A mob of colourful, larger-than-life wallaby sculptures has hopped into towns, villages and beauty spots across the Staffordshire Moorlands this summer.

The Where’s Wallaby? sculpture trail, organised by OUTSIDE and Peak Wildlife Park, is a free outdoor adventure inviting residents and visitors of all ages to search for the sculptures until 5 September.

With The Nicholson Museum & Gallery in Leek closed for refurbishment, its most curious resident – a wallaby once found roaming the wild moors – inspired this new community arts project. Surprisingly, the Staffordshire Moorlands was once home to a colony of wallabies that lived wild on The Roaches for decades after escaping from a private zoo in the 1930s. Now Where’s Wallaby? marks this piece of local history. The trail not only celebrates the wild wallabies of the Moorlands’ past but invites families to discover the thriving wallabies at Peak Wildlife Park today.

Arts programme OUTSIDE commissioned local artists to co-design the wallaby sculptures with community groups and schools. The hand-painted wallabies have been installed in ten locations across the Staffordshire Moorlands, including Biddulph Grange Country Park, Rudyard Lake, Tittesworth Reservoir, Manifold Valley, Ilam Park, Dimmingsdale, Cheadle, Blythe Bridge, Leek, and Peak Wildlife Park. Anyone who visits all the wallaby sculptures and collects their names can enjoy discounted entry to visit real wallabies at Peak Wildlife Park, the perfect place to continue your wallaby adventure!

Sarah Bird, OUTSIDE’s creative director, said: “The community groups and artists have co-created ten wonderful wallabies, each one telling a unique story of the people and places of the Moorlands. We can’t wait for everyone to head out to find the sculptures over the summer, and in doing so, explore the landscape and discover the creativity across the district.”

Peak Wildlife Park director James Butler, added: “It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Peak Wildlife Park. We hope this trail will encourage people to get outside, have fun, and we’re excited to see the Moorlands get even more wild about wallabies! We’re thrilled to share our love of wallabies with the wider community. Visitors can follow the trail and then come and meet our real mob here at the Park. It’s a unique way to learn about these incredible animals and celebrate our 10th anniversary alongside local art and history.”

Further details including a trail map can be found at peakwildlifepark.co.uk