Herd it on the grapevine it's time to hit the elephant trail

Herd of Sheffield Launch with St Theresa's Catholic Primary School children outside the Winter Gardens

The pair – among the first to embark on the much-anticipated Herd of Sheffield Trail – have been busy, and this is the 34th elephant they’ve seen already today.

Sheffielders woke yesterday morning to find 131 beautiful hand-painted creatures just like this one stationed at landmarks across the city – and wasted no time heading out to see them, trail maps in hand.

Herd of Sheffield Launch with the one outside Peace Gardens Carl and Ken Daniels are pictured

“They’re brilliant, it’s great to see such an awesome display of public art,” said Pete, aged 36, or Ranmoor.

“Molly’s favourite is the jungle one by the Peace Gardens and I like the one with Sheffield’s musical legends on it by The Crucible. We’ve been having a great time walking around the city.”

Abdul Rahman Muhsin was out for a wander near his house when he came across The Star’s elephant in Devonshire Green.

“They’re great,” said the 72-year-old.

Ex Sheffield United player Tony Currie and Head of Community Mark Todd look at an elephant outside Sheffield United Football Club, which is part of the Herd trail. Picture: Andrew Roe

“Really nice, I can’t wait to see more.”

John Wooley and Janet Howse came over from Leeds for the day to work their way around the city centre elephants.

“We’ve seen about a dozen so far,” said John.

“We’ve been to the Winter Garden, the Moor, all around Fargate, they’re really nice, we’re impressed.”

Herd of Sheffield Launch with the one outside City Hall - Pete Southwood and his daughter Molly aged 3

Janet added: “We’re just doing a bit of re-con work today, as I’m going to come back and do the trail properly with my sisters this summer, so we’re going to travel out to Kelham Island and get all those then. Today is just about getting a bit of a sneak peek, but we really like what we see.

“We’ve done a few trails, like this one, in other cities and Sheffield’s is lovely, and it’s great it’s for charity.”

Amateur photographer Carl Daniels, of Page Hall, has been busy photographing elephants as part of a home-decorating project.

Carl, aged 52, said: “My grandparents are from India and so I’ve always loved elephants. I’m about to start painting at home and I’m going to take inspiration from the colours of my favourite elephants in the trail for each room, then I’ll hang the pictures I take today up in those rooms.”

Arctic Monkeys Elephant outside the Town Hall, John Woolley studies the Herd trail map

Rachel Lollar, aged 35, was out on her lunch break when she stumbled across her first elephant, outside Sheffield City Hall.

“They’re so impressive – and they’re everywhere!” said the mum-of-two, from Heeley.

“I’m planning to do the trail with my kids this summer, they’ll love it.”