The Little Leaf

A long time ago when the wind was blowing across the land and down into the green valleys, the sun was starting to slip in the sky to say goodnight after a long day warming the land. The evening sky was turning a rust colour with hints of blue and a chorus of birds were chirping to find a branch to snuggle up with friends to keep warm; the evening night chorus of birds chirping filled the air, small animals were running about, finally gathering their families and hurrying back to their burrows in case the sly fox found them.

Long shadows had been cast by the last hints of sunset through the trees welcoming the Moon as it rose graciously like a white goddess sprinkling fairy dust across the land. Hoo Hoo echoed around the woodland with the wise owl keeping watch over the magical animals and fields. All was quiet.

The wind had started to grow stronger and the branches on the trees were starting to bend and crack under the gusts of wind pulling at every leaf, twig and other loose items left in the woods by local travellers.

Thud..Thud and another thud as the seeds of the tree gave way by the pull of the wind landing upon the soft ground; through the night more leaves and branches were lost to the autumn storm, old trees lost their lives falling over never again to stand majestically over the smaller saplings.

As the morning sun arose from its night time slumber the birds were singing a welcome chorus greeting the new day. In the background they could hear the chopping sounds of an axe cutting into wood; the woodsman were cutting up the fallen trees and clearing the forest, larger trees were left on the forest floor for the mushrooms to grow upon the trunk and small insects to use as a new home.

As time went by so did the seasons; winter with its cold frosty days, snow and stillness all around as no one come to the forest when it was really cold? Spring saw the arrival of snowdrops and daffodils, new animals arriving and people walking around the woodlands picking wild flowers and the mushrooms which had grown on the fallen trees. But they had to be careful; if they picked the poison ones, it could make them very sick. Summer with its long days and sometimes very hot with little or no rain to water the plants, but people still came and sought shelter under the tall trees to keep cool while they relaxed with a drink and something to eat; Autumn came with its crisp mornings and dew casting the spiders web like a diamond curtain In the morning sun. The leaves on the trees tuning all different shades of brown and rust colours and in the end falling down to the woodland floor making a carpet of gold which people used to throw at one another laughing as each handful of leaves showered down between them.

The seasons came and went, but the forest stayed the same until one year a small green shoot sprouted up from the forest floor? This little green shoot over the years grew and grew until it had become a young sapling. The local woodsman had protected the small tree to stop the small deer eating it; he had also trimmed the tree so that it grew tall and straight.

Different woodsmen came and went who looked after the forest but the trees remained and grew.

150 years had passed and the tree was now fully grown. Many times it had shaded the local people from the hot sun or sheltered them from the rain and there it was, towering over the other trees; standing proud with its branches held out trying to touch the sky.

One day during the early spring a small twig had grown on one of the main branches; small birds had come by now and then to peck at the small twig but the twig held firm and grew. Little bits of other twigs started to appear, and at the end of each new twig, a small green leaf appeared.

This was no ordinary leaf, it was a magical leaf. The little leaf yawned and unfolded itself opening up its green clothing and staring at its surroundings. Where am I it asked. A deep husky voice which sounded like thunder replied; you are a leaf on the great oak of the forest. I’m what replied the leaf. The tree sighed; you are a leaf, like the thousands of other leaves that grow on me. Well, why are the other leaves not talking? They are replied the tree, you just have to listen when the wind blows through the tree, you can hear them whispering. Oh said the leaf, so; what do I do. Have I got a job? Yes said the tree. It is your job is to produce food for me the by photosynthesis. Chlorophyll, that is the substance that gives you and plants their green colour, it absorbs light and creates energy.

Leaves are nature’s food factories. Plants, including trees, take water from the ground through their roots. Leaves also take in a gas called carbon dioxide from the air through tiny holes in their leaves, which are called ‘stomata’. The plants use sunlight shining on their leaves to turn this water and the gas into glucose, which is a kind of sugar. They create oxygen as a by-product of this process. Trees and plants use the sugar as food for energy and to grow. The process through which the plants turn the water and gas into sugar is called photosynthesis.

They are very long words aren’t they said the leaf? Yes said the tree. You are not the first leaf nor will you be the last leaf that grows upon me.

As the days passed the little leaf asked the tree lots of questions and the tree always gave an answer back; now and then small insects came by, one day the leaf was minding its own business when a strange green creature came along the branch. It was wiggling this way and that way. It had hair on its green skin and had a very hungry look in its eyes. As the green creature got nearer to the leaf, he licked his lips and was about to start eating the leaf when he was stopped and asked; what are you doing? I’m hungry said the green creature, you can’t eat me, I’m a leaf. Yes I know said the green creature. I eat leaves. But what are you said the leaf. I’m a caterpillar said the green wriggly creature who was now very hungry. Don’t eat me said the leaf, I’m talking to the tree. Oh said the caterpillar, what about? Everything. The caterpillar decided that he was not going to eat the leaf and wriggled up beside the leaf. So what do you do asked the leaf, Well answered the caterpillar, I’m here to turn into a beautiful butterfly. What’s that asked the leaf. Well someday very soon the caterpillar stops eating, hangs upside down from a twig or leaf and spins itself a silky cocoon and turns into a shiny chrysalis. Within its protective casing, the caterpillar radically transforms its body, eventually emerging as a butterfly or moth. Really asked the leaf, you turn into another insect. Yes said the caterpillar who by now was settling in for a long rest.

The leaf was happy and excited by all the activity that was going on around him. One day he woke up to hear the sound of hundreds of tiny footsteps, the footsteps got louder until a huge line of brown insects with antennas on their heads were marching past in there hundreds possibly thousands of them. Who are you asked the leaf. One two three four we’re all marching door to door; One two three four we’re all foraging for the corp; One two three four we’re are looking for more and more. One of the red insects had stopped and said, we are ants, we have soldiers in our group who go out and find food which we bring back to the underground colony. We have a queen who looks after us and we look after her… We take back anything that we can eat or use for our colony. Wow said the leaf, that is amazing as hundreds of ants were marching past on the way back with bits of leaf and other things in their claws. Got to go said the ant or I will be in trouble, bye. Good bye said the leaf hoping that the ants did not interfere or bother the little leaf for the rest of the day.

Lots of birds came each day fluttering from branch to branch seeking insects in the bark of the tree. All the birds were different colours, brown, black, blue, yellow, red and sizes. The little leaf liked the knock, knock, knock of the woodpecker trying to make a hole in the tree, he was a green colour with brown spots on his chest; but got on well with the wise old owl every evening who’s head could nearly turn all the way around which made the leaf laugh.

One sunny day a small animal had scampered along the thick branch. It was grey and had a large bushy tail. The little leaf looked at this animal with the pretty face and dark eyes. Hello said the leaf. Hi said the grey bushy tailed animal. Who was now eating a oval shaped nut, with the large bushy tail swishing to and fro. Who are you asked the leaf; I’m a squirrel well that is what they call me. A grey squirrel in fact, What are you eating asked the leaf? Acorns the squirrel said. I collect as many as I can and store them for the Winter so that I can eat when there is not much food around. Oh said the leaf, is that why I have seen you burying these nuts on the forest floor, Yes said the squirrel, sometimes we bury them in our burrows where we keep warm.

As the cool breeze blew the squirrel scampered away leaving the little leaf on his own with his green friend who had spun a silky web around himself while hanging upside down. The little leaf could not help and wonder why all these things had to happen and what they meant; the little leaf asked the tree this question and the tree answered. Our forests, rivers, oceans and soils provide all of us including the people who visit the forest the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we irrigate ourselves and food crops with. People also rely on them for numerous other goods and services we depend on for our health, happiness and prosperity. These natural assets are often called the world's 'natural capital'. Who created nature said the leaf?

The concept of "Mother Nature" comes to us from ancient myths and religions, dating as far back as 4500 B.C., making her over 6,500 years old said the tree, but I’m sure that it began further back in time that any of us could remember.

So it is a long time ago said the leaf. Yes answered the tree. What else is in the forest besides us said the leaf. The canopy of the forest which I am part of is composed of tall deciduous trees—oak, hickory, tulip tree, maple, beech, and others. White pine and other conifers are scattered throughout the forest. The middle layer is made up of small trees, shrubs, and vines. On the forest floor, wildflowers, ferns, sedges, moss, other plants, and lichen thrive along with all types of fungi, mushrooms, bluebells, snowdrops little animals, insects especially your little green friend who is now sound asleep and turning into a wonderful butterfly. You see Trees and woodlands provide habitats and food for a range of mammals. This includes the cautious badger, the cute dormice and your friend, the cheeky grey squirrel.

Our forests are also home to three types of deer; the magnificent red deer, the agile roe deer and the smaller muntjac. After hibernating over winter, our resident bats will also be out in force, with over 17 different species across the land.

While stoats, pine marten and foxes are all adept forest predators, they can be illusive and tricky to see. From moths to dragonflies, butterflies to beetles, our forest is awash with insects and invertebrates on which all other ecosystems depend.

The largest butterfly is the Purple Emperor and the most threatened is the High-Brown Fritillary, which can only be found in a handful of places across the United Kingdom country now.

Far from everyone’s favourites, spiders are crucial to the forest ecosystem. Keep your ears pricked for the buzzing spider and eyes peeled for crab spiders, which camouflage their body to match the leaf they’re sitting on! There might be one sitting on you said the tree. Argggg said the little leaf. Don’t worry said the tree they will not hurt you. Goodnight little leaf, good night.

The sun rose up the following day showing its rays of light through the small clouds.

Another fine morning said the tree; Yes it is said the little leaf who was taken by surprise of a beautiful coloured insect with huge wings. Who are you asked the little leaf. I was that green insect called a caterpillar, I have become a butterfly. You look magnificent said the little leaf. Thank you said the butterfly swishing its wings in the sunlight. What are you going to do now asked the little leaf. I am going to fly around the forest and find plants to drink nectar from. I wish I could fly said the little leaf. Oh, I think you will fly a little bit said the butterfly, one day soon, one day soon. And with that the butterfly fluttered away.

The days turned into weeks when one day it had been raining and everything was wet as usual. The clouds started to part and rays of sunshine poured through and light up the forest floor. The little leaf was gazing at the sky when all of a sudden a beautiful arch of colours appeared. Wow said the little leaf, what is that? It is a rainbow said the tree. It has 7 colours; Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. They say that there is a pot of gold to be found at the end of a rainbow said the tree. Really asked the little leaf. I don’t think so said the tree.

How is it made asked the little leaf. Usually all light waves blend together to form white light. But when light waves pass through raindrops, they separate. This happens because the raindrops bend light waves with different wavelengths by a different amount. The separated light waves appear as the colours of a rainbow said the tree.

After a few minutes the rainbow faded away. Oh said the little leaf, it will be back said the tree but only when it rains and the sun shines through the rain once more.

(You can make a rainbow; How? Go into your garden and turn on the hosepipe, turn the spout to fine and spray up into the air with the sun behind you and you will see a rainbow).

As the weeks turned into months the little leaf started to notice that he along with the other leaves in the trees canopy were starting to turn a light brown rusty colour. What is happening asked the little leaf? It is coming into autumn said the tree. What is autumn asked the little leaf.

Autumn is a season of the year between summer and winter during which temperatures gradually decrease and the daytime grows shorter. It is often called fall because leaves fall from the trees at that time.

Will I fall asked the little leaf. Yes said the tree. You will fall to the forest floor as you have been falling every year and you will continue to come back and repeat everything you have seen and learned.

Will you be here asked the little leaf? Of course I will said the tree, I will look forward to seeing you next year and we can learn more about the forest and the people who enjoy the woodland.

The little leaf finally let go of the twig he had been attached to and fluttered down towards the forest floor. Goodbye said the little leaf, see you next year. It is not goodbye said the tree it is just a circle of life for all of us. See you next year little leaf, see you next year.