Our UK team has been keeping warm over the chilly winter months by organising some fabulous events for 2013. Let me hand over to Fiona in our UK office to fill you in on on what's coming up.

The UK celeBEARates all things bear

It’s 20 years since Jill first discovered a bear bile farm and while the journey is far from over, we believe it is time to celebrate what we have achieved so far with your help.

To mark this year, we’re holding a national poetry competition and we hope you will feel inspired to pen a poem in honour of our brave, beautiful bears.

Entries are already coming in, and Emily in our Cornwall office, who is collating the poems, is one minute moved to tears and the next laughing with joy as she reads them. With two entry categories – one for adults (aged 17 and over) and one for young people (aged 8-16), we are expecting many more entries before the closing date of 24 May.

The winning entries will be read to supporters by actors Peter Egan (Animals Asia Ambassador) and Rula Lenska at our Gala Evening on Thursday 13 June at the London Rowing Club.

The other fun activity the UK has lined up mark our anniversary and the vital role of our supporters in helping us is a Family bear Day with Teddy Bears’ Picnic on Sunday 14 April at Frensham Heights School in Farnham, Surrey.

As well as sharing updates on our Befriend a Bear and Sponsor a Bear schemes we’ve got activities lined up for all the family including a teddy bears’ picnic, a bear wish tree and treasure hunt. There will be also be live link up at 12pm from China with Jill.

And of course we could never forget our four-legged friends who are very welcome in the grounds (on leads) with a fun dog competition (judged by Peter Egan) with over four different categories including scruffiest dog, veteran dog, happiest dog and if you are feeling brave enough a dog and human lookalikes!

Every single one of you is a vital part of our journey and we’d like to thank you at our fun bear day. So please come along and join the fun!

Read more about our family bear day here. We hope to see you there.