Eco Bear Trail bows out after drawing families into Warwick
Warwick has brought the curtain down on its Eco Bear Trail, a family-friendly route that guided visitors around the town through spring and early summer. Launched by Warwick Town Council for the May half-term, the project centred on six life-size bears created by local artist Suw Mitchell, with four designed by pupils from Evergreen School, Warwick Prep School, Warwick Junior School and Westgate Primary School as part of the Bottles to Bears initiative.
Each bear stood at around four feet in height and was formed from recycled plastic bottles gathered from the Pageant Gardens fish sculpture — the eye-catching installation named Fin Diesel and launched during last year’s Great Big Green Week. The trail was mapped across the town centre to encourage people to explore side streets and lesser-known spots, while underlining messages about re-use, reducing waste and caring for the environment.
“The Warwick Eco Bear Trail proved a huge success and helped people explore some of the wonderful quirky nooks and crannies around our town, not to mention find our fabulous independent businesses and check out attractions they may not have heard about. It was fabulous to have local schoolchildren involved in something that was so well received and we look forward to more projects like this.
“While we're sad to wave goodbye to our bears, the Through the Shop Window trail will be another great way to discover Warwick - whether you're a local or someone visiting for a day, weekend or even week.”
As the project wrapped up, the bears were brought together for a group photograph with artist Suw Mitchell, the Mayor of Warwick Cllr Simon Pargeter and former Mayor Jackie D’Arcy. On the occasion, D’Arcy was presented with a special mayoral bear, affectionately named Pauline.
From bears to shopfront stories
The close of the Eco Bear Trail makes way for a fresh activity designed to keep footfall moving and curiosity piqued over the summer. Created by Warwick’s Market Hall Museum as part of its Warwick Castle Unboxed series, the new trail — titled Through the Shop Window — aims to uncover the fascinating stories of the town’s shops and businesses. Building on the momentum of the bears, it provides another reason for residents and visitors to spend time in the town centre.
For families who enjoyed piecing together the bear route, the new trail offers continuity: a free, walkable activity that links culture, heritage and local commerce. For independent traders, the approach helps signpost potential customers to locations they may not otherwise visit, echoing the Town Council’s objective of highlighting Warwick’s distinctive retail and historic character.
Schools’ creativity and local sustainability in focus
Central to the bears’ appeal was the way Warwick’s schools were invited to give each sculpture a distinct personality and backstory — a hands-on way to talk about materials, waste and the circular economy. The recycled bottles, sourced from the Fin Diesel sculpture in Pageant Gardens, connected the project to an ongoing community conversation about environmental responsibility.
| Contributor | Role in Eco Bear Trail |
|---|---|
| Evergreen School | Designed bear; created personality and biography |
| Warwick Prep School | Designed bear; created personality and biography |
| Warwick Junior School | Designed bear; created personality and biography |
| Westgate Primary School | Designed bear; created personality and biography |
| Suw Mitchell | Sculpted all six life-size bears |
| Warwick Town Council | Organised the trail for May half-term |
What residents can expect next
With Through the Shop Window now taking the baton, the emphasis remains on discovery. The new trail is intended to encourage people to look more closely at the town’s commercial heritage and present-day offer. The format mirrors what worked for the bears: a clearly marked route that invites slow exploration, a family-friendly rhythm, and a direct link between cultural activity and the vitality of local businesses.
- Six life-size bears featured in the Eco Bear Trail.
- Four bears were designed by local schools under Bottles to Bears.
- All bears were made from recycled bottles linked to the Fin Diesel sculpture.
- A new shop-history trail by Market Hall Museum now replaces the bears.
Organisers say the Eco Bear Trail helped point people towards independent retailers and attractions that can be missed on a typical visit. The successor trail taps into the same principle: that a well-signposted walk can bring stories — and shoppers — to Warwick’s doorways. For residents, it is another low-cost way to spend time in town; for traders, a steady stream of curious passers-by at a pivotal time of year.
