The Kindness of Dr Fimbly Nibbles

By P.J. Lee

After receiving a letter from his old friend, Augustus Hodge, Dr Fimbly Nibbles and his faithful companion Splint take a trip across the fields and woods of Spaewood to collect Mr Hodge's granddaughter, Chardonnay, a little hedgehog who has lived a sheltered and privileged life in the safety of a garden. Her grandfather believes a visit to the w

• Language: English
• Publisher: P.J. Lee
• Release date: May 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781802274677

Book preview

The Kindness of

Dr. Fimbly Nibbles

Written by

P.J. Lee

Illustrated by

Matthew Anstee

Copyright © 2022 by P.J Lee

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. For more information, address: [e-mail]

FIRST EDITION

newforestnatureandnurture.com

Contents

A day in the life of Dr Fimbly Nibbles

The return to Spaewood.

Foraging, Brocks and Ancestry Tales.

An Audience with Clarissa Hoot.

The picnic.

The gathering.

The Journey home.

1

A day in the life of Dr Fimbly Nibbles

Set deep within the English countryside stands ancient woodland known to all the creatures living within as Spaewood. In springtime the woodland has a canopy of lime-green beech and oak trees, with a carpet of bluebells and nothing to be seen apart from rolling fields separated only by hedgerows laden with fluffy white hawthorn flowers, and edged by the bright purples and yellows of the violets and buttercups.

For many generations Spaewood has been home to an abundance of woodland creatures, and none are more at home here than Dr Fimbly Nibbles. This old hare is never seen without his sleeveless jacket with its many pockets for collecting herbs, leaves and flowers for his homemade, healing herbal tinctures and concoctions which can be found in the canvas bag he wears across his body. He is the most recent generation in a long line of hares that have resided in the pastures on the edge of Spaewood and owes his wealth of knowledge of natural cures and antidotes to his ancestors who roamed these pastures before him. Dr Fimbly Nibbles is very well respected amongst the woodland community and he is always there with a helping paw, kind word and often a cure or solution to any problem.

Fimbly was preparing for his journey to see his good chum, Augustus, who had expressed to Fimbly his worries for his granddaughter, Chardonnay, who seemed to have no understanding of the troubles her family had endured to give her the life of safety and abundance that she had become accustomed to. Therefore Augustus requested that Chardonnay, come to Spaewood, to learn a few life-lessons under the watchful eye of Dr Fimbly Nibbles. Without question Fimbly agreed and mapped out his journey to suburbia to collect the young hoglet.

As Dr Fimbly stands on the edge of the path alongside Spaewood looking out over the rolling fields he can just make out on this clear day the edge of town, and decides to set off on his journey. With that, he hears a familiar voice behind him.

Off on your travels Fimbly?

Fimbly turns and warmly smiles as he is greeted by an old companion, Fox, who is fondly known as ‘Splint’ to his close friends. Fimbly had discovered this now old, scar-faced fox who navigates through life with just one eye and a slight limp, as a very dishevelled and weak cub. He was hungry and lonely and had a broken leg, but he had a will to live, so Fimbly took him in, fed him, splinted his leg and found him warm safe lodgings within the woods, which not only started his healing, but also a lifelong friendship between the usual enemies of the countryside.

Splint continues…I heard about your journey to meet old Hodge’s granddaughter and thought you might want some company?

Fimbly replies compassionately, oh Splint, my old friend, it really is unnecessary! I am well equipped to take the journey alone.

Fimbly is being sensitive to Splint’s feelings as he was really thinking, ‘oh Splint, trouble always follows you’. But Splint insists on joining his life-long friend to at least the edge of the rolling pastures. Knowing Splint was as keen as mustard to keep him company Fimbly could do nothing other than be grateful to his loyal companion. As they set off across the field Splint says, right Fimbly, I have a plan. We should, for our own safety, set off along the edge of the field to keep us out of full view.

Before he can finish his sentence Fimbly speeds off at a rate of knots across the middle of the open pasture. Splint shrills at Fimbly in a blind panic as he notices a large raptor circling in the bright blue skies above.

Fimbly! Fimbly! Splint shouts, but Fimbly can’t hear him. There was nothing else Splint could do but run out to the middle of the field to warn him. Fimbly came to a skidding stop due to Splints panic. What on earth is the matter Splint? Fimbly asks.

Splint is so out of breath he can barely speak, but he looks to the sky where the raptor still circles above with Fimbly in his view. Fimbly lets out a sigh of relief and smiles before saying reassuringly, old friend, no need to worry, don’t you recognise him?

Splint looks up quizzically and says, surely that’s not Gregor?

The very same, says Fimbly.

You could have told me! I thought you were going to be his dinner! exclaims Splint.

Fimbly responds, I wasn’t that sure myself, but no harm done.

As they watch the magnificent raptor circle closer to the ground he comes in to land. Gregor has such immense presence, Splint is still slightly unsure and takes a step back as the huge, white-tailed Eagle’s talons touch down in front of him. He bows respectfully and says, ‘it’s an honour to see you again, Dr Nibbles. Please allow me to be of assistance in any way I can."

Fimbly is so pleased to see Gregor safe and well and relays the story of his travels to him. Gregor was another of Fimbly’s patients, who he had helped after a fall from the nest as a fledgling. Dr Nibbles, Gregor proceeds, "I am forever in your debt. As it has been