A SAFARI through the streets and across the cliff tops of Bournemouth awaits explorers of all ages next summer.

Pride in Bournemouth’s unique art and culture will not only showcase the area’s creative talents and teach local children about endangered animals, says Born Free founder and actress Virginia McKenna.

Money raised through auctioning off the eye-catching lions will make a real difference to Born Free projects in Kenya and Ethiopia, but also closer to home at Julia’s House.

Sitting in the Royal Bath Hotel, next to an Elvis lion and a team of lions wearing England football shirts, Virginia told the Daily Echo: “There’s a huge amount of excitement about Pride in Bournemouth.

“It’s something completely different and will really focus people’s interest when they’re walking about doing their shopping.

“People who don’t normally come here will be drawn in, too.”

Virginia’s been wowed by lions in towns that have already adopted the Wild in Art philosophy, which gets businesses and individuals to sponsor their own model and she hopes arty types in Bournemouth will let their imaginations run wild.

“Lions can be painted by groups, art classes or societies, or even by lonely artists in their studios,” she said.

“It’s very stimulating because it’s so original. It’s not every day you see a lion on the street and the imagination of the artists has been incredible.”

Examples include a Lionfish with feelers and fins that wobble when touched and one in Kenya is covered in strips of recycled paper with names of villages in tiny writing. There’s also a President Obama lion, one covered in steel, and another in 5,000 multicoloured strips from flip-flops.

Virginia said: “The animals have created such a buzz that the atmosphere has been left desolate when they leave.

“People are so sad to have to say goodbye, and tell me they’ll miss them so much.

“Wildlife doesn’t usually come into everyday conversation, but through Pride it will.”

Each school will get its own mini lion and an education pack.

Virginia spent yesterday at Pokesdown Community School and Malmesbury Primary School to deliver the first of the miniature pride.

“All the children have been fantastic,” she said. “They were enthusiastic, interested and really clued-up.

“One little boy piped up: ‘Really, we have got to save the habitat’. I said that’s right, absolutely.

“Their mini lions can be brought into as many lessons as possible – maths, statistics, the environment, learning about families.

“They’ll touch so many aspects of learning.”

Funds from Pride in Bournemouth are already earmarked for vital initiatives, such as a rescue and education centre in Ethiopia, and protecting people’s cattle from lions, which stops them being hunted, but also helps protect human livelihoods.

Virginia’s son Will Travers is now chief executive of Born Free. He said: “What’s really exciting about Pride in Bournemouth is how it’ll bring the whole community together.

“It offers something for everybody. We’re not connected to the wilds of Africa, but in some strange way, it’ll feel like it.

“Ticking them off on your list, you feel as if you’re participating and the lions will benefit at the end of the day.”

The works of art can fetch around £8,000-£9,000 at auction, he added.

Actor Martin Clunes, who is also backing the initiative, said: “I think it’s an extraordinary idea.

“The lions have gone down a storm elsewhere and hopefully it’ll do the same here.

“Children are born with a sense of the plight of wildlife and harnessing that, to let them know how important it is, is really the only future.

“It’s about time somebody sexed up Bournemouth. I think more towns should have predators.”

Pride in their schools

EXCITED children were on hand to greet the first two lions at two Bournemouth primary schools.

Virginia McKenna delivered the first to youngsters at Pokesdown Community Primary School in Livingstone Road. She then travelled to Malmesbury Park Primary School in Lowther Road where she was met by a Year 2 class of six and seven-year-olds.

Organisers of Pride in Bournemouth hope all primary schools in the borough will get involved in the public art event.

A spokesman for Malmesbury Park said: “The children were really looking forward to the arrival of the lion because they’ve been learning all about what’s going to happen next summer. They can’t wait to get involved.”