard Theatre for being such wonderful venue hosts, the awesome actors, Dartford Borough Council as our presenting partner, and the ellenor catering team for those amazing cheese boards 🧀🧡
This week we had our Art Selection event for our final chosen bears for the trail. It was incredible. We can`t wait for you all to see the amazing designs!
A huge thank you to everyone who attended our Art Selection Bear Hunt event.
A massive thank you to all of our brilliant partners and sponsors who make the trail possible — we truly couldn’t do this without you:
✨ Pillory Barn
✨ Artisan Print Services
✨ ImageWorks
✨ Bluewater
✨ Tarven Solar Energy
✨ Pentagon Transport Ltd
✨ Fastrack
✨ News Shopper
✨ Barnes Construction
✨ David Lloyd Dartford
✨ Bellway London
✨ Willmott Dixon
✨ TPS Global Logistics
✨ Wild in Art & Wild in Art event partners
✨ Walker Books
And finally — the biggest, most heartfelt thanks to Georgie and Gayle. The time, care and passion you’ve poured into this incredible event has been unreal. It’s all coming together beautifully, and we cannot wait to share these fabulous bears with you all 🐻✨
You can find out more about the upcoming bear hunt via dartfordbearhunt.co.uk🧡
A huge thank you to everyone who attended our Art Selection Bear Hunt event.
A massive thank you to all of our brilliant partners and sponsors who make the trail possible — we truly couldn’t do this without you:
✨ Pillory Barn
✨ Artisan Print Services
✨ ImageWorks
✨ Bluewater
✨ Tarven Solar Energy
✨ Pentagon Transport Ltd
✨ Fastrack
✨ News Shopper
✨ Barnes Construction
✨ David Lloyd Dartford
✨ Bellway London
✨ Willmott Dixon
✨ TPS Global Logistics
✨ Wild in Art & Wild in Art event partners
✨ Walker Books
And finally — the biggest, most heartfelt thanks to Georgie and Gayle. The time, care and passion you’ve poured into this incredible event has been unreal. It’s all coming together beautifully, and we cannot wait to share these fabulous bears with you all 🐻✨
You can find out more about the upcoming bear hunt via dartfordbearhunt.co.uk🧡
A huge thank you to everyone who attended our Art Selection Bear Hunt event.
A massive thank you to all of our brilliant partners and sponsors who make the trail possible — we truly couldn’t do this without you:
✨ Pillory Barn
✨ Artisan Print Services
✨ ImageWorks
✨ Bluewater
✨ Tarven Solar Energy
✨ Pentagon Transport Ltd
✨ Fastrack
✨ News Shopper
✨ Barnes Construction
✨ David Lloyd Dartford
✨ Bellway London
✨ Willmott Dixon
✨ TPS Global Logistics
✨ Wild in Art & Wild in Art event partners
✨ Walker Books
And finally — the biggest, most heartfelt thanks to Georgie and Gayle. The time, care and passion you’ve poured into this incredible event has been unreal. It’s all coming together beautifully, and we cannot wait to share these fabulous bears with you all 🐻✨
You can find out more about the upcoming bear hunt via dartfordbearhunt.co.uk🧡
TONIGHT IS EXCITING!
Sponsors, get ready to choose their bear designs TONIGHT!
An exclusive event for Sculpture Sponsors and trail Partners. This is chance for them to see all of the shortlisted design options and choose the artist who will be creating their sculpture, follow us for sneak peaks!
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#dartfordbearhunt #teamellenor #ellenor #dartfordkent #eventsinkent
TONIGHT IS EXCITING!
Sponsors, get ready to choose their bear designs TONIGHT!
An exclusive event for Sculpture Sponsors and trail Partners. This is chance for them to see all of the shortlisted design options and choose the artist who will be creating their sculpture, follow us for sneak peaks!
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#dartfordbearhunt #teamellenor #ellenor #dartfordkent #eventsinkent
Let’s make a real impact
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 your local hospice.
Join us on this adventure and let’s make a real impact—together!
Get in touch with the team at ellenor today to find out more about all of the ways your business can get involved.
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#dartfordbearhunt #dartfordkent #wildinart #arttrail
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.