Companies sponsoring Cambridge's 2027 giant panda sculpture trail, raising funds for children's services at Addenbrooke's as well as a groundbreaking new children's hospital for the East of England, have said a visit to the construction site has strengthened their resolve to push fundraising as far as they can.
Panda Meander will be the City's third Wild in Art sculpture trail and is hosted by Addenbrooke's hospital charity, Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (ACT) - with proceeds going towards making children's services at the hospital even better and building Cambridge Children’s Hospital, the first specialist children's hospital in the East of England.
The East of England is the only region in the UK without a specialist children's hospital. This unique new hospital, to be built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, will be the first in the world to fully integrate the mental and physical health of young patients, alongside world-leading research. Construction is due to start next year, with building works set to complete by the end of 2030.
Cambridge Children's 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.
Panda Meander will hit the streets of Cambridge from 20 March to 30 May 2027 – with around 30 giant panda sculptures, alongside upwards of 30 cubs designed by schools and community groups, taking visitors to some of the city's most iconic landmarks.
Companies behind sponsorship of the trail were this week treated to a special tour of children's services at Addenbrooke's, along with a visit to the construction site of Cambridge Children’s Hospital - showing them exactly where their support will be going.
Panda Meander's Lead Trail Partner, Cheffins, was one of several partners invited to the tour, along with Cambridge BID (Business & Development Partner); the Welch Group (Logistics Partner), who will be transporting and installing the giant pandas; Huttie (App Sponsor); Cambridge Independent (Media Partner); Whippet (Travel Partner), who will be inviting a very special VIP to their service in the New Year and Prologis (Schools and Community Group Partner).
Speaking at the construction site of the new hospital, Cheffins' Chairman Bill King said: "As Lead Trail Partner for Panda Meander, Cheffins are incredibly proud to be involved in such a fun and ambitious project. To have been able to visit some of the children's services at Addenbrooke's today and meet the dedicated teams caring for young patients and their families was very moving."
"Seeing first-hand the support available at some of the toughest moments in a family's life brings home just how important this project is. Knowing that, together with all the other partners involved in the trail, we will be growing these services as well as helping to build a groundbreaking new children’s hospital here in Cambridge is something we are extremely excited to be a part of.”
“To have set foot on the construction site, and see the groundworks that have already taken place ahead of construction, has only strengthened our resolve to push our fundraising efforts as far as we can – knowing that by doing so our staff, and supporters, will have contributed to an amazing new hospital that will change the lives of children and families not just here in the East of England but nationally and globally too.”
His sentiments were echoed by Maria Manion, Chief Executive of Cambridge BID, who spoke about the importance of the trail to Cambridge and the city's businesses.
Data from the 2021 Cows Across Cambridge art trail showed that more than half a million people engaged with the trail. In addition, 84% of visitors said it encouraged them to visit parts of Cambridge they had not previously explored. The trail contributed £5.95 million in gross value added (GVA) to the local economy, underlining the trail's significant economic and social impact across the city.
Maria said: "The Panda trail is going to bring a real sense of excitement to Cambridge, encouraging people to explore the city while giving businesses the opportunity to be part of something creative, visible, and incredibly meaningful."
"We've seen from previous trails how powerful these projects can be in bringing people into the city, creating new reasons to visit and generating fantastic engagement for the businesses involved. But what makes this trail particularly special is the legacy behind it. Supporting the future Cambridge Children’s Hospital means every business that gets involved is helping contribute to something that will make a difference to children and families for generations to come."
"We’re incredibly proud to support the trail and would encourage Cambridge businesses to get behind it and be part of something truly special for our City.”
Chris Welch, Managing Director of the Welch group, said becoming a partner for Panda Meander was 'an easy yes', saying: "This is exactly the kind of community project Welch Group exists to support, and honestly, who doesn't love a panda?"
“As logistics partner, we'll be storing, transporting and helping site all the sculptures across Cambridge, which means a fair bit of careful overnight planning to get these gentle giants into position without anyone noticing until they're ready to be seen."
“But what really stays with me is our visit to children's services and meeting the teams we're all working to support. As a dad myself, seeing the incredible work happening at Addenbrooke's, and knowing this trail will help build the new Cambridge Children's Hospital, makes this so much more than a logistics job."
Paul Brackley, Editor of the Cambridge Independent, said: "We're really looking forward to seeing pandas taking over Cambridge. The previous sculpture trails have been great fun and generated a lot of interest, while raising money for charity."
"We're pleased to be working with Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust to support the Panda Meander trail and are delighted to see businesses getting on board and backing it too."
"Not only will the trail be a huge talking point for the city, but it will raise funds to help the new Cambridge Children's Hospital - and there can be no better cause than that."
Paul Weston, Regional Head of Prologis UK, said: “Prologis is committed to supporting initiatives that bring people together and make a positive difference to the local community, whether through skills and career development, charitable acts or public art. As Panda Meander’s Schools and Community Group Partner, Prologis is delighted to have the opportunity to engage and inspire young people while strengthening our connection with the wider Cambridge community. We look forward to seeing the creativity and energy they bring to the trail.”
Rob Heuschkel, consultant paediatric gastroenterologist and clinical director for the Cambridge Children’s Hospital project, explained the importance of the new hospital: “I think being a consultant who’s working and seeing patients every day, you really understand the urgency and the importance of this new building.”
“Children around the region will be able to get specialist inpatient paediatric care at this hospital, which is provided in a completely different way by integrating mental and physical health, having facilities that really are looking to provide an environment where you can heal and get better in a way that we can’t do in the current facilities.”
Vicky Amiss-Smith, Clinical Lead Nurse at Cambridge Children's Hospital, led the tour and said: "I am so thrilled that the Panda Meander Trail is coming to Cambridge to raise funds for children's services and the Cambridge Children’s Hospital. Our vision of integrating mental and physical healthcare, with school and research, is unique, just like each of the pandas who are being lovingly created by many incredible artists. The trail will be a wonderful way for people to explore this beautiful city, whilst learning more about the first specialist children’s hospital in the East of England.”
Victoria Durant, Fundraising Campaign Manager for Cambridge Children’s Hospital, said: “It has been a pleasure to meet the main partners for our Panda Meander Trail. Their support will help boost funds for children's services and the Cambridge Children’s Hospital. Having visited the children’s wards at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where the patients already receive exceptional care, we have seen how the new hospital will make that experience even better, with en-suite rooms, lots of outdoor space, play areas, and child-friendly facilities.”
Georgia Pallett, ACT's Wild in Art Project Manager, said: "It's been a pleasure hosting this tour for all our partners and to watch their excitement grow as they see exactly what their efforts will achieve. There's a real sense of momentum and excitement that extends to all the businesses and schools who have signed up to be part of Panda Meander 2027. If there are any businesses who would like to sponsor a panda, or schools who would like to be part of our Cub Club, please get in touch at: [email protected]."
Panda Meander will run for 10 weeks (20 March to 30 May 2027) - taking in Easter and both May Bank Holidays. It will be Wild in Art’s third trail in the city following hot on the hooves of Cows about Cambridge in 2021 and the Cambridge Standing Tall giraffe trail in 2024.
Designs from local artists will keep the eyes, ears and nose of the panda black but allow them to be creative with the rest of the body.
Standing at 140 centimetres high and 100 centimetres wide, there will 30 pandas placed along the trail, with an accompanying pull-out map and guide published next year by Cambridge Independent.
ACT is also working with local schools and youth community groups on the design of around 30 mini panda sculptures as part of the charity’s Schools and Community Programme (Cub Club), sponsored by partner Prologis, making the trail accessible to all. These mini pandas will also feature as part of the trail.
ACT's adoption of the panda for the trail was chosen because of the animal's link to the charity's funding of the PaNDR service. An important part of children’s services at Addenbrooke’s, the Paediatric and Neonatal Decision and Support Retrieval service transports the region’s sickest babies and children from hospital to the nearest intensive care.
The very first giant panda design, unveiled at the trail launch at the Museum of Zoology in Cambridge back in March, features black and white illustrations from local artist, Robin Mackney. Referred to as the 'hero sculpture', it features some of the most iconic buildings and landmarks of Cambridge.
A smaller, multi-coloured design, from creative partner 6RS, will be seen out and about at special events in the lead up to next year's trail.
A special Gala Auction is planned for June next year when all the designs will be auctioned off, with proceeds going towards children’s services at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, and Cambridge Children’s Hospital.
ACT fundraises for cutting-edge equipment, pioneering research and specialist services at Addenbrooke's with supporters also raising funds for two new hospitals in the City - Cambridge Children's Hospital and Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.
To donate, please go to: www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/donate.
Businesses and schools who would like to sponsor a Panda should get in touch now by emailing: [email protected]
Head to the official website for the Panda Meander Trail, and follow on socials, at: www.pandameander.co.uk
