St Clare Hospice and Cloudco Entertainment have announced ‘Lions on the Loose,’ an art trail featuring 30 lion sculptures.
The first sculpture, a Care Bears-themed lion, was recently unveiled.
Rosie Knowles, deputy CEO of St Clare Hospice, said: “What a fabulous treat we have in store for local people.
“Our hero lion has been decorated in the colourful and popular Care Bears style, bringing feelings of care and fun to the 2026 trail.”
The sculptures, decorated by artists, will be placed around the towns next summer.
Like the Care Bears lion, all will be uniquely designed, with an aim to bring colour and joy to the community.
The street art collective MurWalls were praised for their work on the Care Bears lion, which is expected to be a favourite among the collection.
Marc Silver, founder and CEO of MurWalls, said: “We are proud to support St Clare Hospice by painting a bright and glittery lion sculpture for their upcoming trail.
“The Care Bears’ message of compassion, kindness, and emotional support mirrors the heart of St Clare’s mission – providing comfort and care to those who need it most.”
The art trail will not only consist of the 30 full-sized lions, but also an additional 30 half-sized lions.
These will be designed by local schools and youth groups to celebrate creativity and community spirit.
Each lion, after its summer adventure, will be auctioned to raise funds for St Clare Hospice.
Charlie Langhorne, managing director and co-founder of Wild in Art, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with St Clare Hospice to bring ‘Lions on the Loose’ to life in Harlow and Epping.
“This Care Bears lion is the perfect start to what promises to be an extraordinary trail.”
The event is supported by several sponsors, including Harlow Health Centre Trust, Harlow Council, and Epping Forest District Council.
For those wishing to support the initiative, lion sponsorship is available.
Interested parties can find more information on the Lions on the Loose website.
