Herdwicks Easter Treasure Hunt

Herdwick ‘hide and seek’ Easter treasure hunt

The Lake District, with its fabulous culture and un-‘ewe’-sual sense of humour, are hosting a treasure hunt like no other this Easter.

On the march, this March, Easter Friday to be precise, a flock of over 60 decorated ‘fantasy’ life-size Herdwicks invade the Lake District in what is set to be the biggest public art trail the region has seen this year. The trail kicks off on 25th March and runs through the summer months until Sunday 4 September.

Not only do Herdwicks replace Easter eggs in this quirky trail, but in classic Lake District humorous style, the ewes and lambs will be hidden in unusual and unexpected places across the National Park.

It roughly follows the 555 bus route! When you spot an ewe or lamb, join in the fun in collecting as many as you can and post a picture on Facebook or Twitter #GoHerdwick.

And Lakelovers look forward to unveiling our very own painted Herdwick lamb which is one of 30 ‘Hide and Seek’ lamb trails being staged in Keswick and Windermere as part of the Go Herdwick project. The two ‘Hide and Seek’ lamb trails start on Friday 27th May, printed maps and an app will be available from this date also, where you can spot the lambs hidden in shop premises. The map will include kid’s activities and maybe even a special passport which you’ll get stamped at the location of each lamb! Details are to be confirmed by the Calvert Trust on this but don’t forget your lamb ‘selfie’ for Facebook and Twitter.

We are extremely pleased to be involved in the public art trail to raise £1.3m for the superb Lake District Calvert Trust.

This money will fund the redevelopment of Old Windebrowe, Keswick, which is a 16th-century Grade II-listed farmhouse and tithe barn. Once home to William Wordsworth, the historic property will be redeveloped to provide six apartments suitable for people recovering from strokes or who have acquired brain injuries.

There are some big names in the art world getting involved in the GoHerdwick event, including internationally renowned conceptual artist Conrad Atkinson, who shares his time between the Solway and California. Acclaimed Cumbrian shepherd-come-author, and Twitter star, James Rebanks is the patron of GoHerdwick and indeed his artist wife is taking part.

History of the pubic art trail

Along with its uniquely stunning landscape, it is Cumbria’s welcoming community that also attracts visitors to the Lake District year on year.

This Herdwick public art trail is superb as it brings holidaymakers together with locals, as tourists try to work out what the giant painted sheep are all about and locals enjoy sharing the story.

Public art trails took off following the Swiss ‘Cow Parade’ in 1998 and has been a popular way of integrating art and public since. It takes art out of a gallery making it interactive, where ‘spotters’ can log their find and share photo’s as they work their way around the ewe and lamb treasure trails.