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Strawbeary’s New Home!

The Big Sleuth

If you’ve been following Cakes with Faces, you’ll know that earlier this year I painted a giant bear as part of The Big Sleuth, a public art project in Birmingham. Over the summer, around 100 bear sculptures painted by artists were on display around the streets of Birmingham for 10 weeks.

It was un-bear-lievable how different all the bears were, with so many different art styles and themes. They certainly brightened up the streets and made for a fun day out, following the trail and spotting bears!

You can see the launch event in my video, along with a timelapse of how I painted my bear:

The Big Sleuth Auction

At the end of the project, the bears were auctioned to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The auction raised over £250,000 for the hospital, and Strawbeary sold for £1950. It’s amazing to be part of the project – and to know that my artwork’s helped raise vital funds to help the children’s hospital.

Strawbeary’s Permanent Home

And Strawbeary’s new home couldn’t be more perfect! He’s gone to live at a pick your own strawberry farm. Of all the places he could have gone, I certainly never would have guessed that, but it’s definitely the perfect place for a strawberry bear!

He’ll be in their new tea room The Strawberry Cabin, which looks absolutely lovely, serving delicious-looking fresh strawberry cakes, along with hot and cold meals. I can’t wait to go and visit him in his new home (I’ll be sure to post some pics for you – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).

I just love all the comments on their Facebook post below, and all the photos from The Big Sleuth trail.

Fun story: When I was a toddler, my grandparents took me to a pick your own strawberry farm as an afternoon out in the summer holidays. They had to explain the red mark to my mum and dad, where I’d sat on a strawberry!

Manor Farm Fruits

The farm is called Manor Farm Fruits, a 125 acre soft fruit farm near Tamworth in Staffordshire. They have pick your own   strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, loganberries and blackberries.

Pick your own is available between mid June and mid September. The farm’s open throughout the year, with freshly picked fruit available in the farm shop and their new tea room The Strawberry Cabin.

Until 29th October they’re having a Pumpkin Fest, where you can pick your own pumpkin! They have several varieties, along with spooky activities, Halloween goodies and a ghost tunnel.

Visit Strawbeary

So if you missed The Big Sleuth this summer, you have another chance to visit Strawbeary! Manor Farm Fruits is in Staffordshire, near Tamworth (not too far from Drayton Manor theme park!). You can find him in the tea room – perfect excuse to pop in for tea and cake!).

If you visit him, remember to tag Cakes with Faces in your photos – I absolutely love seeing them! – and let me know what it’s like at the farm.

More info about what’s on at Manor Farm is available on their website.