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
At the heart of our Bear Hunt 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.
Visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk to get a name of the bear
#inmemoryof #bearhunt #dartfordbearhunt #ellenor #hospicecharity
🐻 Paws what you`re doing… this is un bear lievable!
For just £5, you could WIN your very own Bear Cub Sculpture from the Dartford Bear Hunt, plus amazing family prizes including a Bear Keeper Experience, a merchandise hamper and a family cinema ticket!
Don`t miss your chance to bring the adventure home. Visit https://dartfordbearhunt.co.uk/raffle/ to get your ticket today!
#raffleinkent #dartfordbearhunt #ellenor #eventsinkent #kentevents
As part of the Dartford Bear Hunt this summer, we are delighted to introduce you to our new Memory Bear.
This beautiful Bear created by Dartford born illustrator Becky Shepperson, will be on display at our Bluewater hub throughout the trail duration and will move to reside permanently at our hospice after. For a one-off donation of just £35 – which could cover the cost of one counselling session at ellenor – your loved one’s name can be displayed permanently on our Bear in one of several beautiful shapes. By making a dedication on our Memory Bear, you are helping to raise vital funds to support local families facing life limiting illness.
With almost 300 spaces available, this is a beautiful limited product. You can click the link below to make your dedication, or If you’d like more information please see the frequently asked questions below or call ellenor’s Supporter Care team on 01322 626 509.
How to Make your Dedication
visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
Just a sneak peek at what`s waiting for you in our Bluewater and Dartford shops… 👀🐻
From cuddly bears and exclusive keepsakes to fun gifts inspired by the Dartford Bear Hunt, there`s something for every bear lover.
Whether you`re taking on the trail or looking for the perfect souvenir, make sure you pop in and have a browse before it`s gone.
Don`t forget to download the Dartford Bear Hunt app to unlock some rewards.
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#wildinart #ellenor #arttrail #bluewater #thingstodoinkent
Looking for FREE summer fun with the children? 🐻
Join us at Bluewater for a Bear Hunt adventure packed with exciting, family friendly activities led by our amazing Children`s Services team!
📍 Bear Hunt Merchandise Hub, Upper Guildhall, Bluewater Shopping Centre
📅 Multiple dates and times
🎟️ FREE to attend, but spaces must be booked in advance!
From creative activities to plenty of Bear Hunt fun, it`s the perfect way to keep little adventurers entertained this summer. While the activities are completely free, any donations to ellenor are always warmly welcomed and help us continue supporting local children and families.
🐻 Book your free place here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ellenor/2304734
We can`t wait to see you there! ✨
#SummerFun #Bluewater #BearHunt #FreeFamilyFun #ThingsToDoWithKids #KentFamilies #SchoolHolidays #ellenor
Meet all of the amazing bears along the Art Trail journey by downloading our app, or picking a map up in store, so many freebies and vouchers to unlock!
Shops are located in Bluewater and Dartford
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk to learn more
@bluewatershopping image
#wildinart #arttrail #thingstodoinkent #familyeventsinkent
Dartford Bear Hunt has been organised by ellenor. Many of the running costs for the trail will be met through our partnerships and sponsorships and the generosity of several organisations. Local schools will take part in the Learning Programme, and businesses displaying our Bear Cubs, are also making a fundraising contribution.
Opportunities to donate to the charity are available on our website and app, and at every Bear sculpture.
All proceeds from map and merchandise sales will benefit ellenor, as well as ticket sales for additional events such as the Farewell exhibition.
The most significant part of the fundraising will be the charity auction, where all of the large Bear sculptures will be sold to help fund local hospice care.
Learn more by following @ellenorcharity
#fundraising #ellenor #hospicecharity #arttrail #dartfordbearhunt
The Art Trail is now live!
Make sure to tag us in your photos @dartfordbearhunt, check out this sundae bear, how much do you just want to eat it!
Photography by @theimageworks
#arttrail #wildinart #thingstodoinkent #freeeventsinkent #familyeventsinkent
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.