Rustle, the sleepy hedgehog, had a big idea for his birthday - he wanted to plan a picnic! But Rustle was known for snoozing through most of the day, and his friends knew they might need to wake him up and help with the planning.

So, Nutmeg the squirrel, Bramble the rabbit, and Holly the robin gathered around Rustle’s nest under the hedgerow, gently nudging him awake.

“Rustle, it’s time to wake up!” Holly sang, shaking him gently.

Rustle blinked his sleepy eyes open and yawned, shaking some leaves off his back. “What’s going on?” 

“It’s your birthday, Rustle! And we’re here to help you plan your picnic,” Bramble explained, knowing how much Rustle loved a good nap.  

Rustle’s eyes widened with excitement. “A picnic, you say? That sounds wonderful!” Rustle's friends grinned at each other, knowing it had been Rustle's idea in the first place.

With Rustle finally awake and eager to join in, the friends huddled together to plan ideas for the perfect birthday picnic.

"We will need plenty of picnic blankets for everyone you have invited," said Nutmeg. "Shall we ask everyone to bring their own?"

“And shall we plan some outdoor games?” Holly murmured softly. “Maybe we could have sack races and tug-of-war?” Though shy and quiet, her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. Only Rustle, with his keen sense of hearing, caught her words.

“Great idea, Holly!” Rustle exclaimed. “We can find some rope by the well and potato sacks on the farm. That way, we’ll have everything we need for the games!”  

“What shall we do about decorations?” asked Nutmeg, looking around with a thoughtful expression. She glanced at the trees and flowers around them, wondering how they could make the picnic area look extra special for Rustle’s birthday celebration. Suddenly, her eyes brightened with an idea. "Remember our sunflower competition?" she suggested excitedly. "We could use the biggest and brightest sunflowers to decorate the picnic area!" 

Bramble suddenly realised he had forgotten about the big brown box he had brought along. He had been keeping the contents secret to surprise his friends. “Guess what!” he said cheerfully. “I brought these decorations from my Easter party. We can reuse them for the picnic!” Carefully, he lifted out colourful paper flowers, bunting, and his special reusable crackers.

Rustle’s eyes lit up with delight as he admired the decorations. “They’re perfect for our picnic!” he exclaimed. “Thanks, Bramble!” Rustle couldn't help but wonder what treats awaited them inside the crackers this time. He knew Bramble always had a surprise up his sleeve.  

Rustle wanted to surprise his friends with his cooking skills, so he asked them to plan the rest of the party while he worked in his cosy nest under the hedgerow. Being a sleepy hedgehog, he knew he had to stay awake, so he carefully moved some of the leaves to create a window, letting in fresh air to help him stay alert.

After finding a nearby clearing in the forest, his friends set to work. Holly flew out to spread the word for everyone to bring their own picnic blankets and Bramble went to fetch the rope and potato sacks for the games. Meanwhile, Nutmeg started putting up bunting - She could hear the occasional clatter from Rustle’s nest and saw him slip in and out, adding an air of anticipation to their preparations.

As Rustle’s guests started arriving, they admired the vibrant sunflowers and spread out their own blankets, creating a colourful patchwork across the grassy clearing. Each blanket brought something special to the picnic - the otters' blanket was a mix of blue and green, just like the river they loved. It had tiny hearts sewn into it, making it the perfect choice for the newly engaged couple!

Rustle’s friends were eager to wish him a very happy birthday, and each praised him for being so kind - instead of asking for gifts this year, Rustle had asked his friends to give money or time to help other hedgehogs who might need it more.

Amidst the laughter and chatter, the reusable crackers caught everyone's attention. Bramble's crackers were now famous in the forest - everyone who went to the Easter party remembered them, and even those who didn't had heard all about them!

Excitement brewed as Rustle suggested they play some games. “Let’s have a sack race and a tug-of-war!” he exclaimed. The animals eagerly divided into teams, ready to compete in the fun-filled activities.

Bramble's team won the sack race by leaps and bounds, cheering and celebrating with laughter, but some animals thought it wasn't fair because Bramble, being a rabbit, might be faster.

Bramble, hearing the comments about the race being unfair, suggested they have a balancing competition instead, “We can see who can balance on one leg the longest. That way, it’s all about skill and balance, not just speed!” 

Everyone liked the idea, and they were eager to try something new! They took turns balancing on one leg, giggling and trying to stay steady. Bramble found it tricky too, and they all had fun testing their balance skills.

Next up was the tug-of-war. It was a warm day, so they decided to make it more exciting by doing it across the stream just down the path. They knew they would dry quickly if they got wet.

Everyone was surprised when the team led by Holly the robin and the field mice, won. They chanted "heave-ho" together and rocked back and forth in perfect sync, showing great teamwork and determination!

Nutmeg, still a bit soggy, looked amazed. “But you are all so much smaller than us,” she said to Holly.

Holly smiled. “Winning isn’t just about strength,” she explained.

All the games had made everyone hungry, and the smell of delicious pastries from Rustle's nest made their tummies rumble.

As Rustle started setting out the food, Bramble eagerly handed out his reusable crackers to everyone, their floral designs adding to the merry mood. Each animal happily cracked theirs open to find delightful surprises inside: a paper crown, a joke, and a small jar of honey. This year, the bees had produced extra honey thanks to the wildflowers the animals had planted in Spring, which Bramble had carefully collected and jarred.

Everyone settled on their blankets, each wearing a colourful paper crown from Bramble's crackers, and they began to sample unusual treats like worm pie. Holly, with crumbs on her beak, chirped in delight, "These are delicious! Great job, Rustle!" Bramble, taking a cautious nibble of his slug tart, wrinkled his nose and asked, "Where are the veggies?"

"Sorry, Bramble, I had prepared some other treats, but I can't seem to find them anywhere!" Rustle apologised. He turned to look around for them, and Bramble burst into laughter.

“Had you prepared cheese, pickles, and pineapple?” Bramble asked, once he had settled.

“Yes, have you seen them?” asked Rustle eagerly. Bramble had spotted the missing treats hidden among the quills on Rustle's back – it seemed Rustle must have dozed off amongst the snacks! The quills served as handy cocktail sticks, making it easy for everyone to enjoy a tasty bite.

As the party went on, Rustle appeared more awake than his tired friends. They chuckled, recalling how many times they had found Rustle napping that day. When it was time to leave, everyone felt happy thinking about all the fun that they had had and were excited about using the honey from Bramble’s crackers.