Yesterday my humans took me along to a rather wonderful place owned by The National Trust known as Newark Hall. We arrived early before the house and gardens opened so set off for a walk around the estate. We started off walking through some splendid woods.
I decided it might be fun to hunt for some fungi. It wasn’t long before I found a small specimen.
I became a tad worried when a dog came to say ‘Hello’ while I was studying the fungus. Fortunately he soon bounced off to join his humans and didn’t try to pick me up with his teeth. I have had incidents with dogs so I am rather cautious of them.
The dog’s human stopped and spoke to us for a while, and pointed out a wonderful specimen of fungi called Dryad’s Bracket growing far down a steep bank. He said it was called Dryad’s Bracket. I clambered down to take a closer look.
The brackets looked a bit like pancakes growing out of the tree. I decided not to eat one.
It was easy going down the bank to find the fungi, but climbing back up again was hard work for a small bear of short stature.
I got back to the path with a little help from my humans and continued along the marked trail. When we emerged from the woodland there was an amazing view. 
It was very peaceful without the sound of traffic anywhere; very calming for a bear used to living in the city. We walked on through a valley where sheep were having some sort of meeting; you can see them just above my right ear in the photo below.
After walking back through the woods I stopped to take a closer look at the fluffy thistle seed heads that were everywhere.
Eventually we came to a gate and found ourselves in the garden. I stopped and had a little rest for a while and admire the view. My little legs were starting to feel quite tired.
After continuing on in the direction of the tea pavillion (my humans are always on the look out for such places!) we came across a special resting log for tired bears.
I managed to have a five minute ‘power nap’ then was picked up and carried in the spotty bag. I was very pleased when I climbed out to find that I too had a ‘nice cup of tea’ to drink.
Refreshed by the tea I toddled across the lawn to try my paw at croquet. I think perhaps the National Trust should get some smaller mallets for those of short stature as the mallet was considerably bigger than me.
I wanted to have a mooch about in the house as I had read that inside there were lots of swans and a dressing up room.
Once inside I got quite engrossed in a newspaper in the drawing room
Everything about Newark was very interesting indeed. After absorbing all the information I made my way upstairs to the dressing up room, where I found an excellent selection of bear hats.
On going up another flight of stairs I was very pleased to make friends with some bears living in a delightful bedroom. I stopped and chatted to them for a while.
My new friends told me that I should to go into the other bedroom to see all the swans. There were indeed many swans…
Before leaving the house I had a look at the little room that used to house the toilet; the hole is still there. I didn’t know that clothes used to be kept in toilets in Tudor times as the smell kept moths away.
As I left the house I was very pleased to see some bees collecting pollen to make honey on a big yellow flowering plant. I had a good look but was careful not to get too close as I really didn’t want a stung nose.
Before leaving to go back home with the humans I sat and just looked at the beautiful view from the garden in front of the house.
Newark Park is a splendid place for bears to take their humans (or vice versa). I hope I get to visit again oneday.
Horace the Alresford Bear 