Supporters of next year’s giant panda sculpture trail say visiting the Cambridge Children’s Hospital construction site has strengthened their resolve to push fundraising as far as they can.

Panda Meander will be Cambridge’s third Wild in Art sculpture trail, hosted by Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) with proceeds supporting children’s services and the construction of the new hospital.

Tour around the current children’s services at Addenbrooke's and the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital site. Picture: Keith Heppell

The trail, supported by the Cambridge Independent, will hit Cambridge’s streets from 20 March to 30 May 2027, with around 30 giant panda sculptures, alongside 30-plus cubs designed by schools and community groups, taking visitors to some of the city’s landmarks.

Those sponsoring the trail were given a tour of children’s services at Addenbrooke’s, along with a visit to the construction site, on Monday (17 August).

Speaking at the site, Bill King, chairman of lead trail partner Cheffins, said: “To have been able to visit some of the children’s services at Addenbrooke’s and meet the dedicated teams caring for young patients and their families was very moving.”

He added: “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.”

Tour around children’s services at Addenbrooke's and the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital site. Picture: Keith Heppell

The East of England is the only region in the UK without a specialist children’s hospital. The 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 be completed by the end of 2030.

The 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.

Vicky Amiss-Smith, the lead nurse for Cambridge Children’s Hospital, and Rob Heuschkel, consultant paediatric gastroenterologist and clinical director for Cambridge Children's Hospital Project. Picture: Keith Heppell

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 pediatric 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.”

Tour around children’s services at Addenbrooke's and the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital site. Picture: Keith Heppell

Mr King’s 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 per cent of visitors said it encouraged them to visit parts of Cambridge they had not previously explored.

The trail contributed £5.95million in gross value added (GVA) to the local economy, underlining its significant economic and social impact across the city.

Tour around children’s services at Addenbrooke's and the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital site. Picture: Keith Heppell

Maria said: “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 of 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.”

Tour around children’s services at Addenbrooke's and the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital site. Picture: Keith Heppell

Chris Welch, managing director of the Welch group, said becoming a partner for Panda Meander was “an easy yes”, adding: “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.”

Paul Weston, regional head of Prologis UK, said: “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.”

The first sculpture for the Panda Meander sculpture trail. Picture: Paul Brackley

Cambridge Independent editor Paul Brackley said: “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.”

How Cambridge Children's Hospital will look

Businesses and schools who would like to sponsor a panda can email arttrail@act4addenbrookes.org.uk.

For more on the trail, visit pandameander.co.uk.

To support ACT, go to: act4addenbrookes.org.uk/donate.

---

---