The highly anticipated public art trail featuring a rainbow of penguin sculptures has been launched in Worcester. The Great Waddle of Worcester runs from July 22 to September 15, celebrating St Richard’s Hospice’s 40th year. The eight-week event showcases 80 uniquely designed sculptures and a digital art installation along a five-mile trail, raising funds for hospice care. This follows the charity’s successful elephant and giraffe trails in 2018 and 2021, which raised over £700,000 combined.
Sara Matthews, Business Development Manager for St Richard’s, said:
“We are so excited to be bringing our third trail to Worcester and can’t wait to see families, friends and colleagues waddling with us this summer!
“No creature captures the spirit of St Richard’s Hospice better than these beautiful birds who are always looking out for their neighbour. We want our community to know that, just like the penguin, our huddle is here for those with an illness that cannot be cured and their loved ones experiencing grief. Together we can weather the storm.”
Of the 80 sculptures, 40 large penguins were designed by artists and sponsored by various organizations. The other 40 smaller chick sculptures were decorated by schools and community groups and are displayed in city center shop windows and Crowngate Shopping Centre. A digital art installation highlights the contributions of hospices to their communities. Inspired by penguins giving pebbles as tokens of love, the public can create their own pebble artwork, upload it online, and see it brought to life at Crowngate Shopping Centre.
Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder of Wild in Art, said:
“The great Waddle of Worcester is another wonderful opportunity to bring business, artists, schools and communities together through the power of creativity.
“We hope everyone has a flippin’ fantastic time discovering dazzlingly designed penguins and sharing the stories that inspired each work of art – and which may well inspire local artists of the future!”
Trail maps – sponsored by Blue Print Direct Mail – are available from Worcester Tourist Information Centre, St Richard’s Hospice shops and the trail’s pop-up shop at 14 Chapel Walk, Crowngate Shopping Centre. Sticker books, official merchandise and penguin-themed goodies lovingly handcrafted by hospice supporters, are also available at the pop-up shop.
There is also an app for the trail – sponsored by local healthcare manufacturer Kimal – which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store for £1.99.
The app allows visitors to the trail to track their progress as they walk the route, discovering the happy huddle and facts about the city along the way.
