Bulls in the City has raised over £241,000 for Birmingham Hospice after two-year project comes to an end
Birmingham Hospice is celebrating an incredi-bull achievement as its first-ever Wild in Art trail, Bulls in the City, has raised more than £241,000 to fund vital hospice care across Birmingham.
The spectacular public art trail, which ran for 61 days from July to September 2025, brought 128 beautifully designed bull sculptures to 88 locations across the city. After two years of planning, partnerships, creativity and community involvement, the trail’s final fundraising total has reached an incredible £241,935 net profit – money that will help Birmingham Hospice continue providing specialist care and support for people living with life-limiting illness.
The total was generated through a powerful mix of sponsorship, merchandise sales, community fundraising, events and a show-stopping auction that alone raised £161,850, with top-selling sculpture Baby Oz fetching an amazing £13,500.
Birmingham Hospice Chief Executive, Paul Bytheway, said: “This is a truly extraordinary moment for our hospice.
“Bulls in the City captured the heart of Birmingham, and we are overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone who took part, donated, sponsored, visited the trail or supported us in any way.
“These funds will make a real and lasting difference to the patients and families in our care. We are so proud of what our city has achieved together.”
A trail that transformed the city
The impact report reveals just how far-reaching the trail’s success was:
- An estimated 185,383 people engaged with the trail.
- 92% of visitors used the Bulls in the City app, with over 261,000 sculptures collected.
- The trail generated an impressive £7.6 million total estimated economic impact for Birmingham.
- Footfall across the city centre increased significantly, with some areas reporting rises of up to 34%.
- 81% of trail-goers stopped to eat or drink in the city, and more than a third visited attractions they had never been to before.
- An outstanding 97% of respondents rated their trail experience as “good” or “excellent”.
The Bulls in the City Learning Programme also inspired creativity on a huge scale, engaging 76 schools and 10 community groups, and raising more than £96,000.
Meanwhile, Herd HQ – the pop-up shop in Great Western Arcade – welcomed thousands of visitors and generated over £40,000 in merchandise sales, with handmade items from community knitters adding a further £1,800.
Two years, hundreds of partners, one unforgettable city-wide celebration
Behind the scenes, the project brought together 39 corporate sponsors, 37 volunteers, dozens of artists (with 45% of large sculptures painted by local creatives), and thousands of visitors who collectively uploaded 3,276 photos to the app.
Birmingham Hospice’s Income Generation Director, Lucy Watkins, said: “Raising over £241,000 is an extraordinary testament to the power of community.
“Bulls in the City has not only raised essential funds but also significantly boosted awareness of our hospice – 22% of people surveyed said they learned about us through the trail. Every sponsor, donor, volunteer and supporter has played a part in this success, and we truly cannot thank them enough.”
A legacy to be proud of
From colourful streets to newly inspired young artists, and from increased footfall to families exploring corners of the city they’d never visited before, Bulls in the City has left a legacy of joy, creativity and connection.
Most importantly, the funds raised will help Birmingham Hospice continue to provide compassionate end of life care and bereavement support to the thousands of people who rely on the charity each year.
A look back on Bulls in the City
