"It was the start of summer." "The trees were in leaf, and sunshine sparkled on the stream." "The mill wheel turned by the shadowy riverbank." "Inside the mill, Dusty Dogwood was grinding the corn for the mice of Brambly Hedge." "In the kitchen, his wife, Poppy, was even busier... (Mechanical grinding and creaking )" "( Sobs )" "Oh!" "( Coughs )" "Dusty, please finish soon!" "It's time for the babies' nap." "I'm doing my best!" " Poppy, we've got visitors." " Visitors?" "Now?" "!" "Did you know there are 92 stairs up to your kitchen?" "Really?" "That many?" "However do you manage?" "It's difficult going up and down with the babies." "I find I get so tired..." "Ahhh." "That's better..." "Which one is this?" "Rose or Buttercup?" "That's Rose." "I have Buttercup." "So this must be Pipkin!" "There." "I can't wait until their Naming Day." "Yes." "It's only two days away." " So much to do..." " Try not to worry, Poppy." "We're all here to help you." "I can help bath the babies, if you like." "Thank you, Primrose." "That would be lovely." "(Machinery clanks and groans )" "Oh, dear." "After they left, Dusty got on with his business." "(Hums ) Quiet, Dusty." "You'll wake the babies." "# Tum, tum tee tum...#" "As he walked to the Store Stump" "Dusty thought about Poppy and worried a little." "Wow!" "That's clever, Mr Apple!" " Why, thank you, Wilfred." " Poppy's babies will love it!" "# Pum-tee-pum #" " Hello." " Hello, Dusty." "Hello, Mr Apple." "Hello, Wilfred." "How are those babies of yours?" "Noisy!" "But they're great fun." " Poppy's not so happy." " I expect she's tired." "Three babies is a real pawful!" "Yes, and living in the Mill doesn't help." "It's noisy, dusty and damp." " And there are 92 stairs!" " Really?" " How do you know?" " I counted them!" "Well, I'll go back to see what I can do to help." "I wish we could help Poppy." "I'll make something to cheer her up." " Could I have some wood?" " Of course." "Oh, dear." "I've used it all." "But we can find some more." "Come on." "Oh, what is this place?" "It's called Mayblossom Cottage." "I've never noticed it before, and we must have seen it." "Oh, it's been empty for years." "I use it to keep my wood dry." "Now then, how much wood do you need, Wilfred?" "Does this cooker still work?" "I expect so." "It was cosy when my aunt lived here." " Your aunt lived here?" " How big is it?" "My aunt's bedroom was above this room, and there's another nice-sized room above that." "If I remember correctly, it goes up into the tree for several stories." "I hadn't thought about it, but there's a lot of space." "Wouldn't it be nice for Poppy and Dusty's family." "You know, Primrose - that's a wonderful idea!" " Yes!" "I wish I'd thought of it!" " We could clean and paint it!" "Yes!" "And surprise Poppy on Naming Day!" "But that's the day after tomorrow!" "There's so much work to be done." " Yes, but we can do it!" " We'll all help!" "Well..." "I suppose we could." " Mr Apple?" "Are you in there?" " Dusty?" "Come on in!" "I thought I heard your voices." "Have you got any rusks?" "The babies are teething..." "No problem, Dusty!" "But first, we have something to ask." " If we cleaned this cottage..." " Would your family live here?" " Are you serious?" " Completely." "Why, why that would be wonderful!" "It would make all the difference!" " I must tell Poppy." " No, no!" " We mustn't tell Poppy." " We mustn't...?" " It should be a surprise." " Yes!" "Of course!" "That's even better!" "But keeping a big secret from her isn't going to be easy." "You just leave it to us." "The next day, Primrose and Lady Daisy took Poppy out." "Primrose said it would be a quiet spot to do the sewing." "But they'd chosen it because it was far away from..." "Operation Mayblossom Cottage!" "The Hedge was bursting with activity." "The Apples were in charge of repairs and cleaning." "Mrs Crustybread was making a cake for the surprise party." "Now then." "I'll need three candles, won't I?" "A blue one for Pipkin, a pink one for Rose, and a yellow one for Buttercup." "Perfect!" "(Laughs )" "Mr and Mrs Toadflax and Basil were in charge of the whitewash." "Oh, good - here's the whitewash!" " Could you take it upstairs?" " That's a good idea." "I'll wait down here." "Here's the whitewash!" "Nice and thick - just as you wanted it." "Thank you!" "Once we've painted the walls, we can fetch the furniture from the Mill." "Oh, how can we do that without Poppy knowing?" "Primrose and I have thought of a plan." "She and Lady Daisy are carrying it out as we speak." "It must be hard looking after three babies." "Yes, but I love it." " And I've had an idea..." " I wish there was less to do." "We've half finished their Naming Day gowns and still have to do their quilts." "But that's what my idea is about." "Yes." "You and the babies can stay at the Old Oak Palace tonight." "We can help you with the sewing." "And tomorrow I can help you dress the babies for Naming Day." " Oh, that is a kind offer." " So will you come?" "We wouldn't be too much trouble?" "We'd love you to come." "In fact, I'm counting on it." "Well then..." "yes, please!" " What do you say, Buttercup?" " Whee, woo!" "Hee hee." "Why don't you and Primrose collect whatever you need while I look after the babies?" " Come on, Poppy!" " I'm coming!" "Hee hee." "I'm so glad you're staying because I really wanted to help dress the babies..." "Ooh!" "Hi, Primrose." "Er, h-hello, Poppy!" "Hello, Wilfred." "You look as if you've been painting." " Is that Dusty's hammer?" " Um, er...yes!" "You've been making the babies a present." "I have?" "Oh, yes!" "I have!" "I borrowed Dusty's hammer." "I'll return it soon." "Promise!" "I wouldn't worry about that, Wilfred." " He won't need it now." " No, um..." "Well..." "Er, bye!" "What's he making that needs so much paint?" "You never know with Wilfred." "He's very creative." " Hello, there!" " Oh, hello, Basil!" " You've been painting as well." " Umm...yes!" "Have you been " decorating" ?" "Decorating?" "Oh, yes, decorating!" "One of my favourite things." "Bye!" "Bye, Basil!" "I wish I had time to decorate." "I wouldn't worry about that." "Here we are!" "Let's hope we don't meet anyone else covered in paint." " Dusty!" " Hello, Primrose." "He's covered in paint as well." "Why are you measuring that table?" "I..." "I..." "I just wondered how big it is." "It's no use, Dusty." "Tell her." " Tell her?" " Yes...about the table." " The table?" " Uh..." "The thing is, it's meant to be a surprise." "Don't say any more." "I love surprises!" "Good..." "Well, I'd better go now." "See you later!" "Now what do you need for tonight?" "I'll need these blankets..." "and all three baskets... and extra clothes..." "and nappies..." "Oh, Primrose, I'm sorry." "It was kind of you to invite us for the night, but I can't face all that packing." " I'll help!" " But there's so much to do." " But, Poppy..." " I must stay here after all." "But thank you for offering." "I really appreciate it." " Where are you going?" " To fetch the babies." "Your mother may have had enough." "Mama?" "Um..." "Stay here." "Mum can bring them back." " You're sure?" " Yes." "You can do your sewing." " Yes..." " When we get back, I'll help." "Thank you, Primrose." "Mama?" "Mama!" "The plan's going all wrong!" "Mama?" "Oh. "Have taken the babies back to the Palace."" "Good." "That gives me time to tell everyone what's happening." "(Knocks on door )" "Listen, everyone!" "Poppy won't go to the Old Oak Palace." " What?" "!" " I was afraid that may happen." "How can we move the furniture?" "Go to the Mill and change her mind." " How?" " You'll think of something." " We'll come with you." " Oh, thanks." "I have a feeling I'll need all the help I can get." " Poppy?" "Pop..." " (Yawns )" " Oh, look." " Should we wake her?" "No, Wilfred." "We can't." "Sssh!" "It's the first sleep she's had in days." "But if Poppy's here, how can we move the furniture?" "Oh, dear...we can't!" "Oh, no!" "Mayblossom Cottage was clean and beautifully painted." "The mice were pleased with their work." "All that was needed now was the furniture." "But with Poppy asleep in the Flour Mill, the mice couldn 't move anything without her knowing." "So Wilfred, Primrose and Dusty came up with a solution." "(Yawns gently )" "Will she mind waking up somewhere else?" "I hope not." "We're here!" "Mama?" "Oh, my goodness!" "What happened?" "Not to worry, Lady Daisy, she's just sleeping." "We had to get her out this way." "What?" "Down all those stairs?" "Mmmmm." "What a lovely sleep." " Ooh!" "Where am I?" " It's all right, my love." "You're at the Old Oak Palace." "It was easier to bring you here than to move the babies." "But, I was going to..." "You're just in time for tea!" "Hee hee." "Yee hee hoo!" "Who wants more mashed nettle?" "(Laughs ) Does that mean yes?" "Ohh, just look at them!" " Hee hee." " Have you been good?" "They couldn't have been better!" "Little treasures!" "(Laughs )" "And now you're here, I'll tidy up the Mill." "So everything ready for tomorrow." " Oh, will you?" " Of course!" "Get on with what you have to do, but don't wait up for me." "You'll need all the rest you can get for tomorrow!" "Bye bye, Rose and Buttercup and Pipkin!" " Say, "Bye bye, Dada!"" " Bye." "Byeee!" " Whee!" " Oh!" "(Laughs )" "I can't believe it, but that worked!" " So what do we do now?" " I'll help Poppy." " You go with Dusty." " To move the furniture?" "No not quite yet." "I think we'll wait until after dark." "See you later, Primrose." "And thanks!" "From now on, it should be easy!" "Later that evening, after dark, the great Furniture Moving Operation began." "At the Palace, as Primrose helped finish the sewing, she wondered how Wilfred and the others were getting on." " I've finished this quilt." " Well done." "Thank you very much." "Oh, it's so lovely and peaceful here." "No wheels grinding, no flour sacks thumping... ( Clank)" "What was that?" "Nothing." "J ust Papa tidying up." "Whew, I'm tired!" "(Yawns )" "We'd best go to bed." "Tomorrow's a big day and the babies will wake up before daylight!" "How well I know it!" "Thank you both." "I can't believe we finished the sewing!" "Many paws make light work!" "You can do lots when the babies are asleep." "Early next morning, they gathered under the hawthorns for the Naming Ceremony." "Primrose was pleased because she was asked to hold Rose." "She stood proudly between her friends as the Old Vole recited the Naming Day poem." "The buds on the branches blossom and flower" "The blackbirds sing in the leafy bower" "And over the hill comes the rising sun" "To shine on the fields and on you, little one" "Oh, that was lovely!" "We name you..." "Rose." "We name you..." "Buttercup." "And we name you..." "Pipkin." "It doesn't seem that long ago that we named your Daisy." "Mama, the cottage is all ready, but how can we get Poppy into it?" "Well now, Primrose..." "Oh, dear!" "It's raining!" "Poppy!" "Quick!" "The babies will get wet in their new gowns!" "Oh, dear!" "She's going the wrong way!" "Poppy!" "Poppy!" "Over here, dear!" "Come and shelter in this cottage doorway!" "There's not enough room out here." "Why not go in?" "When Poppy entered the cottage, she looked around." "Garlands of flowers hung from newly washed beams." "Bright china that looked familiar was on the shelves." "It's so cosy." "But...wait!" "Isn't that our old table?" " The one Dusty was measuring?" " Let's look around!" "Leaving Primrose with the babies," "Poppy and Dusty went upstairs." "There are only 20 stairs to the nursery!" "Dusty led the bewildered Poppy to a small room that was warm and bright." "Fresh curtains hung at the windows and beneath them stood three little cots, each with an embroidered quilt." "But Dusty?" "How could...?" " Is this...?" " Yes!" "This is OUR house!" "With love from all our friends in Brambly Hedge." "Oh, Dusty!" "Oh, I can't believe it!" "( all) Surprise!" "Oh, thank you!" "Thank you all so much!" "We hope you'll be happy here." "Oh, Grandmother..." "we shall, we shall!" "Mmm-mmm!" "Who wants some Naming Day punch?" "It's very good, if I say so myself." "I'm happy to offer another opinion!" "You can't have a Naming Day without Basil's punch!" "See?" "We said there was a surprise!" "And I do love surprises!" "Mrs Crustybread provided plenty to eat and drink - cowslip and violet salads, rose petal sandwiches, primrose pottage and meadowsweet tea." "But the highlight of the party was Mrs Crustybread's cake." "Now then everybody, it's time to cut the cake!" "Hooray!" "While the babies played the mice celebrated their Naming Day." "Hello, Rose." "Aren't you a little charmer?" " Actually, this is Buttercup!" " Equally charming!" "Before long, the food had all been eaten, the punch had been drunk, and as for the stars of the show..." "Primrose?" "Wilfred?" "Could you help me?" " Of course!" " I'll take Pipkin." "Seventeen..." "Eighteen..." "Nineteen..." "Twenty!" "Hey, Primrose, you were right - twenty stairs!" "Of course I was right!" "I can count, Wilfred!" "I hope these babies grow up to be as wonderful as you two!" "Well, I don't know if that's possible..." "Wilfred!" "Sssh!" "I think we'd better go back downstairs." "The babies are asleep in their lovely new nursery!" "Then let me propose a toast!" "To the babies!" "To Rose, Buttercup and Pipkin!" " And their new home!" " Hurray!" "And as everyone drank to Poppy and Dusty's babies, they slept in their new room, snuggled under their new quilts, dreaming their first dreams... in their new house."