The friends

Meet the friends of Dewberry Hollow

Every friend lives the way nature does, and each one teaches a small, kind habit. And then there’s Gloop, who is still learning.

Tara the Tailorbird

The maker and mender

Lives at: Stitchleaf Bush, at the edge of the Flower Meadow
Teaches us: Tara never throws things away. If something tears, she mends it with a quick stitch.
True nature fact: Real tailorbirds sew leaves together with spider silk and plant fibers to make their nests. Their homes are made of nature — and go back to nature.
Your turn: Can you mend something instead of throwing it away?

“Stitch it, don’t ditch it!”

Gilli the Squirrel

The question asker

Lives at: The Old Hazel Tree, with her big, busy family
Teaches us: Gilli always asks, “But where does it come from?” Asking helps us make kind, clever choices.
True nature fact: Squirrels bury nuts to eat later. The ones they forget grow into new trees — squirrels are secret tree planters!
Your turn: Next time you get something new, ask: where does it come from?

“But where does it come from?”

Spindly the Spider

The happy sharer

Lives at: A dewy web by the hedge, near Stitchleaf Bush
Teaches us: Spindly spins silk thread and shares it with his friends. When friends share, they give something back too.
True nature fact: Spider silk is one of the strongest threads in the world — and it is made with no factory at all!
Your turn: What can you share with a friend today?

“Spin it, share it!”

Bobbin the Silkworm

The thread expert

Lives at: Mulberry Grove, on her favorite reading leaf
Teaches us: Bobbin knows where every thread comes from — from plants, from animals, from nature.
True nature fact: Silkworms eat only mulberry leaves, and spin a silk thread so long it could stretch across a whole field!
Your turn: Look at a label on your clothes. What is it made from?

“Every thread has a story.”

Ripple the Otter

The river keeper

Lives at: Willow Bend, in a burrow by Sparkle Brook
Teaches us: Ripple keeps the brook sparkly and clean, because everyone needs clean water.
True nature fact: Otters only live where rivers are clean. When you see otters, you know the water is healthy!
Your turn: Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth.

“Keep it sparkly!”

Nibbles the Moth

The night-time giggler

Lives at: Moonflower Glade, where flowers open under the moon
Teaches us: Nibbles reminds us to care for our clothes, so they last a long, long time.
True nature fact: Many moths visit flowers at night. They carry pollen from flower to flower and help new seeds grow.
Your turn: Fold your clothes and put them away — no snacks for Nibbles!

“Oops, snack time!”

Grandma Loom the Tortoise

The wise weaver

Lives at: Sunny Stone Corner, by the Shared Garden
Teaches us: Grandma Loom weaves old scraps into new treasures. Slow and careful work makes things last.
True nature fact: Some tortoises live for more than 100 years! As they wander, they carry seeds and help new plants grow.
Your turn: Ask a grandparent what they made or mended when they were little.

“Slow and steady makes it last.”

Pip the Baby Squirrel

The little copycat

Lives at: The Old Hazel Tree, with cousin Gilli
Teaches us: Pip copies everything Gilli does. Little ones learn from what we do, so let’s show them kind choices!
True nature fact: In a squirrel family, everyone shares — and baby squirrels learn by watching the big ones.
Your turn: A hand-me-down is a treasure with a story. Do you have one?

“Me too!”

Gloop

Still learning

Lives at: The Glitter Heap, by the hedge at the edge of the Hollow
Teaches us: Gloop loves new, shiny things and throws them away fast. But Gloop is learning that friends matter more than things.
True nature fact: Gloop is not from nature, so Gloop makes messes nature can’t clean up. With a little help, Gloop is changing — and so can we!
Your turn: Can you help Gloop? Pick a reusable bottle or bag today.

“More! Newer! Faster!” (Gloop is learning…)

Coming soon

New friends arriving in the Hollow

Families, a weatherman, lamplighters and more join the stories in the books ahead.

Mama HazelGilli and Pip’s mother: thrifty, warm and always busy. "Don’t throw that, we can use it!"

Papa BrambleGilli and Pip’s father, keeper of family traditions.

Mama ReedA weaver bird and expert weaver who checks every stitch.

DazzleThe peacock weatherman. He dances when the monsoon clouds roll in, and loves an audience.

MoonbeatDazzle’s cricket helper, who sings all night and tells the temperature by his chirps.

NatterA myna who talks, and talks, and is learning to listen.

Lumi and the GlimmersFireflies who light the paths of the Hollow every evening.

KaleoA chameleon whose colours show how he feels, and whose eyes can look two ways at once.

Read about them all in the free starter book

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