Herd of elephant sculptures pop up in riverside towns

The art trail is part of Thames Hospice's Trunks Across the Thames project in Windsor and Slough.

If you woke up to see elaborately decorated elephants scattered across Windsor and Slough, you were not alone. Thames Hospice's first public art trail featuring 30 specially decorated elephants has been installed in the Berkshire towns overnight. It is part of the Trunks Across the Thames appeal and the sculptures will remain in place until 13 September, after which they will be auctioned to raise funds for the hospice.

Oscar-winning illustrator Charlie Mackesy was among those to paint an elephant in support of the project. He said: "This painting tells a story of being carried through the storm of grief towards a future of calm and brightness. It symbolises that even in loss, hope will prevail."

Made of glass reinforced plastic, 12 of the elephants were painted by artists in Berkshire. Jess Garrett, a tattoo artist, painted the elephant Hope and was among those involved to speak to the BBC ahead of the project's big reveal. The sculpture is divided into two sides, with each featuring historic Windsor and Slough landmarks.

The River Thames runs down the trunk and along the elephant's body, with its shape inspired by part of the river. The tattoo artist said she thought often of her close friend Matt Seymour, who was cared for at the hospice before his death in 2023, while painting the elephant. She said she was particularly pleased to include a McLaren racing car because he had worked for the manufacturer, adding that the company's first racing car was developed in Slough.

It was Matt's wife, Jess Seymour, who was out on Sunday night putting the elephants in place. She said she hoped the sculptures would become "the elephant in the room", encouraging people to talk openly about end-of-life care and death – subjects that are often avoided. "It is such a fantastic way to open up conversations that are generally difficult to talk about," she said.

Dr Rachael de Caux, the hospice's chief executive, said: "We want people to come for the elephants, enjoy a brilliant summer day out and leave knowing a little more about Thames Hospice, the care we provide and the difference it makes to local families. "For nearly 40 years, Thames Hospice has been part of this community, caring for local families through some of life's most difficult moments. "Trunks across the Thames gives us the opportunity to bring people together in a completely different way – through creativity, storytelling and shared experiences.

"Every elephant tells a different story and reminds us that every story matters. "We hope this trail creates conversations, inspires kindness and leaves people with a stronger connection to their community and a better understanding of hospice care."