National Express West Midlands has announced that it is joining the Bulls in the City herd as part of a huge charity art project coming to Birmingham city centre this summer.

The region’s biggest bus operator is sponsoring its very own bull sculpture, forming part of a 40-strong herd that will charge head-first into Birmingham from July to September 2025.

The bull is currently being looked after by National Express West Midlands’ Senior Designer Blake Cotterill and the company’s skilled paint team. Blake is in charge of creating a design to mark the city’s rich transport history, while father and son team Stephen and Larry Male will be bringing the design to life by expertly painting the bull ahead of the trail launch in July.

Birmingham Hospice has partnered with Wild in Art, a global producer of art trails, to create the new, showstopping bull trail to help raise money for the hospice.

Like The Big Hoot and The Big Sleuth that have come before it, the Bulls in the City trail will directly support Birmingham Hospice by raising awareness when the summer trail is live, and also raise vital funds when the 40 sculptures are auctioned off after the trail ends.

With sites in Selly Park and Erdington, Birmingham Hospice supports local people living with a terminal diagnosis, offering expert palliative and end of life care for free to communities in and around Birmingham.

Antony Goozee, Bus Strategy and Commercial Director for National Express, said:

“Bulls in the City is an excellent opportunity to bring a stampede of family and friends together on this immersive trail while also helping an important charity that provides vital support to communities across our region.

“We are really proud to be a part of the project and the team is excited about unveiling our very own bull to celebrate our transport history. With hundreds of bus services across the region, we look forward to bringing hundreds of thousands of people into the city to enjoy all that the trail has to offer.”

Rebecca Richards, Senior Events Manager at Birmingham Hospice, said the trail is an incredible opportunity for local businesses to support the hospice.

“Due to the national funding crisis affecting all hospices in the UK this year, it’s more important than ever we raise vital funds and awareness for our charity,” she said.

“Bulls in the City will be fantastic for our charity, but it’s also a great opportunity for local businesses to get involved in what is set to be the biggest and best art trail our city has ever seen!”