A herd of elephants is coming to Slough.
Not real ones, of course. Something far more interesting.
Thames Hospice is running an exciting project, Trunks Across the Thames, a public art trail featuring up to 30 large elephant sculptures across Slough and Windsor. Each one is designed by an artist. Each one is backed by a sponsor. Each one turns an ordinary street or park into something worth stopping for. And that is where this becomes more than just a summer attraction. Because what we are really seeing here is another step in a much bigger shift. A shift in how
Slough shows itself. And how it is seen.
Public art has a strange kind of power. It does not ask permission. It simply appears, and suddenly, people are looking at places they thought they knew differently. A walkway becomes a gallery. A park becomes a destination. A town becomes a talking point. We have seen this before in Slough. From murals that have transformed blank walls into landmarks, to community projects that have brought people together with a paintbrush and a purpose. Each small intervention chips away at an old narrative and replaces it with something more confident, more expressive, more real.
This trail will build on that momentum.
There is something particularly fitting about elephants. They are impossible to ignore. They carry presence, memory, and symbolism. And this trail carries all three. It celebrates creativity, brings communities together, and shines a light on the deeply human work of hospice care in a way that feels open and accessible rather than distant or difficult.The involvement of Charlie Mackesy, an internationally beloved illustrator and creator of The
Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, adds star power to the Project. He brings his trademark warmth and kindness and will draw national attention to this local celebration of art.
While local artists like Jho (Johana Plazas) ensure that Slough’s own creative voice is front and centre. That balance matters. It tells a story that is both outward-looking and proudly local. And perhaps most importantly, it invites participation. Families exploring together. Children spot their favourite designs. Residents rediscovering their own town. These are the moments that build pride. Not in big announcements, but in shared
experiences.
For Slough to be recognised as a Town of Culture, this is exactly the kind of Project it needs. Not theory. Not slogans. But culture is placed directly into everyday life.A trail of elephants may seem like a simple idea. But do not underestimate it. Because sometimes, the way a town changes its story is not through grand gestures. It is through a herd of colourful elephants quietly taking over its streets and reminding
everyone that something new is happening here.
Written by the Viva Slough Team: Vineet Vijh and Gozan John
