LEEDS WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT

Going on a Bear Hunt? Well look no further than Leeds city centre where the incredible Wild in Art Bear sculptures have been let loose! Spanning across the whole of Leeds city centre, 35 giant bears and 50 cubs are hidden in plain sight. And it’s up to you to see if you can find them all. This family friendly trail is spread across three different coloured zones: orange, blue and green,  so why not make more than one visit and explore each zone every time you come into Leeds.

You’ll learn something new about our great city as you discover all the bears in the trail. Each bear has been designed with its own wonderful story to tell and is situated in its own iconic location in Leeds.

Here’s our top three bears (for now) but we’ll be adding more of our favourites as the summer holidays progress.

X-Bear

• Victoria Gardens Leeds, LS1 3AB
• By Marta Zubieta

X-bear is representative of one of the most famous scientific discoveries here in Leeds- the X-ray! X-rays were discovered by a man named William Henry Bragg and his son at the University of Leeds. X-rays also paved the way for other scientific progressions such as understanding DNA structures. This helps us understand the genetic conditions of patients, even before they’re born! The story of X-Bear links Leeds City Council, Leeds Hospitals Charity with this famous local history which has changed the world of medicine for everyone.

Balance Bear

• Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6BG
• By Amelia Fry

If you look closely at Balance Bear you will notice both sides show a different side of Leeds. One side represents the vibrant atmosphere of the city, and the other showcases the peaceful countryside on our doorstep. The message conveyed is one of having a healthy, balanced lifestyle, immersing ourselves both in our lively city and within our beautiful landscapes. Promoting a sense of wellbeing and general health, Balance Bear encourages you to explore the city and take a day trip to enjoy the most breath-taking countryside of the Yorkshire Dales .

We Are Leeds

• Merrion Centre, Merrion Way, Leeds LS2 8NG
• By Ekaterina Sheath

We Are Leeds is a bear that truly represents the diversity of our city. Ekaterina painted each character based on the people who walked past her. Leeds is bursting with diversity, and we are thrilled that this bear shows how many vibrant communities make up our brilliant city. Ekaterina hopes to ‘encourage a sense of pride as locals to see our vibrant multicultural community celebrated’. There’s no getting away from it! WE ARE LEEDS!

Remember to download the Leeds Bear Hunt app, where you can collect the bears, follow a digital map, and earn rewards. From competition draws, to free books, your dedication to exploration will not go unappreciated. On your route, make sure to stop off at the bear cave for maps, merchandise, and lots of other bear-related goodies!

Happy exploring!

All the bears have been commissioned to support Leeds Hospitals Charity, who are dedicated to ‘helping the lives of the smallest patients’. The bears are also being auctioned at the end of the trail period for this great cause! This free public trail is open to all explorers, big and small, until the 9^th of September.