Falkirk district families hunt for bears on daily walks

Families are joining in with a mass bear hunt that is currently taking place in communities across the UK and around the world.

It’s a bit of fun and something to distract children from all that’s going on during the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

People are sitting stuffed toys at their windows for youngsters to look for while out on walks around their neighbourhood to get some daily exercise.

The idea is inspired by the popular children’s book ‘‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’’ by Michael Rosen.

And locally a Facebook page, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – Falkirk/Stirling, has been set up for people to join in.

The group was set up by local resident Laura Cairns.

She explained: “People are invited to join the group through Facebook to give the young and older children something to look forward to under these circumstances when out on a walk.

“They put a bear or soft toy in their window and post it on the page mentioning the town where it can be found.

“All they have to do is look for them when they are out for a walk their family.”

The number of members in the group is growing on a daily basis with more than 800 already getting involved and Laura says its success is all down to the members.

There are people getting involved across the district with posts showing bears in windows in communities including Grangemouth, Larbert, Stenhousemuir, Bonnybridge, Polmont, Shieldhill and Whitecross to name a few.

She said: “I had been invited to join the West Lothian Bear Hunt page as I work in that area. However, I felt the children wouldn’t see my bear. So it was then suggested that I start a group for Falkirk.

“Yes I live here but didn’t feel like I knew enough people to get it off the ground; how wrong I was.

“I started the group on March 27, it’s still early days and we already have 867 members who I try to welcome individually and thanking them on each of their posts.

“After my initial invite of my friends, they have shared this with their friends and family and it is continuing to grow.

“A member asked if I would be willing to add Stirling to the group as they have friends and family through there which, of course, I was happy to do.

“Like I said, its success is all down to my members.”