When beloved bear Teddy left for a day trip with his owner, eight-year-old Hannah, and her family, he could not have imagined the adventure that awaited him in the grounds of National Trust’s Clumber Park.
The family were enjoying a sunny stroll when Hannah dropped poor Teddy off the Ornamental Bridge into the lake below. Sadly, there was no way for the family to safely retrieve him themselves, so they left with a heartbroken Hannah, and Teddy settled in for a somewhat soggy sleepover.
But all was not lost, Hannah’s dad contacted staff at Clumber Park the next morning, to see if there was anything they could do to help. Assistant Business Services Coordinator Jill Meeds took the call and wasted no time in enlisting the help of Rangers Charis and Millie, to undertake the search.
Despite the slim chances of finding the stricken bear, and with Millie having only just joined the team, she and Charis got straight to work. Against the odds, the pair were able to locate Teddy and reunite him with a delighted Hannah.
Hannah’s dad Jamie said to the team at Clumber Park: “I can’t begin to tell you how happy this has made my little girl. You and your team have restored my faith in humanity and made a family, and especially Hannah, extraordinarily happy and eternally grateful.”
But before sending him on his way, Charis and Millie decided since Teddy had spent so much time in the park without actually getting to see much of it, he’d surely earned himself a VIP (Very Important Paw-son) tour of the grounds. He met the longhorn cattle, made friends with a local frog, and visited the Estate Yard – where he even had a go at driving one of the vehicles!
A very happy ending indeed, all made possible by the kindness of Clumber Park’s staff.
What’s On at Clumber Park
- 1st to 31st October: Autumnal Photography Competition.
- Tuesdays 4th and 11th October: Beginner’s Guide to Watercolour and Sketching course, 10.00am to 12.30pm, Discovery Centre, £30.00 for both sessions. Book online.
- w/c 17th October: Apple Week including pruning workshop, Gardens talk with Clumber’s Beekeeper: The importance of bees and a heritage apple trail.
- w/c 17th and 24th October: Family Photo Scavenger Hunt.
- Mondays 17th and 24th October: Arts and crafts with Sunflower Wellbeing. 11.00am to 2.00pm in the Discovery Centre. £5.00 for four crafts.
- Wednesday 19th, Saturday 22nd and Wednesday 26th October: Archery and Axe Throwing with Into the Forest. 10.30am to 4.00pm. Front Field. Have a go Axe Throwing – £3.00 for six throws. Minimum age 10. Have a go Archery – £3.00 for six arrows. Minimum age 5. Cash only due to lack of signal.
- Saturday 29th October: Sneaky Experiences Family Halloween event. Join this hilarious supernatural expedition with immersive storytelling, magic, dancing, games and fun for the whole family. Multiple times available. Adults £12.50, children £15.50, under twos free. Book online at www.sneakyexperience.co.uk.
- Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October: Breakfast with the Spooks including Halloween themed crafts, fancy dress optional for all. Adults £12.50, children £4.50, under threes free. Multiple times available. Book by calling 01909 511034.
Find more details about any of these events at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/clumber-park/what’s-on and book online here where necessary.