Hospice pulls a special rabbit out of the hat

NEWCASTLE will be taken over by rabbits next summer - or to be precise, by a horde of brightly painted Peter Rabbits.

- SAM VOLPE Reporter [e-mail]

This is part of the latest summer public art trail in aid of St Oswald's Hospice. The Beatrix Potter character - a children’s favourite for generations - will follow in the footsteps of the Great North Snowdogs, Elmer the elephant, and Shaun the Sheep as the inspiration for a showstopping trail around the region in aid of the hospice charity.

The trail will see at least 30 sculptures in Newcastle, along with 10 more in North Tyneside, for nine weeks from July 15 next year. The trail is to be in partnership with Wild in Art and the World of Peter Rabbit. Groups and individuals also now have the opportunity to sponsor a sculpture. Sponsors will be matched with an artist who will then produce a unique design.

The trail will be called Tales on the Tyne and will also see a region-wide learning programme for schools and children’s groups - and a number of smaller Peter Rabbit sculptures forming a second trail across Newcastle. As with the previous trails, at its conclusion the sculptures will be auctioned to raise cash for St Oswald’s Hospice.