We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – with Forest Holidays!

BRANDORA Editorial Staff - November 2019

Walker Books, the world’s leading wholly independent publisher of English-language children’s books, along with its sister companies Candlewick Press in the US and Walker Books Australia, has announced a brand-new We’re Going on a Bear Hunt nature trail challenge at Forest Holidays locations, a provider of sustainable holidays in Britain’s forests.

For the first time, the We’re Going on a Bear Hunt book and much-loved illustrations are being brought to life in an exciting and fascinating Discovery Trail, courtesy of Forest Holidays. Visitors in the forest can join Max, Rosie and their family – during the 30th anniversary year of one of the most popular children’s books ever – as they wade through grass, splash through rivers and squelch through mud to find a bear.

The self-led discovery trail is open to everyone at nine Forest Holidays’ locations across the UK: Deerpark, Forest of Dean, Thorpe, Sherwood Forest, Blackwood Forest, Keldy, Cropton, Strathyre and Argyll. Guests (and members of the public) can follow a map to 10 trail points across the forest and solve different clues along the way.

A We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Discovery Trail activity pack is supplied. It includes advice on how to make an insect home to give garden bugs somewhere safe to live, as well as nature-based counting and drawing activities. Boards in the forest lead guests on a self-led discovery trail, offering fun facts and activities to encourage children to watch wildlife and hunt for bugs while taking part.

This event, uniquely appropriate to the famous book’s story, and very family-friendly, has been launched in time for families to book a pre-Christmas break in the forest. The activity is available now at nine Forest Holidays locations and is running until spring 2020.

Forest Holidays cabins are situated in beautiful corners of the UK’s forests. Forest Holidays’ promise, hand in hand with its local partners, Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland and Natural Resources Wales, is to help the forests thrive, so that they are better than ever for future generations. The company aims to create authentic experiences in Britain’s amazing forests – connecting people, nature and local communities.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt combines the formidable storytelling talent of former children’s laureate Michael Rosen with the unforgettable drawings of Helen Oxenbury in a light-hearted tale of a family’s bold quest that has inspired a hit stage play and television adaptation as well as selling close to ten million copies in its 30 years in print.

This property also has a powerful presence at retail in multiple book formats, a success that has attracted strong interest from both licensees and retail since the launch by Walker of a licensing programme in 2016. With thirtieth anniversary celebrations in full swing, the licensee list already includes plush, games, apparel, stationery, babywear, wall stickers, greetings cards and DVDs. Many family-friendly promotions – including the Forest Holidays’ events – are also planned or under way.

Sam Rowley, Head of Retail, Forest Holidays, says: “After 30 years We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is more popular than ever and a marvellous inspiration for this nature trail challenge. We’re delighted to be partnering with Walker Books and this famous story to bring this challenge to life in an unforgettable way.”

Pindy O’Brien, Licensing & Retail Development Director, Key Franchises (UK & Europe), Walker Books, says: “This is a delightful and very appropriate celebration of a wonderful book. Forest Holidays is uniquely equipped to bring the fun and themes of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt to real-life situations – without your family having to run away from an actual bear!”