A NEW public art trail celebrating the arrival of Asiatic bears to Jersey Zoo has been announced by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
The trail, titled Bears & Bees, will launch in July 2027 and aims to shine a light on the relationship between the largest and smallest inhabitants of the natural world.
Delivered in partnership with Wild in Art, the trail will see individually designed bear and bee sculptures dotted across both Jersey’s coastal landscapes and urban spaces.
Jersey artists of all experience levels will then be invited to submit designs that transform the sculptures into works of art.
Following the summer trail, Islanders will be given the opportunity to purchase the sculptures at a celebratory fundraising auction.
The Bears & Bees trail follows the success of similar public art trails Go Wild Gorillas and Tortoise Takeover – both of which helped to raise funds for Jersey Zoo while promoting Durrell’s ongoing global conservation work.
It will run in tandem with the arrival of Asiatic bears to a new, state-of-the-art enclosure at Jersey Zoo.
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust chief executive officer Rebecca Brewer said that she hoped the new trail will encourage Islanders to connect with their surroundings.
“Inspiring people to engage with wildlife has always been at the heart of Durrell’s mission,” she said. “We want everyone who connects with our work, whether at Jersey Zoo or through our conservation projects around the world, to feel they can make a difference for nature.”
She added that the Bears & Bees trail represented a “wonderful way to bring that belief to life”.
“Go Wild Gorillas and Tortoise Takeover brought so much joy to Jersey,” Ms Brewer said. “They encouraged people to explore parts of the Island they might never have visited, walk new paths, meet new people and create lasting memories.
“Together, we can create another memorable summer for Jersey while raising vital funds for Durrell’s work at Jersey Zoo and around the world.”
