A special delivery of 29 giant pandas and 40 panda cubs has arrived in the UK – brilliant white sculptures set to be decorated and celebrated as part of the Panda Meander art trail coming to Cambridge in Spring 2027.
An array of beautiful and unique designs, from artists in Cambridge and across the UK, have been selected by a host of local businesses sponsoring a panda to raise funds to build the first specialist children's hospital for the East of England as well as supporting children's services at Addenbrooke's.
Panda Meander art trail will be Wild in Art's third trail in the city and is hosted by Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (ACT). The charity funds cutting-edge equipment, specialist staff, extra comforts and pioneering research that helps change and save lives, for Addenbrooke's and the Rosie, above and beyond what the NHS can provide.
Already, friendly little black and white panda decals are springing up all over Cambridge – peeking out from shop windows across the City, popping up online, and in bus shelters and on digital billboards – as well as Addenbrooke's.
Teasing the trail, the friendly animals - known for their playfulness in real life - will soon be popping up on the back of delivery lorries from the Welch Group too, ACT's logistics partner for the trail.
The last time real pandas were in the UK was when Tian Tian and Yang Guang were loaned to Edinburgh Zoo, where they lived from 2011 until their return to China in 2023.
But in an exciting turn of events, pandas returned to the UK with an overnight shipment of 29 giant pandas and 40 panda cubs delivered to Welch Group's warehouse first thing on Thursday morning (8th).
Matt Moore, Head of Commercial at Welch Group, joked that pandas were a 'first' for the company, saying: "We have moved parcels, pallets, plant machinery and planes, but 29 giant pandas is a first. They're the most popular cargo we've ever had on board, and I'm not sure any load has made more people smile. Cambridge is counting on them, so we took extra care to get every one there safe, sound and with their paws firmly on the ground."
Celebrating the delivery with a welcoming party from ACT, Georgia Pallett, ACT’s Wild in Art Project Manager, said: “It’s been a fantastic morning watching our pandas and cubs be unloaded safely into Welch Group’s warehouse ahead of being painted by artists, schools, and community groups later this month."
"Never did I ever think in my professional life that I would be quality controlling a large panda, but I’m pleased that they’ve arrived in one piece from their journey from a factory in Poland. Today has been such a fun part of Panda Meander’s journey, and it’s made the team even more excited for what’s to come in Spring 2027! We’re incredibly grateful for all the logistics support that the Welch Group are kindly providing to the charity for this trail to help us raise funds to build the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital as well as supporting children’s services at Addenbrooke’s.”
Cambridge Children's Hospital will be the first in the world to fully integrate the mental and physical health of young patients, alongside world-leading research. Building works are due to start next year, with construction set to complete by the end of 2030.
The hospital will be spread over five floors and include 108 inpatient beds, 16 paediatric intensive care beds, 42 day-case beds, seven operating theatres, imaging and diagnostics, a hospital school and a 5,000 square metre research institute.
SAVE THE DATE!!
Panda Meander will hit the streets of Cambridge from 20 March to 30 May 2027. A total of 30 giant panda sculptures, including the original 'hero' sculpture decorated with striking black and white illustrations of famous Cambridge landmarks from artist Robin Mackney, will take visitors to some of the city's most iconic buildings and places of interest. Also included in the trail will be mini pandas, known as cubs, decorated by schools and community groups.
The giant pandas will be auctioned off by ACT's Lead Trail Partner, Cheffins, at a special farewell auction at the end of June 2027.
To donate to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust go to: https://act4addenbrookes.org.uk/donate
To follow updates on Panda Meander go to: https://pandameander.co.uk
