Trail with a Tale hares find their way home

Zippy Quicktail was one of the first sculptures to be completed for Trail with a Tale, which took place in Tunbridge Wells earlier this year.

The small star-gazing hare was designed and painted by artist Elaine Gill. Painted in bright and beautiful colours, he celebrates the wonderful work of Demelza.

Zippy was used a lot in the run up to the trail to promote it and was a very recognisable character during the campaign.

He was hosted at The Lodge Coffee Shop in the town and was visited by hundreds of people following their maps around Tunbridge Wells to find all 38 sculptures.

At the end of September when the trail had finished, an auction event took place to raise funds for Demelza.

Nine of the sculptures were auctioned off and guests at the event were also invited to donate so Zippy could have a permanent home at Demelza as an amazing addition to our gardens for children and families to enjoy for years to come.

Generous supporters raised a fantastic £850 for Zippy and he has now found his forever home at Demelza Sittingbourne.

One of the other small star-gazing hares featured at the auction was Hatty - designed by the children at St Peter’s C of E Primary School in Tunbridge Wells.

Hatty was painted in the school’s navy and light blue uniform and looked very smart throughout her Trail stay at Kids Stuff in Royal Victoria Place.

She was won by a bidder at the auction who paid an amazing £2,200 for her. After taking Hatty home and trying her in all corners of her house, the bidder decided she would fit much better back at the school with the children who designed her.

Demelza’s Area Fundraising Manager Katie Hook said: “It was lovely to see how happy our wonderful supporter was when she won Hatty at our auction.

“To hear that she has so generously donated her back to St Peter’s pupils is just the icing on the cake.

“The children love her and are delighted to have her at the school to enjoy.”