VISITORS have been flocking to Pucklechurch to see Mowgli, the Jungle Book-inspired Gromit figure at the Rose and Crown pub.
Landlady Rhi Wilkins said taking part in the Grand Appeal’s Gromit Unleashed 3 trail, which runs until August 31, has been a great success.
People from near and far have been coming to the Parkfield Road pub to view the statue, decorated by Bristol artist Lindsay Cameron, in the beer garden.
She said: “We have had lots of people visiting because of our Gromit, even some from the Bristol area who say they have never visited Pucklechurch before.
“We had a gentleman the other week from Ireland who was staying in a camper van, travelling around the UK, and expressed a keen interest in the Gromit trail.”
While there are no sculptures in Emersons Green or Lyde Green, Gromit hunters won’t have to go far to find more.
Starcatcher, a Norbot painted by artist and storyteller Oliver Jeffers, is in Kingswood Park, while Sweet and Tidy, a Norbot painted by artist Simon Tozer, is at Warmley Waiting Room on the Bristol & Bath Railway Path.
Austentatious, a Gromit featuring live shrubs grown around a topiary frame, sits at the Kendleshire golf club in Coalpit Heath.
Kendleshire operations manager Rob McCullough said: “All we have to do is look after and water him.”
To keep the interest up, the Rose & Crown is organising Gromit-themed events, including a reptile experience for children on August 7, at 10am and 11am, an adults versus children quiz on August 9 at 3.30pm and a “paint and sip” evening on August 18, from 7-9.30pm. To book, call 0117 3293181.
Gromit is also set to be an attraction at the pub’s third annual Puckle Fest, from August 1-3, featuring musical acts and entertainment, as well as activities for children and young people. It starts at 5pm on the Friday and noon on the Saturday and Sunday.
Since the first Gromit Unleashed trail in 2013 £20 million has been raised for the charity through sponsorship, donations, exhibitions, souvenirs and auctions held at the end of each trail.
More details of the Gromit Unleashed 3 trail can be found at www.gromitunleashed.org.uk.
Is your family following the trail? If you’d like to see one of your pictures in the Voice, email it, with the name of the statue and anyone in the picture, to news@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk by August 10.