After six years as the Cotswold Hare Trail’s Festival Director, Florence Beetlestone looks forward to seeing a new director take on the challenge
For the past six years the ever popular Cotswold Hare Trail has been run by Festival Director, Florence Beetlestone. She has been responsible from its initial beginnings in Cirencester to a festival spanning the entirety of the Cotswold region. The hare sculpture trail attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area from all over the world and has helped to raise more than £135,000 for local charities.
All of this has required a huge personal commitment whilst hundreds of sponsors, artists, patrons, helpers and supporters have been recruited to enable the event to flourish.
Following a fallow year for the Cotswold Hare Trail, Florence has been able to take stock: "I have realised just how much it had taken over my life. Though hugely satisfying I have decided that I can no longer put my efforts into driving forward yet another event.
"I knew at the beginning that there was potential but I had no idea it would be so hugely popular. The 2019 trail winning the Newsquest Cotswold Pride Award and the Cotswold Community Event of the Year Award was a tremendous boost. It proved just how much we have achieved by involving so many community groups across the region, always paying attention to enabling young people to get involved wherever they can. So many people from all walks of life in over 20 Cotswolds towns have been involved. It is just impossible to thank them all individually, but collectively they have been brilliant."
Florence now looks forward to seeing a new director take on the challenge of keeping the hares in the spotlight. She emphasised, "Since I have been running the recent trails without my input currently no further events are planned. However this is a wonderful opportunity for someone now to develop. I shall remain as President of the Cotswolds Hare Trail but this will definitely be a 'back seat role'!"
For those interested in taking on the Trail please contact info@cotswoldsharetrail.org.uk.
