One hundred blank Shaun the Sheep sculptures have arrived in Kent ahead of an exciting outdoor art trail.

The sculptures, which were delivered to TPS Global Logistics in Aylesford last month, will be part of next year’s Shaun the Sheep in the Heart of Kent trail.

This delivery is a milestone moment for the trail, which is being organised in partnership with the Heart of Kent Hospice.

TPS Global Logistics is the official storage and distribution partner for the trail and will help to promote the upcoming outdoor arts event by branding two of their lorries with Shaun the Sheep in the Heart of Kent artwork.

Toby Smith from TPS Global Logistics said: “We’re so excited to be a partner for Heart of Kent Hospice and to be supporting the next art trail.

“We wanted to get involved due to the amazing work the hospice carries out in the community and the local area.”

The designs for the sculptures were selected by local businesses and community members at Maidstone Museum earlier this year and are now set to be delivered to their chosen artists.

There will be an open space at The Mall in Maidstone for three months where visitors can watch artists as they paint their designs onto the blank sculptures ahead of the opening date in June 2024.

There are also a number of miniature sculptures that will be sent to schools, community groups, care homes, charities and businesses who will be painting their creations over the coming months.

These small-scale sculptures will be displayed next to the full-sized ones as part of the trail’s Learning and Community Programme.

This is the second free Heart of Kent Hospice art trail after Elmer’s Big Heart of Kent Parade in 2021, which raised more than £321,000 for the hospice.

The new trail will open in and around Maidstone from Saturday, June 29 to Friday, August 30 2024 and is supported by Wild in Art, Aardman and Maidstone Borough Council.

If you would like your businesses to be involved with this new fundraising initiative and wish to sponsor one of the remaining sculptures, you can register your interest with Erica Snow on 07596 856667.

You can also keep up to date with all the news online here.

Information about the trail will also be shared on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram using the hashtag #ShauninMaidstone.