Have you Herd? Adopt Birmingham have joined the Elephants trail
Adopt Birmingham has joined an elephant-themed art trail, made up of over 70 sculptures showcased across the West Midlands.
St Giles Hospice’s March of the Elephants sees the sculptures take pride of place for ten weeks until Sunday 8 September.
The eagerly awaited free art trail features 30 large and 40 smaller elephants “hidden in plain sight” across Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield.
They have been decorated by artists, schools, organisations and community groups, with an interactive app launched to help people tick them off their list as they follow the trail.
The elephants, large and small, are on show in parks, streets and open spaces in Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield during the summer, raising vital funds for St Giles Hospice.
Adopt Birmingham’s contribution to the community project is a mini elephant named Shaba, one of 40 small sculptures on display.
Jane Francis, Assistant Head of Service at Adopt Birmingham, said: “When we heard about the March of the Elephants, we knew it was a wonderful opportunity to support St Giles Hospice, which provides vital care and bereavement support to families in the communities and the symbol of an elephant is perfect for the campaign.”
Speaking about the design, Jane said: “Our elephant Shaba, named after the young elephant who was rescued by Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, is decorated in our brand colours and symbols. The ampersand symbolises connection, collaboration and community which are very strong messages throughout this campaign.”
The large sculptures will then be auctioned by Richard Winterton Auctioneers at the end of the trail to raise funds for St Giles Hospice. With starting bids from £3,000 – equivalent to over 100 hours of one-to-one nursing care for patients.
Emma Yates, deputy director of income generation at St Giles Hospice, said: “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.”