Don’t be alarmed if you see a host of giant hares spread across the Cotswolds this summer, the five-foot tall sculptures are the centrepiece of the annual Cotswolds Hare Trail.

Now in its fifth year, the Cotswolds’ biggest public art trail will run from Tuesday 22nd May to Sunday 9th September 2018. As in previous years, hundreds of spring hare sculptures will be sponsored by local businesses and attractions and decorated by local artists, before being dotted throughout the Cotswolds for all to enjoy this summer. After the exhibition has finished, the sculptures will be brought together for a farewell event, before being auctioned off to raise money for the Cotswolds AONB.

Local artist Georgina Bouzyk was pleased to be asked to paint one of the hares for the 2018 trail. Her hare, designed around the theme of a Cotswold garden, is sponsored by The Local Answer, so be sure to look out for it! Georgina based her hare on the design of a Cotswold garden. She said: “I was inspired by the rambling roses growing up the walls in the summer and the textures and unique colours of Cotswold stone, I felt it made a beautiful combination to interpret into the hare. When my sculpture arrived, I also admired the shape and form of the hare, so I wanted the design to compliment the shape.

“I painted the hare in acrylic paint. I liked the acrylics I used, which were intense in colour and some of the colours had different transparencies, so I had a play in layering up the colours and experimenting with some bold, block colours. I felt the design needed to be bold and dramatic and eye catching. I treated the hare and the surface as if it were a canvas, which was the best approach really. It also needed to be fully weatherproof, so with an exterior gloss it is tough and can clearly survive any weather, which is really important.”

Festival founder and Director, Florence Beetlestone, says the 2018 trail promises to be the biggest yet. She said: “Last year our 104 hares and leverets raised over £60,000 at auction, and we know this year’s trail will be even bigger. We hope to raise even more money to fund two key Cotswolds AONB conservation initiatives.

“Over the years our hares have really brought the Cotswold community together and innovative ideas for this year’s trail are so impressive. The aim of the trail is to showcase local creativity, as well as remind us all of the constant need to preserve and protect our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

Liz Eyre, Chairman of the Cotswolds Conservation Board, added: “The Cotswolds Conservation Board is delighted to be supporting this year’s Cotswolds Hare Trail, giving the Board an opportunity to increase greater awareness and understanding of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The hares will be located in towns and villages across the 790 square miles of England’s third largest protected landscape.

“Funds generated from the hares’ auction at the end of the trail will support the AONB’s Caring for the Cotswolds visitor giving scheme and Glorious Cotswold Grasslands; delivering a unique and tailored project to transform the fortunes of our wonderful flower rich grasslands”.