Eighty-six giant bears will take over Dartford next summer as the beloved children’s classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is brought to life in a major public art trail inspired by the famous story by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury.

Led by Kent-based hospice charity ellenor in partnership with Dartford Borough Council as Presenting Partner, and supported by official partner Bluewater, the We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Art Trail will transform the town into a free outdoor exhibition of individually designed bear sculptures.

The trail will feature 80 individually designed bears placed across Dartford – 31 Big Bears and 49 Cubs – turning the borough into a large outdoor gallery celebrating creativity and community while raising vital funds for specialist hospice care. Organisers expect more than 250,000 visitors, making it one of the borough’s largest public art events. A small number of additional sculptures created as part of the project will go directly to auction to raise further funds for ellenor.

Official partner Bluewater, one of the South East’s leading retail and leisure destinations, will host a dedicated community hub within the centre where visitors can learn more about the project and the stories behind the sculptures. Around 10 of the large bear sculptures will be located at Bluewater, with additional cubs displayed within the centre as part of the trail. The centre has also named ellenor as its Charity of the Year until December 2026, further strengthening the partnership and raising awareness of the hospice’s specialist care across North Kent and Bexley.

The partnership will introduce the project to thousands of visitors to Bluewater each week, helping connect the trail with communities across North Kent and beyond.

Led by Kent based hospice charity ellenor in partnership with Dartford Borough Council and Wild in Art, the We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Art Trail will transform the town into a free outdoor exhibition of individually designed bear sculptures. Bluewater is supporting the project as an official sponsor.

The trail takes its creative inspiration from the animated adaptation by Lupus Films, which grew from the much-loved picture book by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury.

Michael Rosen has received some of the highest honours in children’s literature, serving as UK Children’s Laureate (2007–2009) and winning numerous awards including the CLiPPA Poetry Award and the J.M. Barrie Award for his contribution to storytelling. Helen Oxenbury’s illustrations are celebrated worldwide; she has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal, received three Nestlé Smarties Book Prizes and was awarded the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

Sue Piper, Director of Income Generation at ellenor, said: “This summer Dartford will be taken over by bears appearing in streets, shop windows and unexpected corners across the town. Each one will be completely different, designed by artists, schools and community groups from across the borough.

We hope people will follow the trail, discover the bears and explore Dartford in a new way. Behind the creativity and fun there is a really important purpose too: every sculpture will help raise vital funds so we can continue providing specialist hospice care for people across North Kent and Bexley.”

James Waugh, Centre Director at Bluewater, commented: “We’re proud to be playing such an integral part in this wonderful campaign, especially during ellenor’s tenure as Bluewater’s Charity of the Year. Beyond hosting a dedicated community hub and several sculptures, we look forward to welcoming visitors to Bluewater to experience the trail throughout Dartford this summer. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate local creativity while raising essential funds for a cause close to all our hearts.”

The trail will also raise awareness of ellenor’s specialist hospice care across North Kent and Bexley, supporting people of all ages with life-limiting illness through care at home, inpatient services and wellbeing support.

Pentagon Transport is supporting the project as ellenor’s logistics partner, overseeing the movement and storage of the sculptures.

Key supporters include Walker Books and Lupus Films, custodians of the We’re Going on a Bear Hunt story.  Additional sponsors confirmed to date include Fastrack, Pillory Barn, Artisan Print Services and TheImageworks, with further organisations expected to join ahead of the 2026 launch.

The We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Art Trail will launch across the Borough of Dartford in summer 2026, inviting residents and visitors to explore the town, discover the bear sculptures and help raise vital funds for specialist hospice care.