To the rescue
The village was named after the largest tree in the woodland in which it was situated.
One day the two children Daisy a little girl and her brother Joe, asked their mummy if they might visit the woods. `` You may`` said mummy ``but don’t stray off of the main pathway or you may become lost``.
Having prepared a small picnic lunch for the two children their mummy waved them goodbye and watched them as they followed the pathway toward the woods.
As the children walked deeper into the forest they heard some one whistling a happy tune and as they followed the sound along the pathway they came upon a beautiful woodland cottage with a garden filled with every colour and type of flower imaginable.
All of which were being tended by the most beautiful array of butterflies, each one of which tended the petals as the little bee’s in their velvet brown coats kissed each and every flower in the garden in turn. Allowing particles of precious pollen to become attached to their little legs so that they may carry it back to their nest which hung heavily below the branch of an old Ash tree close by.
``Isn’t it wonderful`` Daisy said to Joe.
``It is`` he agreed. ``But who is whistling that happy tune? `` He queried.
As the children looked deeper into the garden a man appeared from behind the cottage and indeed he was whistling the tune and happiness was written all over his face. Never had the children seen quite such a happy soul.
As the man saw the children he made his way over to the gate where they stood. He stopped whistling his tune just long enough to bid them good day.
``Good day`` replied the children ``we were looking at your beautiful garden`` said Daisy. ``Your flowers are wonderful``.
``Why thank you my dear`` replied the old man ``but they are not my flowers they belong to those who tend them``. He replied pointing his finger in the direction of the busy butterflies and bees which were still flitting between the rows of brightly coloured flowers.
``Do you live here in the wood? `` asked Joe.
``Oh yes`` replied the old man `` I am the keeper of the wood. My name is Pete. ``
``I am Daisy and this is my brother Joe`` said the little girl.
``Pleased to meet you`` answered the old man.
’Old Pete’ as the children would come to call the wood keeper was a kindly soul with a twinkle in his blue eyes half moon glasses sat on the end of his nose and a long flowing white beard fell from his chin almost to his waist he had a slight bend in his back from many years of tending the garden, but most surprising of all was that he had not a single hair on his head, in fact the only thing he had on his head at all was an old tattered straw hat that he wore at a jaunty angle.
His old blue jeans were thread bare in places and worn in others they were patched with pieces of material that were almost as bright as the flowers in his garden. They had certainly seen better days and indeed in places the blue had faded to become almost white.
`` Why does the wood need a keeper? `` enquired Joe `` and what do you do? ``
``Why`` replied old Pete. ``I look after the trees, the woodland animals and birds, and all manner of creatures that live here or come to visit occasionally. ``
``You mean to tell me that you haven’t heard tell of the magical things which happen in the woods? `` He asked. ``Oh no. `` replied the children.
``Don’t tell me you haven’t heard the stories in the village about my woods`` enquired the old man.
Leaning forward onto the gate the old man said in a low voice ``Well you would be surprised at some of the things that you can see and hear in the woods.``
He winked his eye and bidding the children a good day once more he returned to his whistling and once more set about tending the cottage garden.
The children watched old Pete for a little while longer and then carried on walking along the path which took them even further into the woods. Eventually they came to a large velvety green grass area which was nestled in the shadow of a large old Oak tree and the children settled down on the grass to eat the lunch their mummy had prepared for them earlier.
``What a wonderful place `` Daisy said.
`` It certainly is `` agreed Joe `` but I wonder what Old Pete meant when he said you could see and hear things in the woods``. He looked at his sister expecting her to answer but found that she was intently looking off toward the side of the path a little further down pathway and she was holding her head on one side as if listening to something.
``What is it Daisy`` asked Joe.
``shh.`` she replied and once more sat in silence listening.
``Did you hear that? `` She queried.
``Hear what? `` asked Joe.
At which daisy put her finger to her lips and said ``listen. `` The children sat in silence and gradually Joe picked up what Daisy had heard.
Both children became wide eyed as they listened to what can only be described as a very mournful sound which seemed to be coming from some where along the side of the path.
They slowly got to their feet and crept along the path until they were stood next to where the sound seemed to be coming from. The children went down on all fours and crawled up to a tuft of long grass, they slowly parted the grass and looked through and there beyond the grass was what must have been a surprise to the two young children. A rabbit stood before them holding his head between his hands making the most awfully distressing sound.
The two children looked at each other and then turning back to the rabbit Daisy spoke.
``Why Mr Rabbit what ever is the matter`` she asked.
The reply was an even louder cry of dismay.
``Mr rabbit`` said Joe ``pray tell what is the matter. ``
The rabbit was surprised that he was being spoken to and stood looking through eyes filled with sadness at the children. ``I’m sorry `` said the rabbit ``are you talking to me? ``
`` We are `` replied Joe. ``Now what ever is the matter? ``
The rabbit turned away in answer and pointed toward a line of tree’s that had been newly felled. All of which had large yellow crosses painted on their trunks.
``Those trees `` replied the rabbit `` are where I grew up my home was among the roots of the trees as were the homes of all my friends and family`` he said pointing toward a group of very forlorn looking rabbits that were gathering what ever belongings they could from among the damaged trees.
``When the day started we all had homes, but now it seems that the world has fallen down. ``
The children were dismayed at the damage and quickly made their way back to the cottage of Old Pete, where they told the old man what they had seen.
The old man shook his head sadly. ``There was talk of a new road being built close to the woods`` said the old man ``but I understood that no work was to take place until after the villagers had had a chance to talk to the council contractors and the planners. It would appear that we must call an emergency meeting of the villagers and see if we can do something about this before any more damage is caused.`` The children returned to their home and spoke to their mummy and daddy about what they had seen and it was agreed that their parents would speak to the villagers and see if they could do something to help.
At the insistence of the villagers a meeting was called and it was agreed that in two days time the contractors and the council would come to a meeting to see if there was any thing that could be done. In the meantime all tree felling would be stopped.
Old Pete attended the meeting with the villagers though there seemed to be a lot of sadness in the air even before the meeting had started. Once the meeting started the people of the village expressed deep concern at what was happening to their woods which after all had been there far longer than any one could remember and was so obviously a very important part of the village. Old Pete introduced himself and went on to explain the vital role that the woodland played and expressed concern that all of the woodland folk as he called the animals would be in danger of losing their homes. The meeting went on long into the night with ideas and concerns being put forward and then dismissed, before it was eventually agreed that the tree felling would stop temporarily whilst investigations were made to see if it were possible to take the new road around the woodland rather than through it. The villagers thanked the contractors for hearing their concerns and the meeting was brought to a close. All of the villagers returned to their homes in the hope that they would soon hear some good news.
On the following morning the children returned to the woodland and went to see Old Pete who explained what had happened.
The fact is said Old Pete to the children knowingly `` as we know the forest is a magical place with many strange and magical happenings. It must be protected.``
The children left their old friend to tend his garden and ventured further in to the wood, and eventually they came upon a very excited yet concerned rabbit whom they had met the day before. They learned from speaking to him once he had calmed down that his name was Danny Thump and at the news that things would be put on hold Danny became much very much more relaxed than he had been when the children first came upon him in a very distressed state the day before.
``Thank you for trying to help us all`` he said to the children.
``I think you should come with me.``
``to where`` asked Joe and with not the slightest hint of an answer Danny hopped off into the distance. Leaving the surprised children to follow behind.
The children followed Danny and before much longer they found themselves standing on the velvety green grass below the Oak tree, and all around them animals , birds and insects of every imaginable woodland variety peered at them from behind tufts of grass, beneath toadstools, and from the branches of the trees.
The whole of the woodland became hushed as the leaves on the Oak tree began to rustle almost as if the old tree was calling for them to be quiet.
In the trunk of the tree two deep brown caring eyes looked down on all the woodland folk and the children.
``I`` said the tree `` am Griselda the wisest Oak in the wood and I bow my lofty branches to you both, in thanks. I understand from Danny and some of the other animals that you have been a great help and are trying to save us all. Well I think its wonderful and with the help of both you and that of the villagers and Old Pete we may be able to save the woods and I may be able to see my two hundred year birthday in this wonderful place.
``two hundred years old?`` exclaimed both of the children `` we have never even heard of anything that is as old as that``.
As the days and then the weeks progressed the children’s parents Old Pete and the rest of the villagers and the workmen held many meetings and some weeks later as a result of the concerns of all the villagers it was at last decided that the new road would indeed go ahead but that it would now be sited some four miles away from the woodland on land already owned by the council and so the peace of the village and the safety of the woodland and all its many secrets and its beauty would be assured.
There was also another surprise in store for the villagers in that the council had made an order of protection so that the woodland which meant that every one could enjoy the woodland for all time.
As evening fell over the village Old Pete came to the home of the children, and asked Daisy and Joe might accompany him to the woods.
After a discussion with the children’s parents It was agreed that they could go with Pete on the assurance that he would make sure that they returned home safely afterwards, and thus agreed the little group led by Pete made their way toward the woods once more.
``Where are we going Pete?`` asked the children.
Touching the side of his nose in a secretive manner the old man merely replied ``you’ll see.``
Old Pete and the children made their way along the woodland path and before to long they came to the place where Griselda the wise old Oak tree stood.
She looked majestic with her crown of leaves rustling and moving gently in the breeze, and her eyes seemed to have a brighter than usual shine to them.
With a mischievous smile she clapped two of her branches together and as the two branches came together with a thud something wonderful happened.
All of the birds, animals and insects that had made their home in the woods formed a ring around the old Oak tree. With Old Pete and the children inside standing in front of the Old tree.
As the children watched a large brown owl appeared from between Griselda’s branches.
``Good evening children`` said the bird and speaking to the assembled woodland folk he called for silence so that Griselda could address them.
``My friends ``said the Old Oak in a deep friendly voice, ``we have in our midst today three very special people one of whom has shared our home with us for many a fine year, ‘Old Pete’ guardian of our most precious secrets. Who has cared for us tree, animal, bird and insect alike, we humbly thank you Pete for fighting to protect our home and all of its many wonders``. The tree seemed to lower her lofty branches in a bow to the old wood keeper and as she straightened a pair of little blue birds placed a garland of marigold over her lowest branch and leaning slightly forward the Old Oak placed them around the top of Pete’s hat. We thank you keeper of the wood for the many hours you have worked among us but more so for your recent assistance in having our homes protected for all time. Old Pete hung his head and his cheeks flushed bright red as a tear came to the corner of his twinkling blue eyes. ``Twas my pleasure.`` replied the Old man ``and may we spend many happy summers together in years to come.``
``I am sure we shall`` answered the Old Oak tree ``I’m sure we shall.
The Old wood keeper looked at the wise old tree and allof the woodland folk present in one voice shouted ``thank you keeper of the woods from one and all.``
As the noise died down and gradually the woodland became silent once more Griselda addressed the two children. ``Two as young as you and an old man were responsible for bringing the villagers together in order to help us and we most humbly thank you.``
``But we did so very little`` said Daisy.
``We only spoke to our parents`` agreed Joe.
``Yes`` replied Griselda ``but that very little you speak of achieved so very much and we have been protected from harm as a result of what you both did. Once more thank you children and I bestow upon you the heart felt thanks of every one here.``
Both children also accepted a garland of flowers from Griselda and they were further blessed by being made guardians of all that dwell in the woods, an honour only given once before and indeed that was to Old Pete many many years ago.
The sky was drawing ever darker as the evening changed to night and Old Pete took the children by the hand and bidding the woodland folk a good night they turned toward the path and home.
As the three friends made their way down the path the children’s eyes lit up in awe. All along the side of the path there were lines of little glowing buttons as Sidney glow worm had his friends light the way with their little tails held high they flashed their little tail lights, and ahead of them buzzing Barney fire fly and his family lit the pathway from above, right to the very edge of the forest and beyond.
I know of two little children who won’t get much sleep tonight as they try to recall all that befell them on this the most wonderful of days.
But who knows?
Maybe this is just the first of many adventures for Daisy and Joe and the woodland folk.