A WOODLAND TALE
By A. Woodcutter

Having had a busy morning, Wando thought he would rest awhile, and with a sigh, sat down on a tree stump. There are many tree stumps in these woodlands - the master of these woods does not care for the trees - he longs for what they stand on! But he cannot tell the people of the village of Alewoldestune this - they, the simple folk, love the woods because they house and feed the birds, the butterflies, beetles and insects and have flowers and berries, nuts and fruits and are just a pleasure to be amongst.

Wando had just taken his handkerchief from the pocket where he kept his bread and cheese and laid it out before him, when such a din broke out in a tree nearby. "Do you mind! Do you mind!" he shouted, "I am just about to enjoy my bread and cheese. it's him! It's him!" A reply came back, "Come down out of the tree, and tell me why you argue." At this, two squirrels ran out of the tree, ran over to Wando and sat down before him. Cyril, the younger of the two squirrels explained. He said, looking toward the other squirrel, "What I was saying was silly and untrue." "What was it that you told him to cause such a commotion?" asked Wando, and so the story began.

"I was in the woods recently," said Cyril, "and I saw a very important human, who had come from a place called Europe. Chippy the woodmouse had heard another human call him an MEP, whatever that means. I could not hear very well because I was high in an oak tree. But Chippy, who had been dozing underneath some leaf litter, said the MEP had come to our wood, because a Magician, who lived in a faraway place called Matlock, was trying to make all of the woods and parkland disappear. This frightened me, so I ran away. When I told him, (looking at the other squirrel), he said if this was true, it would have been in the village newspaper, The Weasel, and no such story had appeared."

"Ah" said Wando, "perhaps I can resolve your dispute - down the road, in the big village Turnditch, there is a large, dark, mysterious building, the simple folk of the village call it 'The House of Whispers', which is really a public house where humans gather together and drink a liquid which makes them fall over, and this public house is called 'The Mason's Inn'. To gain entry to The Mason's Inn there is a secret sign that must be given - Sewer Rat told me this - he goes there to feast. Sewer Rat says there are very rich pickings to be had in The Mason's. They give the secret sign to keep the simple folk out. When the humans are allowed in The Mason's Inn they are greeted at the door by a human wearing an apron, then they quickly disappear inside. Sewer Rat says they speak in very low voices and keep repeating the same words over and over again, 'You do this for me, and I will do this for you'."

He adds, "Albert the bat is always hanging about around the Mason's and he says he sees all these rich and prominent humans coming and going, giving their secret signs, then slithering away. So, my young friends, perhaps the Magician from Matlock, and his helpers, in making the woods and the parklands disappear, drink in the Mason's Inn, and have asked a favour from some human who has influence with the village newspaper, The Daily Weasel, not to mention that an important human called an MEP has visited our woodland on behalf of the simple folk of the village, with a view to stopping the Magician performing his trick." "That explains it then," said Cyril, to the other squirrel. I told you I was telling the truth! "I am sorry," said his friend, "but I didn't know about the humans who frequented The Mason's Inn."

"Now you are friends again", said Wando, "please go away and play, and leave me to enjoy what is left of this beautiful morning, and my bread and cheese." Wando mused for a moment, and it occurred to him that what the nutkins had been saying could be very serious for the dwellers of the parkland and woods. I must call a meeting of all those who will be affected if the Magician performs his trick. So a meeting was called, and all the creatures of the woods and the parkland gathered. Wando related what young squirrel had told him. "No! No!" squealed all assembled, "we must not let this happen! The woods and parkland belong to us and the simple folk of the village."

"We must organise," said Wando, "there is much to do, and not a lot of time to do it in." "I am very busy" slurped Snail, "you know I am always busy dashing about the parklands." "So are we," said the rabbits. "I will help you," said the fox, "I am as crafty as those who wish to take our woodlands away." Wise-Owl sat on the bench observing the gathering. "Rabbits," Owl hooted, "There are many of you, so you have the most to lose, and yet you say, you're too busy! Well Rabbits, if you do not help now, in a few weeks time, when the Autumn leaves cover the woodland floor, you will be looking for somewhere else to roam, because the Magician will have performed his trick, and the woods and parkland will have disappeared"....