Working with creative producers Wild in Art, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) will be bringing the Panda Meander sculpture trail to Cambridge in the Spring of 2027 – where visitors to the city will be able to explore between 30 and 40 of the giant panda sculptures along a route that will take in some of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
Money raised by this trail will be used to fund transformative projects across children’s services at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, including helping to build the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital. This means that not only is the charity launching what will be Wild in Art’s very first panda trail in a town or city in the world ever – funds raised by the trail could also go towards another global first – the Cambridge Children’s Hospital.
The East of England is the only region in the UK without a specialist children’s hospital. Construction of this unique hospital, which will be built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, is due to be complete by 2030. Once open, it will be the first hospital in the world to fully integrate mental and physical health of young patients, alongside world-leading research.
Celebrating the launch of the Panda Meander Trail at the Museum of Zoology last night, ACT’s Chief Executive Shelly Thake said: “As the official hospital charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, we are incredibly proud of all the ‘firsts’ we have been able to achieve within the hospital – thanks to all the support and hard work of our loyal supporters.”
“Our 2027 animal sculpture trail will raise money that will help us deliver projects that will transform care for children treated at Addenbrooke’s both now and in the future – including helping us to build a new children’s hospital that will be the first in the world to fully integrate mental and physical health of young patients. Last night, we were proud to reveal our Panda Meander sculpture trail – which is the first time a panda has appeared in a Wild in Art sculpture trail in a town or city anywhere in the world and we are confident this trail will attract thousands of excited visitors and raise lots of money for our hospitals.”
Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder, Wild in Art, said, “While we’ve previously explored the panda as part of a smaller school project, the Panda Meander marks the very first time we’ve brought a panda to life in one of our town or city trails anywhere in the world. We’re incredibly excited to see this global first take shape in Cambridge. It’s also especially meaningful for us as this will be our third trail in the city and we’re delighted to be back and working with Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust and partners across Cambridge to create something truly special for the community.”
ACT’s panda was specifically chosen to feature in the charity’s sculpture trail because of the charity’s funding of the PaNDR service. An important part of children’s services at Addenbrooke’s, the Paediatric and Neonatal Decision and Support Retrieval service transports the region’s sickest babies and children from hospital to the nearest intensive care unit, across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
Cambridge-based professional services and auctioneering firm, Cheffins, the Lead Trail Partner for the Panda Meander Trail, unveiled the first design at last night’s (Thursday 26th March) launch at the Museum of Zoology in Downing Street, which was attended by local media and business.
Adorned with black and white illustrations from local artist Robin Mackney, the panda – which is being referred to as the trail’s ‘hero sculpture’ as it is the first design – features some of the most iconic buildings and landmarks of Cambridge. The ‘hero sculpture’ will feature on the trail but a second very colourful design, from creative partner 6RS, will be seen out and about at ACT events over the coming year.
ACT’s Panda Meander trail will hit the streets of Cambridge in Spring 2027 and run for 10 weeks – taking in the whole of Easter and both Bank Holiday Mondays. It will be Wild in Art’s third trail in the city following hot on the hooves of the Cows about Cambridge trail in 2021 and the Cambridge Standing Tall giraffe trail in 2024.
Not only will it raise vital funds for Children’s Services at Addenbrooke’s but it will also generate millions of pounds in economic value for the region whilst promoting wellbeing and an active lifestyle.
The giant sculptures, which will be placed along a route that includes the Museum of Zoology, will have the black and white head of the panda with the bodies of each sculpture adorned with designs from local artists.
ACT will also work with local schools and youth community groups on the design of some 30 plus mini panda sculptures as part of the charity’s Learning and Community Programme, making the trail accessible to all. These mini pandas will also feature as part of the trail.
Local business will sponsor the large pandas with a special Farewell Event planned for June next year before all the designs are auctioned off, with proceeds going towards ACT’s fundraising for Children’s Services at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, which includes the Cambridge Children’s Hospital.
Find out more on www.pandameander.co.uk and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
