The path changes when the Whitakers reach the trees. The open fields disappear behind them, and the road becomes narrower beneath the branches. This little woodland is called a coppice.
The trees are not left entirely to themselves. For generations, people have cut and managed small woods like this one, taking branches for firewood, fencing, and other work around the farm.
The Whitaker children know that. They also know that the trees make a good place to catch their breath. The wind that followed them across the open fields is quieter here. Leaves cover the ground, and the sound of their footsteps changes beneath their boots.
For a little while, they walk in single file. Someone hears a bird. Someone else thinks they saw a rabbit. Then the path bends, and the children can hear the others ahead.
Father and Mother are still walking with them. There is no need to hurry. Not yet.
But the chapel is still ahead, and when they return home, the work of the farm will be waiting. The children leave the shelter of the trees and step back into the open country.
Look Closely
Look at the trees around the path. Do you notice how different the woodland feels from the open fields? A coppice was not simply a patch of wild forest. It was a woodland that people worked, used, and cared for. And the trees along an old path may have been helping families for much longer than anyone remembers.
Welcome to Peckles-Wood Shire
Continue the adventure with the Broken Sanctuary novel, the first journey into the world of Peckles-Wood Shire. Then discover collectibles and keepsakes inspired by the Whitaker family’s adventure.
Own a Piece of 1885 → | Peckles-Wood Shire Map →
The Illustrator’s Vision—The maps and illustrations of Peckles-Wood Shire are inspired by the real landscapes, places, and traditions of Victorian Northumberland. Created for The Chronicles of Peckles-Wood Shire, they blend historical research with imagination to bring the world of Broken Sanctuary to life and invite young explorers to step into the Whitaker family’s adventure of 1885.
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