The Friendly Alder

...you will find a whole collection of odd things hanging in the branches...

The Friendly Alder is one of the interesting trees of the Creepy Crawly Woods.

It sits in a small copse on the edge of The Stink near the Tinkle and is close to the route between the Goblin cave and the Rickety Bridge . Because of this, a lot of travellers will come across this Tree on their journey and it is a popular resting place.

The Friendly Alder is an old and very tall tree. Being an Alder, of course, it also means that its branches spread wide and low over the glade where it resides.

So, you ask, why is it called the Friendly Alder? Well, if you approach this Tree (from any path really), you will notice lots of interesting things hanging from its lower branches. Bright pieces of cloth, smooth stones tied up there with string, delicate objects, perhaps worn out or even broken (but still quite interesting). In fact, you will find a whole collection of odd things hanging in the branches of the Friendly Alder. The important thing is that all these items were once lost.

Whenever one of the Goblins (or even one of The Pit 'N' Swet Krew ) finds something that is not theirs, that looks lost (and they have no use for it), they hang it on the branches of the Friendly Alder. If you have lost something, if you can't find that sock, that favourite drinking cup or that particular piece of string that was JUST the right length to tie up your blanket for the Summer, you will probably want take a trip to the Friendly Alder. There, you will probably find just what you are looking for (or something that will do just as well!).

The important thing, of course, is to always be polite and say "Please look after this, Friendly Alder" or "Thank you for finding this, Friendly Alder" every time you visit to drop off or find something interesting.

The Friendly Alder of course, has no idea about the marvellous service it provides to those living in the Creepy Crawly Woods. Like some of the other old trees in the Creepy Crawly Woods, this tree has taken on the personality of those who pass by and spend time near it, and because everyone always makes a point of being very friendly and grateful when under the Tree though, it is, of course, a very, VERY friendly tree.