The Gatherer....
Hubert the Hobbit & the Tale of the Trolls Treasure
A Sustainable Faery Story
A long time ago the Loveny Valley was home to ALL the woodland folk. To be a woodland folk you must be magical & give back to the land. And that’s what faeries, dragons & hobbit like creatures do. But then the humans decided that the slate of the Loveny Valley was good for building and that was that. For over two hundred years the men dug and drilled and raped the land of all that was good and the trolls made Loveny Valley their home. Trolls love mayhem & noise & dust and all the things that the faery folk don’t like at all! Like ripping up all the trees and burning them for charcoal and ripping the insides of valleys out. It was all very sad. And then one day it stopped! No more mining at Carnglaze, it just wasn’t “Economically Viable” no more, meaning they could buy it cheaper than it cost them to dig up!
So in 1903 the last explosion filled the valley with noise and dust and then the dust settled....
The trolls easily bored went off to the open quarries of St Austell where they could blend with the scenery and enjoy the mayhem & chaos.
In the 1930’s when the world was at war the navy stored all its Rum in the top cavern at Carnglaze to keep it safe! All the bats evacuated the caverns as the smell of the rum was so intoxicating they flew skew-whiff fleeing from the potent odours. Then the war ended, the rum returned to Plymouth and gradually the bats came back, although some detoured to the rafters of the house where they now remain protected to this day.
Carnglaze sat silent. The old works buildings were transformed into a lovely big house and nature once again reigned.
Trees populated the hillsides intermingled with bluebells
And the woodland folk who had fled gradually moved back to the Loveny Valley. Faeries reclaimed their dell, using everything they found around to build their village. Fallen trees with deep hidey holes beneath their fallen branches became the refuge of foxes & badgers. Bigger holes were inhabited by hobbit like creatures who loved to forage in the woods. The family who had once mined the land retired and new owners came and went, some tried their hand at opening the caverns to the public but their half hearted
attempts made little impact on the woodland folk.
Then seven years ago the Richards arrived at Carnglaze. Children’s voices rang out over the hillsides. Mrs Richards lovingly tended the gardens, her children played games and Mr Richards rebuilt buildings making them safer and more befitting the landscape. Mrs Richards hung food from the trees and put bat boxes around the woods and the air was filled once more with bird song.
One day Mrs Richards discovered the Faery Dell as she worked her way along constructing a path through the woods. The little houses hidden for so long were exposed for all to see but Mrs Richards talked to the faeries and explained the families plan to open the caverns & the gardens to the public. At first the faeries were despondent and then a plan formed, by night the faery folk would work & play and statues they would be by day. Mrs Richards was thrilled to bits and got the local children from the village of St Neot to come to Carnglaze and help her design more faery houses. Watering cans that had holes had doors & windows cut into them, broken objects heading for the tip were transformed into homes around the woods.
Everyone was happy and soon the days & nights at Carnglaze were full of enchantment. Mrs Richards encouraged the children who visited to count all the faeries and occasionally some mischievous ones flew about, but only the grown ups at Carnglaze believed the children’s tales.
So now at Carnglaze where once the land was pulled apart they try to give back. The Cavern is now used for people to learn about the mining heritage of slate in Cornwall and the Enchanted Dell gives them a place to soak up the beauty of the Loveny Valley and wander amongst the woodland folk’s homes without harm or hindrance.
In the centre of the Faery Dell the Gatherer guards the faeries homes, With his pipes always to hand. He wakes the woodland folk each night for their fun & games. Once all the work is done they all sit and tell stories before their dawn bedtime arrives. One of the favourite stories they tell is of Hubert the Hobbit & the Tale of the Trolls Treasure. Hubert was adopted by the woodland folk and grew up at Carnglaze. One night he got up early and living as he did in a small log house he didn’t have anything to do other than take an apple for breakfast and head into the woods in search of the Trolls Treasure. Now some of the faeries said that the treasure was gold, others a pirate’s chest filled with gems but Hubert’s favourite version said that the treasure was Crystals collected from all over Cornwall and so Hubert set off. After several hours Hubert was so deep in the woods that he was beginning to get scared as he began to panic his foot got entangled in branches and he fell down to an old tin adit. As he lay there covered in leaves and bruises sobbing he realised that a voice was calling.
“Are you alright out there?”
called the voice.
Hubert’s sobs subsided, shocked as he was to hear a voice in this uncharted part of the woods.
“Who is there?”
Called a rather shaken Hubert.
“Why it’s me Terrance!” said the rather gruff voice which appeared to be coming from behind a huge pile of
rubble that blocked the entrance to the adit.
“Hello Terrance, I’m Hubert, are you stuck in there?”
Hubert asked, forgetting his own problems when faced with Terrance’s.
“Well it would be nice to get out!”
answered Terrance.
Hubert found a bluebell and carefully taking out the middle bit turned it into a megaphone and with all the strength he could muster he called for help. Not just for himself but his new found friend too. As they waited for rescue Terrance told Hubert how he got in the muddle he was in:
“I’m a troll Hubert but don’t worry, I is a vegetarian and the other trolls they didn’t like me ‘cos I don’t like mayhem or noise. So when they all did leave they blocked the entrance to my home. I has water in here and a few fungi but I would love to get out! When the mining went on here I used to go through the piles of discarded stones and get all the crystals I could find.”
Hubert was so excited, not only had he found a friend but the treasure too! The woodland folk had heard Hubert’s cries for help and came to the rescue. With a spell or two they soon moved all the rubble and a rather scruffy troll blinked his way into the moonlight and behind him every surface sparkled and glittered with the wonderful collection of crystals & minerals that Terrance had collected before his capture.
In the morning before they said their statue spell they woke up Mrs Richards and told her all that had happened.
Terrance was a welcome addition to the woodland folk and Carnglaze. Terrance was so thrilled that the Richards gave back to the land instead of stealing from it that he shared his collection with Mrs Richards and together they made a fantastic display in the top cavern. Not only that but Terrance explained that he and Hubert were in fact both Trolls and that as such he would adopt Hubert and together they go on adventures seeking out new exhibits for the caverns, which keeps Hubert out of mischief.
Carnglaze Slate Caverns nestling in the Loveny Valley was once a mine where slate was taken away by day and trolls roamed by night. Now the best thing has happened. The whole place is now reused as a place of joy & learning. The caverns have been recycled into a destination for tourists and as a music venue to all. Weddings now take place all around Carnglaze, by the Subterranean Lake, in the top cavern and even in the Vine Conservatory (where a red grape vine blooms annually).
The people who visit learn about the mining industry and are even learning to use the recycling bins provided! The faeries help sort through the bins at night to make sure it all runs smoothly. In fact if you listen carefully you can hear their favourite chant blowing in the wind:
Cans, Plastic, Paper & Card
Remember these
It’s not very hard
Pack them up
And send them away
To use again
Another day....
An old kettle sits on the front step waiting to be transformed into a Faery House but that’s another story.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each morning before the Fae Folk head to their statuesque sleep the Gatherer calls them
into a circle around his mound and they chant their protective spell calling on the dragons:
“Dragons, Dragons
Guard our holes
& save us from
Carnivorous Trolls “
(Repeat)
Story written for posteritywith love by Pip
A Sustainable Faery Story
A long time ago the Loveny Valley was home to ALL the woodland folk. To be a woodland folk you must be magical & give back to the land. And that’s what faeries, dragons & hobbit like creatures do. But then the humans decided that the slate of the Loveny Valley was good for building and that was that. For over two hundred years the men dug and drilled and raped the land of all that was good and the trolls made Loveny Valley their home. Trolls love mayhem & noise & dust and all the things that the faery folk don’t like at all! Like ripping up all the trees and burning them for charcoal and ripping the insides of valleys out. It was all very sad. And then one day it stopped! No more mining at Carnglaze, it just wasn’t “Economically Viable” no more, meaning they could buy it cheaper than it cost them to dig up!
So in 1903 the last explosion filled the valley with noise and dust and then the dust settled....
The trolls easily bored went off to the open quarries of St Austell where they could blend with the scenery and enjoy the mayhem & chaos.
In the 1930’s when the world was at war the navy stored all its Rum in the top cavern at Carnglaze to keep it safe! All the bats evacuated the caverns as the smell of the rum was so intoxicating they flew skew-whiff fleeing from the potent odours. Then the war ended, the rum returned to Plymouth and gradually the bats came back, although some detoured to the rafters of the house where they now remain protected to this day.
Carnglaze sat silent. The old works buildings were transformed into a lovely big house and nature once again reigned.
Trees populated the hillsides intermingled with bluebells
And the woodland folk who had fled gradually moved back to the Loveny Valley. Faeries reclaimed their dell, using everything they found around to build their village. Fallen trees with deep hidey holes beneath their fallen branches became the refuge of foxes & badgers. Bigger holes were inhabited by hobbit like creatures who loved to forage in the woods. The family who had once mined the land retired and new owners came and went, some tried their hand at opening the caverns to the public but their half hearted
attempts made little impact on the woodland folk.
Then seven years ago the Richards arrived at Carnglaze. Children’s voices rang out over the hillsides. Mrs Richards lovingly tended the gardens, her children played games and Mr Richards rebuilt buildings making them safer and more befitting the landscape. Mrs Richards hung food from the trees and put bat boxes around the woods and the air was filled once more with bird song.
One day Mrs Richards discovered the Faery Dell as she worked her way along constructing a path through the woods. The little houses hidden for so long were exposed for all to see but Mrs Richards talked to the faeries and explained the families plan to open the caverns & the gardens to the public. At first the faeries were despondent and then a plan formed, by night the faery folk would work & play and statues they would be by day. Mrs Richards was thrilled to bits and got the local children from the village of St Neot to come to Carnglaze and help her design more faery houses. Watering cans that had holes had doors & windows cut into them, broken objects heading for the tip were transformed into homes around the woods.
Everyone was happy and soon the days & nights at Carnglaze were full of enchantment. Mrs Richards encouraged the children who visited to count all the faeries and occasionally some mischievous ones flew about, but only the grown ups at Carnglaze believed the children’s tales.
So now at Carnglaze where once the land was pulled apart they try to give back. The Cavern is now used for people to learn about the mining heritage of slate in Cornwall and the Enchanted Dell gives them a place to soak up the beauty of the Loveny Valley and wander amongst the woodland folk’s homes without harm or hindrance.
In the centre of the Faery Dell the Gatherer guards the faeries homes, With his pipes always to hand. He wakes the woodland folk each night for their fun & games. Once all the work is done they all sit and tell stories before their dawn bedtime arrives. One of the favourite stories they tell is of Hubert the Hobbit & the Tale of the Trolls Treasure. Hubert was adopted by the woodland folk and grew up at Carnglaze. One night he got up early and living as he did in a small log house he didn’t have anything to do other than take an apple for breakfast and head into the woods in search of the Trolls Treasure. Now some of the faeries said that the treasure was gold, others a pirate’s chest filled with gems but Hubert’s favourite version said that the treasure was Crystals collected from all over Cornwall and so Hubert set off. After several hours Hubert was so deep in the woods that he was beginning to get scared as he began to panic his foot got entangled in branches and he fell down to an old tin adit. As he lay there covered in leaves and bruises sobbing he realised that a voice was calling.
“Are you alright out there?”
called the voice.
Hubert’s sobs subsided, shocked as he was to hear a voice in this uncharted part of the woods.
“Who is there?”
Called a rather shaken Hubert.
“Why it’s me Terrance!” said the rather gruff voice which appeared to be coming from behind a huge pile of
rubble that blocked the entrance to the adit.
“Hello Terrance, I’m Hubert, are you stuck in there?”
Hubert asked, forgetting his own problems when faced with Terrance’s.
“Well it would be nice to get out!”
answered Terrance.
Hubert found a bluebell and carefully taking out the middle bit turned it into a megaphone and with all the strength he could muster he called for help. Not just for himself but his new found friend too. As they waited for rescue Terrance told Hubert how he got in the muddle he was in:
“I’m a troll Hubert but don’t worry, I is a vegetarian and the other trolls they didn’t like me ‘cos I don’t like mayhem or noise. So when they all did leave they blocked the entrance to my home. I has water in here and a few fungi but I would love to get out! When the mining went on here I used to go through the piles of discarded stones and get all the crystals I could find.”
Hubert was so excited, not only had he found a friend but the treasure too! The woodland folk had heard Hubert’s cries for help and came to the rescue. With a spell or two they soon moved all the rubble and a rather scruffy troll blinked his way into the moonlight and behind him every surface sparkled and glittered with the wonderful collection of crystals & minerals that Terrance had collected before his capture.
In the morning before they said their statue spell they woke up Mrs Richards and told her all that had happened.
Terrance was a welcome addition to the woodland folk and Carnglaze. Terrance was so thrilled that the Richards gave back to the land instead of stealing from it that he shared his collection with Mrs Richards and together they made a fantastic display in the top cavern. Not only that but Terrance explained that he and Hubert were in fact both Trolls and that as such he would adopt Hubert and together they go on adventures seeking out new exhibits for the caverns, which keeps Hubert out of mischief.
Carnglaze Slate Caverns nestling in the Loveny Valley was once a mine where slate was taken away by day and trolls roamed by night. Now the best thing has happened. The whole place is now reused as a place of joy & learning. The caverns have been recycled into a destination for tourists and as a music venue to all. Weddings now take place all around Carnglaze, by the Subterranean Lake, in the top cavern and even in the Vine Conservatory (where a red grape vine blooms annually).
The people who visit learn about the mining industry and are even learning to use the recycling bins provided! The faeries help sort through the bins at night to make sure it all runs smoothly. In fact if you listen carefully you can hear their favourite chant blowing in the wind:
Cans, Plastic, Paper & Card
Remember these
It’s not very hard
Pack them up
And send them away
To use again
Another day....
An old kettle sits on the front step waiting to be transformed into a Faery House but that’s another story.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each morning before the Fae Folk head to their statuesque sleep the Gatherer calls them
into a circle around his mound and they chant their protective spell calling on the dragons:
“Dragons, Dragons
Guard our holes
& save us from
Carnivorous Trolls “
(Repeat)
Story written for posteritywith love by Pip
 Dragons, Dragons guard our holes.... |
 Save us from Carnivorous Trolls! |
EPAMANONDUS
Epamanondus lived at the edge of the forest with his mother & father and next door was his Granny Dell. At the other end of the forest was his other grandparent Granny End of the Woods!
One day Granny Dell asked Epamanondus “Please take this scrumptious cake through the woods to Granny End of the woods.”
Epamanondus took the cake and carried it in his hands through the woods. He blundered along jiggling the cake & squeezing it tighter & tighter as he went! He got knocked by branches and the wind & the rain had a go at helping him too! You can imagine the mess when Epamanondus got to Granny End of the Woods; he had just a handful of crumbs. By the time he reached home Granny Dell had heard all about it. She looked at Epamanondus and said “Epamanondus you just ain’t got the brains you was born with. You take the cake, take off your hat, place the cake gently on your head, put the hat over the cake & walk serenely through the woods!”
Several weeks later on a hot sunny day Granny Dell called Epamanondus to her aid. “Please Epamanondus I have just finished patting out the butter. Can you take this lovely creamy butter to Granny End of the Woods?”
Epamanondus smiled & took the pat of butter; he went & got his hat. He put the pat of butter on his head, he carefully placed his hat on his head & serenely walked through the woods. The sun beat down & after a short while the butter began to melt down Epamanondus face. By the time he got to Granny End of the Woods there was nothing left but a greasy mess. Epamanondus went back to Granny Dell & yes she had already heard of the demise of her butter! She looked at Epamanondus and said “Epamanondus you just ain’t got the brains you was born with. You take the butter & you wrap it in brown paper, you take a long piece of string & you tie up the package leaving yourself a long lead, you walk to Granny End of the Wood’s along by the stream & as you walk you cool it in the water, you cool it in the water & then when you get there it will be alright!”
Several weeks later Granny Dell called E to help her. “Epamanondus I have this lovely little puppy for Granny End of the Woods please take it to her as she is so excited.”
Epamanondus took the puppy & wrapped it in brown paper, then he took a long piece of string & he tied up the package leaving a long lead, he then walked to Granny End of the Wood’s along by the stream & as he walked he cooled it in the water, he cooled it in the water. By the time Epamanondus got to Granny End of the Woods the puppy was shaking & sneezing & sniffing & was in a very sorry state in deed!
Epamanondus went back to Granny Dell & yes she had already heard what had happened to the poor puppy. She looked at Epamanondus and said “Epamanondus you just ain’t got the brains you was born with. You take a piece of rope & you make a collar for the dogs’ neck & you gently lead the puppy behind you & then when you get there it will be alright!”
Several weeks later Granny Dell called Epamanondus to help her “Epamanondus please can you take this lovely fresh leg of lamb to Granny End of the Woods for her dinner?”
Epamanondus took the leg of lamb & ran back home where he found a piece of rope. He took the piece of rope & he made a collar & he gently pulled the leg of lamb behind him all the way to Granny End of the Woods. By the time Epamanondus got to her house the leg of lamb was covered in moss & leaves & dirt & slugs & ants & flies & it was inedible!
Epamanondus went back to Granny Dell & yes she had already heard of the demise of leg of lamb! She looked at Epamanondus and said “Epamanondus you just ain’t got the brains you was born with. I just don’t know what to do with you. There are 3 pies cooling on the steps you just go & sit & watch them cool. Epamanondus walked out of Granny Dell’s kitchen & tripped over the top step & fell plip, plop plap into all 3 pies! Granny Dell saw it all! She just looked at Epamanondus & said “Epamanondus you just ain’t got the brains you was born with……
Story adapted & written for posterity
With love
by Pip
Epamanondus lived at the edge of the forest with his mother & father and next door was his Granny Dell. At the other end of the forest was his other grandparent Granny End of the Woods!
One day Granny Dell asked Epamanondus “Please take this scrumptious cake through the woods to Granny End of the woods.”
Epamanondus took the cake and carried it in his hands through the woods. He blundered along jiggling the cake & squeezing it tighter & tighter as he went! He got knocked by branches and the wind & the rain had a go at helping him too! You can imagine the mess when Epamanondus got to Granny End of the Woods; he had just a handful of crumbs. By the time he reached home Granny Dell had heard all about it. She looked at Epamanondus and said “Epamanondus you just ain’t got the brains you was born with. You take the cake, take off your hat, place the cake gently on your head, put the hat over the cake & walk serenely through the woods!”
Several weeks later on a hot sunny day Granny Dell called Epamanondus to her aid. “Please Epamanondus I have just finished patting out the butter. Can you take this lovely creamy butter to Granny End of the Woods?”
Epamanondus smiled & took the pat of butter; he went & got his hat. He put the pat of butter on his head, he carefully placed his hat on his head & serenely walked through the woods. The sun beat down & after a short while the butter began to melt down Epamanondus face. By the time he got to Granny End of the Woods there was nothing left but a greasy mess. Epamanondus went back to Granny Dell & yes she had already heard of the demise of her butter! She looked at Epamanondus and said “Epamanondus you just ain’t got the brains you was born with. You take the butter & you wrap it in brown paper, you take a long piece of string & you tie up the package leaving yourself a long lead, you walk to Granny End of the Wood’s along by the stream & as you walk you cool it in the water, you cool it in the water & then when you get there it will be alright!”
Several weeks later Granny Dell called E to help her. “Epamanondus I have this lovely little puppy for Granny End of the Woods please take it to her as she is so excited.”
Epamanondus took the puppy & wrapped it in brown paper, then he took a long piece of string & he tied up the package leaving a long lead, he then walked to Granny End of the Wood’s along by the stream & as he walked he cooled it in the water, he cooled it in the water. By the time Epamanondus got to Granny End of the Woods the puppy was shaking & sneezing & sniffing & was in a very sorry state in deed!
Epamanondus went back to Granny Dell & yes she had already heard what had happened to the poor puppy. She looked at Epamanondus and said “Epamanondus you just ain’t got the brains you was born with. You take a piece of rope & you make a collar for the dogs’ neck & you gently lead the puppy behind you & then when you get there it will be alright!”
Several weeks later Granny Dell called Epamanondus to help her “Epamanondus please can you take this lovely fresh leg of lamb to Granny End of the Woods for her dinner?”
Epamanondus took the leg of lamb & ran back home where he found a piece of rope. He took the piece of rope & he made a collar & he gently pulled the leg of lamb behind him all the way to Granny End of the Woods. By the time Epamanondus got to her house the leg of lamb was covered in moss & leaves & dirt & slugs & ants & flies & it was inedible!
Epamanondus went back to Granny Dell & yes she had already heard of the demise of leg of lamb! She looked at Epamanondus and said “Epamanondus you just ain’t got the brains you was born with. I just don’t know what to do with you. There are 3 pies cooling on the steps you just go & sit & watch them cool. Epamanondus walked out of Granny Dell’s kitchen & tripped over the top step & fell plip, plop plap into all 3 pies! Granny Dell saw it all! She just looked at Epamanondus & said “Epamanondus you just ain’t got the brains you was born with……
Story adapted & written for posterity
With love
by Pip
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