Category: Community & Charity

OxTrail is an exciting sculpture trail taking place across Oxfordshire this summer and as Beth Marsh, Director of Fundraising at Sobell House Hospice Charity tells us you’ll see some fabulous artwork, explore the county and help support an incredible cause

Summer has arrived, and with it 138 life-sized and mini ox sculptures are moo-ving themselves into position across Oxfordshire.

In case you haven’t already ‘herd’, this moo-vellous exhibition is called OxTrail and is taking place between 6th July and 29th August all to raise much-needed funds for Sobell House Hospice Charity. Each sculpture has been designed and decorated by artists, local schools, community groups, and local media – making the herd truly unique – and many have been sponsored by local companies and organisations.

Amongst the large oxen grazing in Oxford’s beautiful buildings and streets you will find ‘Dreams of the Spires’, situated outside Saïd Business School, designed by RAWZ. An established poet and musician from Greater Leys, RAWZ represents a less acknowledged side of Oxford with his intricate design reinterpreting Oxford’s iconic skyline, symbolising unique stories, influences and people of the city.

Within the Westgate, you’ll find four beautiful and unique oxen, including ‘Prehistoric Ox’ designed by Alison Berman. In Alison’s own words: “Sorting through photos of cave paintings I could clearly imagine what a shock there would be if an ox from the Ice Age suddenly appeared in a market in Oxford.” This ox has been decorated with an assortment of mammals including running bulls, a bear, an ibex and a mammoth.

In the University Parks further ox-citement awaits you, with oxen such as Antler Wildling’s Oxslips and Cowslips, a beautiful representation of these now rare species of Oxfordshire flora. And further afield at the Churchill Hospital, home of Sobell House Hospice, you’ll come across another nature inspired design, Oxford Blue by Catherine Rye. Catherine has used plants from her own garden to make stencils with a cyanotypic effect.

More large oxen can be found across the city at churches including the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, St Michael at the North Gate, St Margaret’s and St Giles’; at college and university locations including Green Templeton College, Blavatnik School of Government and Oxford Brookes University Headington Campus, and at other iconic locations such as Oxford Castle, Broad Street, Oxford City Football Club, and at Oxford University Hospital sites.

Across the county, from Carterton to Henley via Witney, Wantage, Abingdon, Didcot and Wallingford, and from Banbury to Thame via Bicester, Kidlington and Wheatley, you will find over 100 mini oxen at libraries, hotels, shops and farm centres. Most of these have been painted by schools and youth groups in the local towns and villages. Amongst these are ‘Ed’, located at the Sobell House Bicester Warehouse and painted by St Edburg’s Primary School, ‘Oxytocin’ by Ladygrove Park Primary School at the Cornerstone in Didcot, ‘Ferdinand’ by Summer Fields School at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, ‘Sunny’ by Sunrise Nursery at Millets Farm, ‘Space Ox’ by the Oxford Spires Academy at Templars Square, and ‘Joy’ by West Hendred Home Ed Group at the Wantage Library. There’s also other mini bovines on display on the trail including two stunning designs from artist and innovator Annie Sloan, creations from our own artistic community at the hospice and an eye-catching design courtesy of MINI.

You can ox-plore the trail and collect the sculptures using the official OxTrail 2024 app or through the beautifully-decorated OxTrail map, which is available at all Sobell House shops and some of the mini herd locations. What’s more, there is a range of ox-clusive merch and fun activities for children to get involved in available at the Westgate Hub Shop.

Once the trail is over, there will be one last chance to bid goodbye to the moo-gnificent herd at the Farewell Weekend, which takes place on 7th-8th September at the Westgate. Gather your friends and family together to help give the oxen the send-off they deserve! The life-sized sculptures (and some of the mini oxen) will then be sold to their forever homes at a hoof-biting Grand Auction on 13th September at Saïd Business School in Oxford and online.

All the proceeds raised through OxTrail will help to fund Sobell House Hospice, who provide expert care to people facing life-limiting illness and support to their loved ones. The hospice relies on the support of its community to raise over £3million each year.

Join the moo-vement to explore Oxfordshire’s iconic attractions, uncover some hidden gems, and have lots of fun along the way.