St Giles Hospice’s March of the Elephants arts trail parades into Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield

St Giles Hospice’s March of the Elephants arts trail parades into Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield

ST GILES Hospice’s highly anticipated March of the Elephants arts trail is now stomping into action, with a herd of colourful sculptures making their way to prime locations across Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield.

Over the next 10 weeks, starting on July 1, the spectacular elephant sculptures will stand pride of place across streets, parks and open spaces ready for visitors to uncover.

This event features 30 large elephant sculptures and more than 40 mini-elephants, creating a visual feast for art enthusiasts and families alike.

Each gentle giant has been uniquely adorned by a mix of local and national artists, from well-known favourites to newly emerging talent - pictured is a sneak peek of Richard Winterton Auctioneers' elephant.

The smaller elephants of the herd have been lovingly crafted by local schools and community groups, adding an extra touch of charm to this mammoth community project.

To help visitors navigate the trail, an interactive app has been launched. Trail-goers can use it to find each elephant, ticking them off their list as they go.

The app also offers exclusive rewards linked to the areas people are visiting, ensuring an engaging experience for all. These include family tickets to Lichfield’s Maize Maze, gift vouchers, entrance to Twycross Zoo, hampers and family photoshoots.

St Giles Hospice staff, artists and arts trail partners celebrate the launch of the March of the Elephants arts trail at the launch event at St Giles Hospice on Wednesday, June 26.

Emma Yates, deputy director of income generation at St Giles Hospice, said: "We are absolutely delighted to see our herd make such a grand entrance and at our launch event they just dazzled in the sunshine before they headed off on their journey.

"After so many weeks of them being kept under wraps, it was fantastic to see them out in the open and for us to be able to finally reveal the incredible designs, from the Where’s Ellie design to the skiing elephant and even one decorated like a bee.

"This trail is perfect for families looking for summer holiday adventures. It's an irresistible way to explore our local areas while raising vital funds for St Giles and we can’t wait for everyone to see them.

"We're bringing colour and creativity to our streets while supporting a cause close to our hearts."

These gentle giants, chosen for their characteristics that mirror the compassionate care St Giles Hospice provides, will be hidden in plain sight from Monday, July 1 until Sunday, September 8.

Auctioneer Richard Winterton being interviewed by BBC Radio WM at the launch event.

Following the trail's conclusion, the sculptures will be auctioned off on September 24, 2024, by Lichfield family firm Richard Winterton Auctioneers. The auction catalogue can be viewed online here from July 1.

The proceeds will help St Giles continue to provide excellent care for local people, and their loved ones, living with terminal illnesses.

Auctioneer Richard Winterton said: "It is an honour and a privilege to be supporting St Giles Hospice’s March of the Elephants arts trail.

"Seeing the herd together in all their splendour at the launch event this week was a wonderful spectacle and we can’t wait to see them all out and about in Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield."

Don't miss out on this unique experience - join the herd and download the app for £1.99 from the App Store or Google Play (proceeds will go towards the charity) or pick up a trail map from their charity shops or Lichfield Maize Maze.