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
Sundae Bear is on tour! 🍨🐻
This beloved Ice cream Bear can now be found in the Bear Hunt Merchandise Hub inside the Orchards Shopping Centre, where you can come and view him and collect the unlock code! But be quick, all Bears are only here until Sunday 13th September! 🏃
#dartfordbearhunt #ellenor #orchardshoppingcentre #dartford
“It’s Been Meditative”: Meet the Artist Behind Dartford’s Disco Bear
Covered in thousands of hand-placed mirror tiles, Mark Whitehouse’s shimmering sculpture is one of the standout creations in ellenor’s summer art trail across Dartford and Bluewater.
There is no missing Mark Whitehouse’s bear.
Read the full article here
https://dartfordbearhunt.co.uk/its-been-meditative-meet-the-artist-behind-dartfords-disco-bear/
Paws what you`re doing… this is un-bear-lievable!
For just £5 per ticket, one lucky winner will become the proud owner of an exclusive, one-of-a-kind Bear Cub Sculpture, beautifully painted in the iconic style of the bear from Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury`s beloved children`s classic, We`re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Created especially for the Dartford Bear Hunt, there will only ever be one like it. Whether you`ve explored every bear on the trail, shared the story, or simply fallen in love with the bears, this is your chance to own a truly unique keepsake from this summer`s adventure.
And that`s not all… your ticket could also win you one of these fantastic prizes:
Bear Keeper Experience at Wildwood Trust Kent
Showcase Cinema Family Ticket (for 4 people)
Dartford Bear Hunt Merchandise Hamper
Every ticket sold helps support ellenor, helping local children, adults and families facing life-limiting illness. So, whether you win or not, you`ll be making a real difference.
Buy your tickets today for just £5 and paws crossed – you could be our lucky winner!
https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/raffle/dartford-bear-hunt-raffle
This is the final week to see all of our beautifully designed bears!
Visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk for any more information!
#dartfordbearhunt #arttrail #wildinart #ellenor
Remember to grab your favourite merch from our shops before it`s all gone!
You can visit our Bear Hunt shops in Dartford and Bluewater
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
🐻 What does the Dartford Bear Hunt look like from the inside?
We caught up with Danny, the Hub Manager, to find out more about the story behind the Bear Hunt, what makes it so special, and the difference it’s already making for local families. 🧡
Curious to hear more? Read the full interview via the link in our bio.
#dartford #ellenor #bearhunt #bluewater
Meet Teddy to Rock!
Dartford Football Club is proudly sponsoring this giant bear, designed by local artist Hannah Jayne Lewin, and giving Teddy to Rock a home at Princes Park throughout the Bear Hunt.
Find out more about Teddy, Dartford FC and the trail at dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#arttrail #dartfordbearhunt #wildinart #ellenor #dartfordfootballclub
Celebrating World Literacy Day!
Do not forget to visit the book bench created by artist Gayle, on your art trail experience.
We welcome you to have a sit and a read, right outside Waterstones in Bluewater
Join the bear hunt art trail, to raise funds for ellenor.org
#dartfordbearhunt #arttrail #thingstodoinkent #kentevents
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.
