Chapter Two: A New Friend in Warrington

Mandy Mole and Sophie Squirrel scurried along the Trans Pennine Trail, leaving the Cheshire Lines behind. The path led them to the Liverpool Loop Line, a long, winding Trail built on an old railway. Tall trees lined the route, their branches arching overhead like a leafy tunnel.

“Did this used to be a railway?” Sophie asked, hopping over an old wooden post.
“Yes!” Mandy Mole said. “Trains once ran here, but now it’s a perfect path for adventurers like us!”

As they passed through Knowsley, the landscape changed to rolling fields and wild meadows.

Sophie Squirrel leapt onto a low stone wall to get a better view. “I can see for miles!” she squeaked.
Mandy chuckled. “You’re much taller than me! What do you see?” “Fields, trees… and something moving ahead!” said Sophie Squirrel.

As they walked closer, they spotted a tiny green creature wiggling along a leaf.

“Hello there!” Mandy Mole called.

The little caterpillar looked up, his many legs pausing. “Oh! Hello! I’m Connor the Caterpillar. Are you following the Trail too?”
“We are!” Sophie Squirrel chirped. “We’re searching for treasures and meeting new friends.”
Connor the Caterpillar’s eyes lit up. “That sounds amazing! Can I join you?”
“Of course!” Mandy Mole said.

With Connor the Caterpillar nestled safely on Sophie Squirrel’s tail, they continued through Halton, where the Trail ran alongside the River Mersey. The water sparkled, and ducks bobbed gently on the surface. Sophie Squirrel twitched her tail. “I think we’ve already found a treasure – new friends!”

Mandy Mole smiled. Their adventure was only just beginning, and who knew what exciting discoveries awaited them further down the Trail?

Can you answer the questions below?
1) What was the Liverpool Loop Line before it became part of the Trans Pennine Trail?
2) Which places do Mandy Mole and Sophie Squirrel travel through on their way to Warrington?
3) What do you think Mandy Mole, Sophie Squirrel, and Connor the Caterpillar will find next on their adventure?
4) Where do they meet Connor the Caterpillar?
5) Why does Sophie Squirrel think they have already found a treasure?