Woodrow and Friends’ Woodland Adventure
Woodrow came home from school and handed a letter to his mum, it was from Mr. Slater his teacher. The letter was about a school trip with an overnight stay in Gribble Woods. As Winnie Woody’s mum reads the letter Woody could not contain his excitement and cries out “Can I go mum, please, the place is whispery with good ghosts’ mum, and Mr. Slater is a wonderful storyteller.” Winnie asks about his teacher, “Is he married Woody, what does he look like?” “Oh mum, you’ll see for yourself next week, its parents evening and you and dad have to go. I’ve got another letter here about that, but that letter was more important, so can I go mum, please?” “I’ll speak to your dad about it later, you leave him to me Woody” mum replies in a whisper. Mmmmm, I’ll have to get my hair done, a blue rinse I think, that’ll do it. Woody’s dad Wilf was reading his paper and listening to the conversation, as they leave the room Wilf lowers his paper and raises an eyebrow.
“Who’s going on the trip Woody?” “All my class mum and some helpers too because we’re camping overnight, Mr. Slater, Mr. Bobble the caretaker, “That’s not his real name Woody it’s Bob Bell.” “Yes mum but we call him that because as well as ringing the bell he does everything else in school, we say Bob’ll fix it, Bob’ll do it, Bob’ll set it up and now Mr. Bobble is driving the bus too. Mrs. Sowbugs the headmistress and Miss Tiggyhogs.” “Miss Tiggyhogs?” “Yes mum, she says she was in your class at school.” “Oh yes, I remember her Woody, she was always in trouble, playing tricks and up to mischief and would copy anyone’s work.” “Roly always copies my work mum.” “You’ll have to report that to Mr. Slater Woody, that’s not right.” “I will mum but not yet, it’s Roly’s birthday party next week and I’m invited so I’ll tell him after that.” “Oh Woody, you are a scamp.”
“Will we have to wear our school uniform mum?” “No Woody, it says in the letter that you can wear camouflage clothes to blend in with the woods so you can wear yours if I can find them, I’ll have to dig them out and give them a wash.” “I’ll need a packed lunch to eat on the bus, a jam jar and some string too, we’re making lanterns to hang in the trees at our camp. Oh, I can’t wait mum, its going to be a wonderful adventure.”
The day of the trip finally arrives and as Woody climbs aboard the bus Mr. Slater enquires why he’s dressed in his casual clothes? “Well sir, mum said my camouflage clothes are so good she couldn’t find them anywhere.” Miss Tiggyhogs giggled “Never mind Woody.” As they finally set off on their journey Mr. Bobble was at the wheel holding on like he was piloting a light aircraft in a thunderstorm. All the class were shouting faster, faster Mr. Bobble, go faster. Mr. Bobble responds in a deep gruff voice, “You should never drive faster than your angels can fly children.” Looking at them wide eyed in the mirror. Eh, what does that mean? Awww, it’ll be dark at this rate before we get there muttered the children.
By mid afternoon they arrive at Gribble Woods where the road sinks gently into the land and eventually becomes a lane. As they enter the wood the scene suddenly breaks up into mingles of un-numbered sounds. As they clamber off the bus stretching their many legs, they were met by a local woodsman who introduced himself as Mr. Birch. Mr. Slater smiles, then clasps his hands together and says, “Now listen very carefully children to what Mr. Birch tells you about the woods and all its inhabitants.”
He began telling them about the animals they may encounter in the woods. There are so many that I couldn’t possibly name them all. There are badgers, foxes, stoats and weasels, hedgehogs, rats and mice, owls, pheasants, partridges, bats and an array of birds that you can also see in your gardens at home. Oh no! shrieked the children, not hedgehogs, it couldn’t be Sniff and Snuffle, they’re miles away, phew. Don’t be alarmed if you hear them during the night as many of the animals here are what we call nocturnal, this means they sleep during the day and go out hunting and foraging during the night. There are also many kinds of insects both crawling and flying. That’s one of the reasons we have the campfire to keep the wild animals at bay whilst we are sleeping.
There are also many kinds of trees here in the ancient woodland. Did you know that they are able to talk to each other by a hidden underground fungus which connects to each tree? They tell one another of impending dangers like drought, fire, stormy weather or caterpillar infestation. Trees are social beings and like being together just like people, in parks, woodlands and in wooded copse. Trees growing together can live into old age and become grandparents to the younger trees. However, sadly trees living alone can suffer from stress and are open to the elements so normally don’t live into old age. When planting a tree, you must give it good nourishment, room to grow and offer support when needed. It’s just like bringing up a child like your mums and dads have done for you children. You can learn a lot from trees. Trees are wonderful, they take and store harmful pollution from the atmosphere and help us to breathe cleaner air, they are natures air filters.
When an old tree dies it tumbles and falls to the ground and should be left alone to break down as it releases moisture to cool the air and valuable nutrients to feed the woodland floor, but also makes room for other trees to grow and flourish. Did you know that dead wood harbours life, old trees have a special importance, they support a range of animals and plants, lichens, mosses, ferns and insects like beetles which hibernate in them, but it also allows more sunlight to reach the woodland floor enabling wildflowers like bluebells, sweet violets, wood anemones and celandines to colonise, which also enables insects and birds to flourish?
“Well children, Mr. Bobble has finished erecting your tents and is about to light a campfire where Mr. Slater will gather you all together to tell you a story about mythology. I hope you have enjoyed your talk and have a lovely evening; I’ll see you all again tomorrow when we go foraging in the woods.” The children all clapped to thank Mr. Birch for his fascinating talk. “Gosh, we never knew trees were so clever, we’ll take better care of them in the future Mr. Birch” said Woody, and all the children agreed. “Thank you, children said Mr. Birch, “That’s just what I wanted to hear.” Mrs. Sowbugs twixt her lips and smiled, she was beaming with pride at the children’s response.
Later in the camp both Miss Tiggyhogs and Mrs. Sowbugs lit a candle, and from the bobbling flame lit all the others placing them inside the jam jars then hung them from the trees. They looked so beautiful twinkling in the trees in their brightly coloured painted jars which they made in art class with Miss Tiggyhogs the week before. The scene was now set. Now look at the flame of the candle says Mr. Slater, it has an inner zone, an outer zone and a luminous zone, and in years gone by people would have to trim their wicks, candlelight was all they had, that and the light from the moon, there was no electricity back then. Wicks were made from the carex plant which grows here in abundance by the little meandering brook. The outer cover would be stripped away, and the white inner used as wicks, here’s one I prepared earlier, pass it round children. Chiggy calls out, “How long would it last sir?” With lightening speed Roly calls out in his Lancashire lilt, “I bet it’s about a wick” (week), everyone laughed, even Mrs. Sowbugs who was normally rather reserved.
As the light began to fade into darkness and with the moon smiling down upon them, Mr. Slater asks the children to gather around the campfire. Now look into the fire children, he says in a whispery voice, as you gaze into the flames, I want you to use your imagination. In times gone by people would sit around the fire to tell stories. In Greek religion the goddess of the hearth Hestia was worshipped. She had special skills and powers. She maintained the hearth fire of both Mount Olympus and the homes of the Greeks, she helped to keep peace in the family and taught people how to build their homes, it was also a place where teaching was carried out, just like we’re doing now. The fire would also protect them from wild and dangerous animals, just as Mr. Birch told you earlier. The children were mesmerised, their eyes gave more light than a lantern, they were dazzled. All was quiet until Woody piped up…“My dad said he thought my mum was a goddess before they were married, and my mum keeps the peace in our house too, perhaps they’re related sir?” Mr. Slater smiled and shook his head. “Has anyone else got a story to tell?” Woody puts his hand up again, “I have sir, I’ve wrote a little story about a moth. It’s called Moffat the Moth.” “Go ahead Woody.”
Moffat the moth is a twilight moth and feeds on the nectar of the evening primrose which only shows its true beauty when shadows lengthen, that means when its going dark sir. He’s often chased by a bat called Bertrum, there he is now sir, flying around the candles. “Oh, how wonderful” says Mrs. Sowbugs. Moffatt carries lots of tiny hairs on his body and wings which confuses Bertrum, he can’t hear him so can’t find him to eat him. So, Moffat is very clever and so are other moths too, and he lives to fly another night. “Oh, Woody what a lovely story, I can even smell the wonderful perfume from the evening primrose.” said Miss Tiggyhogs. Everyone applauds Woody, Mrs. Sowbugs was most impressed as was Mr. Slater. “Well Woody, I think that was a nicer story than mine, well done.”
Now children, Mr. Bobble has provided an early supper for us cooked over the campfire before we bed down for the night, line up and collect your meal, he will be checking you all later before he blows the candles out. After supper Mr. Slater asks if anyone has one last story to tell. As quick as a flash Roly puts up his hand. “Please sir, it’s not a story it a sort of song I made up, perhaps I could sing it for everyone.” “Oh, that would be lovely.” says Mrs. Sowbugs in her posh voice, “but may I ask what it’s about?” “Yes miss, it’s about what we had for supper.” “Really Roly? “Yes, miss its about beans.” “Oooohhhh, please say there’s only one verse.” “No Miss there’s several.” With an engaging zest and manner that is hard to distinguish from pleasure, and with great gusto Roly goes for it. “Wild and windy, with beans from Idly, that’s how you’ll be when you’ve had your tea.
Whizzin’ and poppin’, there’ll be no stoppin’ when you’ve been shoppin’ for Idly beans.
But don’t you worry, you can always have curry…
“Oh oh, thank you Roly, that’s lovely.” “But I’ve not finished Miss, there’s loads more verses yet.” “No, I think we’ve heard enough for tonight Roly.” Mr. Slater lowered and shook his head in despair making sure to do it by her blind side. He then tells Roly, “Like a footnote Roly, keep it light.” Mr. Bobble then pipes up and saves the day. “Now then children, make sure you have a wash and put your pyjamas on, its time to retire to your tents.” A short while later as Mr. Bobble approaches Chuggy and Roly’s tent, he lifts the flaps and calls out “Pooooh what’s that awful smell boys?” “It’s those beans we had for supper Mr. Bobble and Roly had double helpings.” “Oh no, I fear there’s going to be thunder in the tents tonight.” and sure enough there was lots of rumblings in the camp that night.
As darkness falls, the timid night air blows over the campsite and thoughts of Hestia crosses Tiggy’s mind and he gets upset and cries for his mum. “Don’t get upset Tig,” said Woody, “Come into my tent I’ll look after you. “Where are you Woody, shine your torch.” Woody opens the tent flaps and shines his torch. “Here I am Tig, bring your sweets with you too, you don’t want the creepy crawlies or the wild beasts get them.” As they all settle down for the night the thought of Hestia runs through their imagination. Suddenly Chiggy calls out, “Sir I can’t sleep.” “Have you tried counting sheep.” said Miss Tiggyhogs. “It doesn’t work miss.” “Well talk to the shepherd.” says Mr. Slater. “Okay sir, I’ll give it a try. Night, night sir, night night everyone.”
There was a snap in the chatter as Mrs. Sowbugs wrinkles her nose, her mouth twitches into a smile as she quietly says to Miss Tiggyhogs, “Oh no, I think I’ve just whizz popped, those beans.” she blushed. “I believe you have” simpered Miss Tiggyhogs. “Not a word now, I’m sure I can rely on your discretion.” And moments later the whole camp was alive with laughter as tents don’t have walls. As the night wears on it was very windy in the camp especially from Roly’s tent. And where a smiling moon dips down below the two hemispheres on the happy campers, the stars are as numberless as days.
Everyone rises early next morning to the melodious sounds of the birds, and after a hearty breakfast, but not beans as they are now off the menu, they all go off into the woods foraging with Mr. Birch the woodsman. Later he sits the children down by a beautiful pond where countless tadpoles blacken the shallows and where other woodlice fossick in the leaf litter to shun the bright light. Everything here around us is edible so get stuck in everyone while I give you a little talk. You’ll need to pay attention and make notes as there will be a quiz when we get back to camp. The woodland floor was rich in vegetable matter, lichens, fungus, leaf litter and their favourite food decaying tree bark
As he began his talk where a medley of wildflowers carpets the woodland floor and the gilded reflections of the lesser celandine shine in the little meandering brook, he tells them that this beautiful flower was a favourite of Wordsworth a poet in days gone by. Through the wild wood flower tufts the children gently step to a sweet bower beneath the trees. He explains to the children that from our humble wildflowers we have developed magnificent blooms we now see everywhere in our gardens. The children were as noiseless as a snowflake with the appealing eyes of a sheepdog as they listened intently.
As they return to the campsite Mr. Birch gives them all a quiz paper to complete on their journey. Everything has been packed away and the coach is waiting to take them home. Mr. Slater and Mrs. Sowbugs congratulate Mr. Birch for giving the children such a lovely experience, one that they will never forget. “Teaching is theatre” says Mr. Birch, “Grip your audience and there’s nothing you can’t do.” Mrs. Sowbugs agrees, “This wonderful experience goes far beyond a typical day in the classroom.” She also thanks Mr. Slater for organising the trip along with Miss Tiggyhogs. “Well,” says Mr. Slater. “My ideas were simmering and simmering for quite some time, it was Mr. Bobble who brought them to the boil.”
As the children waited in line a faint sound could be heard, it was Roly, and as he whispered his song, many more children joined in as they marched onto the bus. Whizzin’ and poppin, there’ll be no stopping, when you’ve been shoppin’ for Idly beans, and they all sang many more verses as they made their way home to Mrs. Sowbugs’ great dismay.
Now do you see the wonders in this fairy tale?
