A 'Great Day Out' at Brabazon North Bristol

We’re thrilled to have been an official sculpture location and sponsor of this year’s spectacular Gromit Unleashed 3 trail - and what an adventure we’ve had!

From the moment ‘The Birds’ took flight it’s been a celebration of creativity, connection and community spirit.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of residents, friends, family, suppliers and the wider YTL Group, we’ve raised over £12,500 for the Grand Appeal, a charity that continues to make a life-changing difference for children and families across the region.

So, before we say goodbye, let’s take a look back at some of the cracking memories we’ve made together.

Grand Adventures Begin on the Big Screen

Tuesday 20th May 2025

With this year’s trail theme being ‘at the movies’, having character sculptures inspired by cinema, we decided to treat our youngest residents to a special private screening of Aardman’s latest release - Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.

The cinematic curtain-raiser was complete with gnome painting fun and a delicious spread of movie-themed treats.

Woman dressed as Norbot hands poporn to girl during film screening in celebration of Gromit Unleashed 3 at Brabazon.

BrabFest Ignites the Spirit of Giving

Saturday 14th June 2025

BrabFest is our annual festival, celebrating the incredible diversity of our Brabazon community. From the ever-popular International Food Sharing Table to the free BBQ, bouncy castle fun, face painting and infectious global beats, the day is always packed with food and festivities.

This year at BrabFest our Grand Appeal fundraising efforts really got started, and thanks to the generosity of residents and guests, the donations began to flow.

Residents at Brabazon gather under a gazebo on The Green at Brabazon, serving cakes to other residents at Brabfest.

‘The Birds’ Landed at Brabazon

Friday 27th June 2025

We officially welcomed our beloved statue, ‘The Birds’, created by the incredibly talented Bristol-based artist Hannah Bone. This striking Gromit, adorned from head to paw with birds, certainly looked set to ruffle some feathers!

We were delighted to have a very special guest join us for the occasion - Leon, a young resident living at Brabazon who is also a patient at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. It’s young people like Leon who will benefit from the funds raised via The Grand Appeal.

Young boy holding cardboard cut-out of a cracker next to 'The Birds' Gromit on The Green at Brabazon.

Grillin’ for a Good Cause!

Monday 30th June 2025

To celebrate the sizzling official launch of Gromit Unleashed 3, Brabazon staff fired up the BBQ and brought the heat - not just for the trail, but for the charity too. With spatulas in hand and aprons on, we turned up the flavour and the fundraising.

Mouthwatering bites were served up while we soaked in the sunshine and admired the freshly finished car park - all set to welcome the flock of ‘Birds’ spotters who’d be swooping into Brabazon.

Man wearing chefs hat grills sausages on a sunny afternoon on The Green at Brabazon, Bristol.

Nama-slay at Sunset

Wednesday 9th July 2025

Mats were rolled out and the community were welcomed to a serene evening of fundraising yoga with the wonderful Tanya from Panda Bear Yoga. As the sun dipped below the horizon, neighbours and locals of all abilities came together to stretch, breathe, and reset in the heart of Brabazon.

Even ‘The Birds’, our very own Gromit sculpture, couldn’t resist joining in for a cheeky downward dog!

Yoga class doing downward dog on The Green at Brabazon, behind 'The Birds' Gromit sculpture during sunset.

A Great Community Day Out at Brabazon

Saturday 19th July 2025

Families, friends and Gromit fans came together at The Green for dancing, painting, circus fun, games and sunshine. Huge thanks to all the amazing contributors, including local band Mojo, Lucas Jet, Marshfield Farm Ice Cream, I Dance Bollywood and MoKoKo Bakery who we’re delighted to know will to be calling Brabazon home soon.

Best of all? We raised over £750 for Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal!

Children stand next to Gromit 'The Birds' sculpture while watching Circus Performers on The Green at Brabazon.

24 Hours. 8 Rowers. One Incredible Charity

Thursday 14th August 2025

While most of us were working, relaxing, or sleeping, eight of our truly OAR-some colleagues from the YTL family were powering through an extraordinary challenge: rowing in 20-minute shifts for a full 24 hours. Their relentless physical and mental determination pushed our fundraising totaliser sky-high.

Eight YTL Group staff gather around a rowing maching situated next to 'The Birds' Gromit Sculpture at Brabazon.

Final Day for the Completists

Sunday 31st August 2025

All good things must come to an end, and the final day of the official trail brought a flurry of activity as dedicated trail-goers made their way to Brabazon for those all-important last sightings. Excitement was palpable as completists ticked off their final feathered friend - ending the trail on a high note.

So all good things must come to an end… or do they? It’s not quite over yet.

Young girls eating ice lollies pose for a photo next to 'The Birds' Gromit Sculpture at Brabazon.

The Greatest Dog Show on Earth 3

Monday 13th September - Tuesday 28th September 2025

If you haven’t had your fill of our four-legged friends, then get ready for a tail-wagging celebration of all 54 sculptures from this summer’s trail. For two weeks only, fans can reunite with Gromit, Wallace, Feathers McGraw, Shaun the Sheep and Norbot, in one spectacular, family-friendly art exhibition before the sculptures are auctioned.

Our team will also be there volunteering on the 18th of September, so if you’re about, come say hello!

Colourful sculptures of Gromit, Wallace, Feathers McGraw and Norbot, sit on a bench by the river, with the Clifton bridge in the background. — Image Credit: The Grand Appeal.

And finally…

Gromit Unleashed 3 Auction

Thursday 2nd October 2025

This year’s unmissable evening of glitz, glamour and a touch of movie magic will feature the star-studded sculptures from this summer’s Gromit Unleashed trail as they go under the hammer to raise vital funds for Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Fancy rehoming an Aardman icon? Register your interest now: Gromit Unleashed 3 Auction - Register Your Interest.

Crowd of people seated in function room, smiling. — Image Credit; The Grand Appeal.

Huge thanks to everyone who made it happen - whether you volunteered, fundraised, visited, snapped photos, spread the word or simply joined in the fun.

‘The Birds’ truly had us all in a flap this summer - and we loved every moment of it!