Mini Story 1: Love Your TPT

Mandy Mole popped her head out of her burrow and sniffed the fresh morning air.
“It’s a perfect day to visit the Trail,” she said happily.

Clip-clop!
Hannah the Horse trotted up the path, her mane shining in the sunshine. Close behind came Bob the Badger, his camera bouncing gently on its strap.
“Ready for another adventure?” Bob the Badger asked, already snapping photos of the flowers beside the path.

As they walked along the Trans Pennine Trail, Mandy Mole noticed something that made her pause. A plastic bottle lay near the edge of the path, and a signpost was covered in muddy handprints.

“Oh dear,” Mandy Mole sighed. “The Trail doesn’t look very loved today.”

Hannah the Horse lowered her head gently. “This Trail gives so much to everyone  – a place to walk, cycle, ride, wheel, and explore. We should look after it.”

Bob the Badger nodded. “If we love the Trail, we show it with our actions.”

Together, the friends began to help. Mandy Mole gathered fallen litter into a bag. Hannah the Horse carefully nudged a loose sign back into place with her nose. Bob the Badger took photos of the Trail looking tidy and bright again.

As they worked, people passed by – families waving thank you, cyclists ringing their bells, and a wheelchair user smiling as the clear path opened ahead.

“Look!” Mandy Mole said. “When we care for the Trail, it feels happier.”
Hannah the Horse smiled. “Loving the Trail means respecting nature, other people, and the paths we share.”
Bob the Badger clicked one final photo. “This one’s my favourite,” he said. “Friends, teamwork, and a Trail full of love.”

As the sun warmed the path, Mandy Mole looked around proudly.

“The Trail looks after us,” she said softly.
“And when we love it back,” added Hannah the Horse,
“It becomes a place where everyone belongs.”

The three friends walked on together, knowing that loving the Trail was the greatest adventure of all.

Can you answer the questions below?
1) Who are the three main characters in this story?
2) What problems do Mandy Mole notice on the Trail at the start of the story?
3) How do Mandy Mole, Hannah the Horse, and Bob the Badger help to look after the Trail?
4) Who do they see using the Trail while they are helping?
5) What does the story teach us about how we should treat the Trans Pennine Trail?