A Rare Opportunity to Own Unique Art

Each of our giant bee sculptures has been individually designed and hand-painted by a talented artist, and proudly sponsored by a local business or organisation. They’ve turned heads, raised smiles and sparked conversations across Chelmsford all summer long – and now, you could give one a forever home.

Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a proud supporter of Farleigh, or simply want to own something truly unique, this is your chance to bid for a piece of the trail that’s had the whole city buzzing.

Bidding will start at £2,500, with every penny raised going directly towards Farleigh Hospice – helping us continue to provide compassionate care and support to people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Farleigh Hospice

Bee Part of the Story

Join us for a memorable evening celebrating the Buzz in the City art trail.
The event begins at 6pm with drinks and canapés, giving you the perfect opportunity to view the bee sculptures up close before the auction starts.
At 7pm, take your seat as the bidding begins—your chance to take home a unique piece of art and support a vital cause.

In the lead-up to the event, why not explore the trail and pick your favourite bee? You can also visit our Farewell Weekend on 13–14 September, where all the sculptures will be displayed together in the beautiful gardens of Farleigh Hospice.

We hope you’ll join us at the auction—ready to bid, celebrate, and help raise essential funds for local hospice care.

FAQs

Yes! The large bee sculptures – along with three new, never seen before mini bee sculptures – will be available at our live auction on Wednesday 17 September 2025, hosted at the Channels Estate, Little Waltham, Chelmsford. The trail’s mini bees, decorated by schools and community groups, are not for sale. They will be returned to the respective groups as a lasting legacy of Buzz in the City.

Yes – anyone can bid on the sculptures. You can join us in person at the live auction, submit an absentee/commission bid or register to telephone bid on the night. Full details on all bidding options are available on our website: http://www.buzzinthecity.co.uk/auction.

28 of the large sculptures will go under the hammer.  Please note: Radio Queen and Buzz in Space will not be included, as ownership of these will transfer to the respective headline sponsors after the trail. In addition, there will be 4 mini bee sculptures available. You can preview all the available sculptures on our website https://www.buzzinthecity.co.uk/sculptures/

Yes! Don’t miss our Farewell Weekend, which is your chance to view all the sculptures together for one last time. For more information, visit: www.buzzinthecity.co.uk/farewell.

Following the trail, the sculptures will be carefully restored before going under the hammer.

The auction will be held on Wednesday 17 September 2025 at Channels Estate in Chelmsford. You can register to:

Doors open at 6pm for registration, drinks, canapes, and a chance to view the sculptures in the beautiful ceremony garden of the Channels Estate. The auction will begin promptly at 7:00 pm and the evening is expected to finish around 9:30 pm.

Spaces for the live auction are limited, so make sure to register your interest as soon as possible. Once you have registered your interest, a member of the Farleigh Hospice team will be in touch. You can register your interest here: Live Auction 17 September 2025

Yes. Once you have registered your interest in attending the live auction, a member of the Farleigh Hospice team will be in touch to discuss.

You can still take part by submitting an absentee bid in advance. Please contact arttrail@farleighhospice.org if you would like to place an absentee/commission bid.  

Each sculpture will have a reserve price starting from £2,500. We hope the auction will raise vital funds for Farleigh Hospice.

Payment is due immediately after the sale and can be made via Visa or MasterCard on the night. Proof of ID will be required. Alternatively, invoices can be issued on Thursday 18 September for bank transfer or cheque payments (Live Auction bids ONLY) within 3 days. Sculptures will not be released until full payment is received.

No, the auction is a fundraising event for Farleigh Hospice, and there will be no VAT or commission added.

Sculptures must be collected from Farleigh Hospice or delivered by appointment by Friday 26 September. The Farleigh Hospice House Clearance team will be providing a two-man delivery service. Full details will be provided on the night.

Each bee sculpture stands at approximately 162cm tall, 150cm wide, and 115cm deep. The mini bee sculptures stand at approximately 85cm tall, 100cm long and 75cm wide.

The sculptures are made from high-quality fiberglass (the same material used in boat building), making them weatherproof and robust for long-term use. Sculpture aftercare and placement guidance will be provided to each buyer.

Sculptures are insured by Farleigh Hospice while they are at the auction venue and until collection. Once collected, insurance will be the responsibility of the new owner.

The auction will raise vital funds for Farleigh Hospice, a local charity, that provides compassionate care and support to patients living with life-limiting illnesses, and their families in mid Essex. The hospice also provides bereavement services to anyone in the community who needs support after a loved one has died.

Yes, there is plenty of free parking available for our live auction guests.

The Channels Hotel is onsite and offers 29 en-suite rooms. For more information, visit https://hotelsinchelmsford.com/

Bees have a strong sense of community and teamwork, tirelessly working together for the greater good. Their incredible work ethic, dedication and persistence are qualities that our hospice staff and volunteers also embody as they strive to provide compassionate care and support to our patients and their families.

The uniquely decorated and vibrant bee sculptures also have huge visual appeal. The bee theme hasn’t typically been explored in other sculpture art trail initiatives making the Buzz in the City sculptures truly original and unique.