When I started writing The Woodland Explorers Club, I didn’t set out to write a grand adventure series — I simply wanted to capture that feeling of being outdoors, getting muddy, and finding something wonderful (and sometimes a bit mysterious) in the woods.

The series follows a small group of friends who meet at forest school. Each book is told from the perspective of a different member of the gang, which means readers get to see the same forest through different eyes — one curious about wildlife, another brave and daring, another more cautious or thoughtful. Their adventures are gentle mysteries mixed with real-life woodland facts, perfect for early readers who love stories about nature and friendship.

As I researched the books, I learned so much that completely deepened my own appreciation for our woods:

• The incredible underground “Wood Wide Web” that allows trees to share nutrients and even warn one another about danger.
• The astonishing age of some of the UK’s oldest trees — a few have been standing for more than a thousand years.
• The huge variety of plants and animals that thrive in British woodlands, many of which are easy to overlook if you don’t stop and look closely.
• The bird species that fill the forests with song — from the bold chatter of jays to the soft hoots of owls at dusk.

I wanted each story to encourage children to notice these small wonders and to remind them that curiosity is its own kind of magic.

My hope is that readers come away not just entertained, but inspired to head outside, explore their own local woods, and maybe even start a little “explorers club” of their own. Because every woodland has its secrets — you just have to look a little deeper to find them.