The Woodland Walk

On a bright spring afternoon, nine-year-old Tomasz visited her uncle’s cottage near a wide stretch of woodland. While he finished making tea, Tomasz asked if she could walk as far as the old wooden gate. She promised to stay on the path. The track curved between tall beech trees. Fresh green leaves rustled overhead, and bluebells dotted the ground. Tomasz spotted a tiny stream and stopped to watch a blackbird dip its beak into the water. A little further on, she noticed a fallen branch shaped like a fork and stepped off the path to get a closer look. When Tomasz turned back, the path seemed to have disappeared. She could not see the gate or the cottage, and the trees all looked much the same. Her stomach tightened. She remembered her uncle’s advice: stay in one safe place and call for help. Tomasz stood beside the fallen branch and called out. Soon, she heard a whistle. Her uncle appeared with their dog, Pip, following close behind. Tomasz felt a wave of relief. They walked back together, and she told him how she had lost sight of the path. After that, Tomasz made sure she never left a woodland track without an adult.

Comprehension Questions

Vocabulary Challenge

Use the story to work out what each word or phrase means.