Combining craft with enjoying Kirklees’ footpaths and trails, Bear Hunting and Other Ways to Walk is a new summer festival for all ages.

Both children and adults are being invited to join in the seasonal fun by creating their own bears to feature in a Where’s Bears? trail at Oakwell Hall next month – the best of which will feature in a 2016 calendar – and join a Golden Bear Hunt, searching the area’s footpaths for handmade model bears, the work of artist Bess Martin.

The festival is inspired by the classic children’s story We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and includes a number of events during the school holidays, including a teddy bear’s picnic and bear trail at Oakwell on Sunday, August 23.

It is a four-month-long programme of arts, walks, music, nature and performance to promote the 700 miles of Kirklees’ footpaths and will continue until November.

First up, however, is the free competition to create a winning bear. All ages are invited to enter and the closing date is August 15. Completed bears can be taken to any Kirklees library.

Rachel Massey, festival programmer, explained: “A bear can be stitched, knitted, made from wire, wood, paper, clay – or even an odd sock. You can make it as big or as small as you like and as realistic or flamboyant as you fancy. We are really looking forward to seeing all the creations people make.”

Amy Hirst, who has been developing the Where’s Bears? trail, added: “You won’t need expensive materials. The fun begins by searching around at home for things that can be recycled into a bear.”

The website www.bearhuntingkirklees.com has some suggestions: using old socks, gloves and empty packaging. The finished bears will be placed along a walking trail at Oakwell.

In the meantime, ramblers can look out for one of Bess Martin’s golden clay bears – 500 have been hidden around Kirklees. Bess has personally attempted to tread as many of the area’s footpaths as possible while secreting her bears and has produced a walking blog. She gives clues to the whereabouts of the golden bears on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook (search ‘bessinabout’).

Fringe events for the festival include a Take Your Camera for a Walk in the Holme Valley with photographer, woodsman, stone waller and ranger Andy Leader on Sunday, August 9. Participants should meet at Holmfirth Tourist Information Office at 10.30am. There is a £3.50 charge for this walk, which needs to be booked on 01484 663518.

On Sunday, August 23, there’s a free family walk at Oakwell Hall, created by Sorrel Muggridge, and open between 11am and 3pm.

Then on Sunday, August 30, there’s a chance to explore Longwood, accompanied by musician Alexander Douglas, who has created a new work, Lang Wudu (Longwood in old English).

And on Tuesday, September 1, there will be a performance of Lang Wudu by the Hilary Step Saxophone Quartet and an optional pre-concert walk. Details from the bearhunting website.

Halifax Art Society has a new season of meetings, talks and workshops.

The next date is a session using acrylic and gesso on Thursday, August 6, from 7.30pm.

The club meets in the Oddfellows Hall, Unity House, Coleridge Street, Halifax.

For further details contact secretary@halifaxartsociety.com