Duke visits... Sutton Park
- December 2024

Hi Pals,
Well November didn’t quite go to plan in our household, and I’ve ended up being on nursing duties. First mum strained her knee and couldn’t weight bear and then dad promptly came down with a bad cold and he too was off work.

This has put a bit of a halt on day trips out although so did those endless nights of fireworks rattling the house night after night.

Dad was well enough one weekend to take me on a greyhound walk organised by Burton on Trent Greyhound Trust. This one was at Sutton Park, near to me. We had a nice walk; I had the compulsory lie down and dad won a bottle of wine. I do like a good whine! BOL!

This trust organises multiple walks each month around the West Midlands, including Walsall Arboretum, Sutton Park, Lichfield Park and next year a new walk in Burton on Trent. You can find all their events and walks on their website.

As mum wasn’t up for walking, she stayed home but was starting to get a bit of cabin fever. We have missed a few planned days out as mum wasn’t mobile enough to leave the house. Now she is starting to get a bit more mobile, we planned a trip to a local National Trust site. It is one we have visited a lot, and it now has two mobility scooters, so mum pre-booked a scooter so she could join us on my walkies but not struggle with her knee.

It was a cold but bright morning, and we headed off to Kedleston Hall. Dad managed to park close to the visitor hut and mum was able to walk the short distance to the hut and organise to get her scooter.



After a bit of form filling and a test run, we were off.

Whilst at the hut I managed to get another stamp in my Pooch Passport, so I am only three stamps away from getting my gift of a scarf now.



We needed to stick to the paths as the scooters cannot manage the soft grassy areas in the winter months, but there is a good firm path of reasonable length on the short & long walks. It just meant that we could not go through the gate at the end that takes you to the river path and had to turn round and come back, but it was still a good 90-minute walk (ride in mum’s case).

On the way back we saw a rainbow, so it must have meant all the rainbow hounds were watching over us.



We headed down the hill to the hall, mum still on her scooter, and the Hoos took it in turns to visit the house which was dressed up for Diwali.







A change since we last visited is that the restaurant is now dog friendly.

Mum & I headed to the restaurant whilst dad visited the house, and I found a huge table to lie under as it was busy, and I didn’t want to get trampled on.



Mum defrosted from her time spent outside.

If you have mobility issues you can hire the scooters at some National Trust sites for free. It is a fantastic way to enable Hoos to get out and about if their legs are a bit wonky or they want to explore further than their legs will take them. If you check the website for the site, you wish to visit they will let you know what facilities are available and how to book. Most do require you to book a couple of days in advance.

Hoping to get out a bit more as mum continues to get better but for now, I’m still on nursing duties for a couple of weeks longer.
Until next time
Duke

www.dukesdoggieadventures.wordpress.com