A GIRAFFE-THEMED public art trail has been backed by the Worcester News ahead of the extravaganza taking the city by storm this summer.

We are media partners with Worcester Stands Tall, a 10-week Wild in Art sculpture trail brought to the city by St Richard’s Hospice, and will cover the art showcase both in print and online, alongside the trail’s second media partner, Free Radio.

Worcester Stands Tall will see 30 decorated, 8ft tall giraffes tower over the city’s streets, parks and open spaces from Monday, July 9 to Sunday, September 16.

Each giraffe will have a sponsor, to support the hospice.

Michael Purton, editor of the Worcester News, said: “We’re delighted to be partners with St Richard’s Hospice on such a creative initiative, which will raise money for the vital work they do as well as attracting huge numbers of people into our city. We’re really pleased with our giraffe design and can’t wait to reveal the finished artwork and explore the trail.”

Standing alongside the large fibreglass giraffes will be 25 calves decorated by schoolchildren and community groups and displayed through the city’s Crowngate Shopping Centre during the trail.

The large fibreglass sculptures will be auctioned in October to raise funds for the St Richard’s Build 2020 Appeal, which aims to raise the final £1.4million needed for the £5.3m project to build a bigger hospice, enabling more patients and families to be cared for in Worcestershire.

Sara Matthews, project manager for Worcester Stands Tall, said: “With the valued support of the Worcester News, we can ensure we spread the word about our art trail – and the charitable cause behind it – to as many people as possible.”

To find out more about Worcester Stands Tall visit worcesterstandstall.co.uk, call Sara Matthews on 01905 763963 or email worcesterstandstall@strichards.org.uk. You can also follow the scheme on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.