The Short Tail Trail is a family-friendly sculpture trail around Luton town centre, Stockwood Park and Wardown Park, lasting 10 weeks, from 6 July to 12 September 2024.

The trail will feature 90 sculptures of hares and tortoises.

When the trail is live you will be able to download a free app to help you find and collect the sculptures.

We have a map on the website that shows the locations of all of the sculptures – click here.

You can also download the free trail app which includes a map.

Our printed trail maps will be available during the trail from the following locations:

• Keech Hospice Care, Great Bramingham Lane, LU3 3NT
• Wardown House, Museum & Gallery, Wardown Park, LU2 7HA
• Keech Retail Shop, Park Street, LU1 3EP
• Stockwood Discovery Centre, Stockwood Park, LU1 4LX

For more information click here.

Yes – and it is free to download!

The Short Tail Trail app is available on the App Store and Google Play. The app includes a trail map, details of all the sculptures, artists and sponsors.

For more information about the app click here.

You can pick up your Short Tail Trail gifts from the following locations:

• Keech Hospice Care, Great Bramingham Lane, LU3 3NT
• Wardown House, Museum & Gallery, Wardown Park, LU2 7HA
• Keech Retail Shop, Park Street, LU1 3EP
• Stockwood Discovery Centre, Stockwood Park, LU1 4LX

Click here for a list showing the locations of each of the small sculptures on the trail.

After the huge success of The Big Trunk Trail, we considered long and hard about what animals would once again bring our community together.

The Tortoise and the Hare fable is a much loved and well known story that depicts the importance of working together. The tortoise symbolises longevity and the ability to thrive, which depicts our heritage, our resilience and our approach to the work we do. The hares symbolise nature, love and family but are also associated with new beginnings. We see the hares representing the community as they are the ones that will ignite ‘change’; whether that’s through us listening to our supporters’ views to make change, or a nod to the change that takes place when patients and their loved ones access our care.

As a charity, 70% of Keech Hospice Care’s funding comes from its local community and supporters, without who we can’t keep making the difference when it matters the most. These beautiful hares and tortoises are a visual reminder of the importance of our community coming together to make the difference.

The Short Tail Trail is a Wild in Art event brought to Luton by Keech Hospice Care.

Wild in Art is the leading producer of spectacular public art events that entertain, enrich, inform and connect communities. Their events encourage exploration and discovery in towns and cities, driving footfall, increasing dwell time, benefitting health and wellbeing – bringing joy and smiles to all. Find out more

The Short Tail Trail is supported by:

• Project Presenting Partner; Love Luton
• Community and Volunteering Partner; Luton Rising
• Print Partner; Treacle Factory
• Business Presenting Partner; Luton Point (formerly The Mall, Luton)
• Business Presenting Partner; Luton BID
• Community and Education Partner; University of Bedfordshire

We are looking for people to become our volunteer Trail Blazers for The Short Tail Trail. Click here to find out more.

You can also keep an eye on our website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (Twitter) for any other opportunities.

• Be a key part of bringing the Short Trail Trail to Luton in 2024
• Support the work of Keech Hospice Care, the adult hospice for Luton and Bedfordshire and the children’s hospice for Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes.
• Promote your business or organisation in a positive and creative way
• Generate great PR and visibility for your business or organisation
• Increase social media presence via Short Tail Trail channels
• Advertise to potential customers using the Short Tail Trail app
• Create Business-to-Business networking opportunities

Find out more

Proceeds from the auction of sculptures at the end of the trail will provide vital funds to support the ongoing work of the hospice across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes. As a charity, 70% of Keech Hospice Care’s funding comes from its local community and supporters, without who we can’t keep making the difference when it matters the most.

The Short Tail Trail also offers the chance to develop partnerships with the local community, raising awareness of the work of the hospice and increasing lasting support.

Find out more

In summer 2024, 90 hares and tortoises will form the biggest and most unique outdoor public art event Luton’s ever seen. These stunning sculptures will shine bright along the fun and family-friendly art trail around Luton’s town centre and local parks, bringing together the community for one unforgettable event.

The Short Tail Trail will bring together communities and visitors to make amazing memories through creativity. Trail explorers young and old will have fun rediscovering Luton, learning about the artwork and spending time together.

The large hare and tortoise sculptures are sponsored by local companies and organisations. Find out more.

The smaller sculptures will be each be sponsored by a school or community group (with a few sponsored by another organisation on behalf of the school or group). Find out more

The Short Tail Trail is a fundraising project for Keech Hospice Care and its thanks to our Partners and Sponsors that we are able to put the trail on.

The trail will end on 12 September 2024. After this, there will be a final opportunity to view all of the sculptures together at our Farewell Weekend.

The small sculptures will then return to their forever homes with the schools and community groups that created them.

The large sculptures will go under the hammer at our Auction, raising vital funds to support the ongoing work of Keech Hospice Care.