Peter Rabbit has inspired the 2027 art trail in Worcester to raise funds for St Richard’s Hospice, following on from the momentum generated by three previous successful trails.
Individually-decorated Peter Rabbit sculptures will line streets and open spaces for eight weeks in 2027, creating ‘Peter Rabbit in the warrens of Worcester’, a Wild in Art event brought to the city by St Richard’s.
The much-loved character was first imagined by Beatrix Potter in 1893, when she sent a picture letter to her former governess’ son Noel, which tells the story of a mischievous rabbit called Peter. Since then, The Tale of Peter Rabbit (published by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1902) has never been out of print and in 2027 will celebrate 125 years since its first publication.
Today’s (Monday’s) launch reveals the follow-up to three previous hospice art trails, which saw giraffe, elephant and penguin sculptures capture hearts in 2018, 2021 and 2024. Combined, the events raised £1.2 million after costs for the care of local patients and families.
In total, 35 large Peter Rabbit sculptures will form the free art trail – running from Monday, July 12 to Sunday, September 5 2027. The sculptures will be sponsored by businesses and brought to life with designs created by artists from Worcestershire and beyond.
Sara Matthews, who’s leading the project for St Richard’s, said: “Residents will remember how the city felt when we were joined giraffes, elephants and a happy huddle of penguins. We’re excited to recreate that magic all over again, bringing art trail goers into the city in their droves.
“We often get asked how we choose each sculpture and this was quite easy in a year which will mark the 125th anniversary of the first publication of Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit!”
The large sculptures will be joined by another 40 smaller Peter Rabbit sculptures decorated by students and community groups.
Schools and groups wishing to take part will be entered into a ‘Bunny Ballot’ to secure their place in the trail. At the end of the trail, the large sculptures will be auctioned to raise funds for the hospice’s care across Worcestershire.
Wild in Art, the creative production company behind Peter Rabbit in the warrens of Worcester, has brought together communities with its sculpture trails in cities around the world. To date, its events have enabled over £30.3m to be raised for charitable causes and engaged more than 1.5 million young people in creative learning programmes.
Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder, Wild in Art said: “It’s great to be back in Worcester and to be teaming up once again with St Richard’s Hospice to create a new trail – our fourth for the city!”
The project is also supported by The World of Peter Rabbit, managed by Penguin Ventures, the licensing and consumer products division of Penguin Random House Children’s UK.
