VISITORS to a Cheshire ice cream farm have been with met with its latest creation – a 50-foot tall Paddington Bear.

Snugbury’s Ice Cream, near Nantwich, is famous for its wicker and straw creations, including a Peter Rabbit in honour of Beatrix Potter and most recently, a celebration of bees with a giant straw version.

Now, the business – which also has its own farm – has installed the Michael Bond-created Peruvian bear who has become a firm favourite among youngsters after two films starring Ben Whishaw.

With a third out this year, as Paddington goes home in search of Aunt Lucy, the farm has decided to pay its own tribute to the marmalade sandwich loving bear.

A spokesman for Snugbury’s said this year’s structure was for charity.

They said: “Paddington Bear proudly stands 50ft high on the Cheshire plains.

The structure has been brilliantly designed and fabricated in metal by Mike Harper from Harbrook Engineering.

“The Snugbury’s team stuffed Paddington with straw and clad him with hand painted shingles.

“His famous hat and suitcase has been expertly woven by Sarah Gallagher from Twigtwisters with two different varieties of sustainable willow from Somerset – flanders red and black maul.

“The planning and designing for this straw sculpture started in January 2024.

“There is a lot to consider when trying to make a 50ft Paddington Bear from planning what materials to use, we decided on straw, willow and larch shingles but we even considered leather and recycled coats!

“We have to take into consideration the weight and angles to ensure the structure is sound. The hat proved to be the most testing part as the surface area is so large!

“In Paddington Bear’s honour we have created a marmalade ice cream, it’s an orange zest ice cream with a Seville marmalade curd ripple. It’s refreshing and very zesty – we think Paddington would approve.”

With Paddington, the farm will be supporting the MPS Society to support Freddie Goodwin, whose parents Phil and Hannah were told in 2022 that he was diagnosed with MPS III-A (Sanfilippo Syndrome), a rare genetic metabolism disorder, otherwise known as childhood dementia.

The family come from Audlem.

The spokesman added: “As the disease progresses, it will take away Freddie’s ability to walk, talk and eat, eventually taking his life before he reaches his teenage years.

“As it stands the MPS Society is the only UK Charity that supports families with children who have the disorder.

“We are so grateful for any donation made to the charity, all donations can be made in the shop.

“Snugbury’s are donating 10p for every single, double and triple cone purchased.”