Bluebell Wood is calling on local children and families to bring the woods a bit closer to home this summer, by hosting their very own Teddy Bears’ Picnic.

The charity, which has had to suspend much of its fundraising activity in lockdown, is asking families, nurseries and schools to grab their picnic baskets and gather their cuddly chums in support of the hospice.

All you need to take part is a few picnic essentials and your favourite teddies - and Bluebell Wood will provide the rest. For a £5 suggested donation, the busy bears at Bluebell Wood will send you everything you need to make sure your tea party is a roaring success.

Sally Baker, Community Fundraiser at Bluebell Wood, said: “We always look forward to the summer months when our amazing supporters in the communities we serve pull out all the stops to help raise funds for Bluebell Wood.

“Unfortunately, the vast majority of these family-friendly events won’t be able to take place this year, but that doesn’t stop us bringing the fun to you!

“You can take part in our Teddy’s Bears’ Picnic at home, school, nursery or anywhere you wish, as long as you’re staying safe and sticking to official social distancing guidelines. 

“It’s a fantastic way to keep the little ones amused this summer, and for each one of our activity packs you order, you’ll be helping us to put smiles on the faces of local children and families who need our help more than ever right now.”

You can get your Teddy Bears’ Picnic up and running here

From there, Bluebell Wood will send you an activity pack filled with fun, games, activities, recipes, and even invitations to make sure none of your teddies miss out.

The charity is also encouraging picnickers to share snaps of their fun online, with pictures of paw-fect picnics being shared across Bluebell Wood’s social media channels.

To join in the fun, you can find Bluebell Wood on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram simply by searching ‘Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice’.