Forest Tree King Big Red

As you step out the woodland procession approaches, and lifted highly upon firm branches, all knotted in a crazy splendid mess, sits the Forest Tree King, and all about is perfect. The sunshine of the day perches upon his shoulder and he looks lovingly down into the gathered crowd.

Ribbons and bunting are everywhere, gold, green, blue, white, yellow, fluttering like butterflies in the light summer breeze.

'Welcome my friends' he says to the gathering, his deep voice, warm and welcoming. 'Now who shall sit on my throne for the day? Who shall bring me the most perfect leaf, for that is what you must do for me and then I will grant the winner a seat upon my throne for the day.'

He then pauses for effect though the words are the same every year.
'But there is one simple rule, do you know it?' and all about the crowd chant 'Yes, yes we do.'
'Well then that is good, but lets help our new friends freshly joined' and he turns to you and says.

'The leaves must fall naturally to the ground, none must be picked from the trees themselves, and be careful where you collect them from, it must be clean and free from litter of any kind. Now are you ready?'

Are you? Then nod to the Forest Tree King.

All about the courtyard the frenzy is about to begin, there is a magic hush as the King lifts his arm in readiness. Everyone holds their breath waiting for the signal, then he opens his palm and out spill hundreds of rose petals, and off like a gun the crowd goes, to the left and right, people scurrying and snatching at the leaves on the ground, along the side and all about. When they have what they believe to be the best, then they head off across the grass at a mad pace.

Then the King of the Forest turns gently to you again and asks kindly. 'What are you waiting for, find one superb leaf each, make it different from each others, so no two should be alike if you can help it, then take them to the five judges in the field.'

'The winner will have the chance to sit upon my throne, it is always the prize going far back into history, further than books, and long beards, and perhaps even before shoes were invented, and that is a very long way back indeed!'

So your task is set, each take a moment to find a leaf, as perfect as can be and then when you are ready, come back to me and read on.

You all have a leaf?

Harold is a very happy horse most of the time, he's always very happy and friendly you should like Harold but you don't know how moody he can be to people. Do you like the sound of him?Harold is hungry if you get a green jucy leaf he will be happy again. When you have your leaves lay them on the ground but get them quickly or Harold will step on your hands and crush them.
I wonder what leaf will win and help me?
EA

Vicky is perched on his favourite tree. He's looking strait at you. He's twitching his bald and scratched head and then he flies down. He stops and looks at you. He flutters up to the fence.
"I want to see some lovely dead leaves to help build my nest so show me your leaves
And I will choose my favourite leaf,it needs to be nice and brown if there is two winners then the one which is the warmest.
Which one is the winner?
NG

As you approach Matilda the moose judge, she is sitting down on the rough bark. She looks unhappy and in pain. You see her poor little antler cracked and broken she is looking uncomfortable on the bumpy, damp floor. Matilda is licking the colorful ,stretchy ribbons hanging from the branches. She loves company.

Matilda needed a leaf to bandage up her antler.
.
Matilda loves smooth leaves to bandage up her antler. She asks you to rub all your leaves on your cheeks to work out the smoothest leaf for her if there's a draw then the smallest and the smoothest will win.
Which one is the winner?
ZL

Bobbin is a very moody beetle. He is very annoying and lots of other bugs are best to stay away, or he will shout at them and say... "Go away you!" And point to them with a very unfriendly finger. Bobbin is judging leaves, but is very grumpy because he trapped his finger when he was making his gun for beetle war. "All I need is a helmet made out of a leaf a strong and thin leaf!
"GET YOUR LEAF ON THE GROUND! "Bobbin moaned.
If you hold your leaf at one end and your partner hold the other end, get one of your group to look for a big Stone. Then place the stone on the leaf and see if it will hold. If it is a draw you have to make a helmet for him.
Can you decide which is the best leaf?
say good bye (but he probably not thank you for it)and bob away.
AG

The winning leaf is the leaf with strongest consistency so that snowy can
play with it.

As you approach the judge, sitting on the ground was a very depressed
looking snowy. He was unhappy because his leaf had been ripped up
while, he was playing with it.

So it is your challenge to find the strongest leaf!

The best leaf is the strongest leaf that has no cracks and breaks in it so that
snowy an play with it.


You thank snowy by smiling and he will happily smile back.

Robin the robin is 1 years old, he has blue eyes and he can get easily scared. He is upset because he's stuck in his nest inside a hole in a tree and he can't fly down. Robin needs a leaf that will allow him to float down gently, so the last leaf to land will help, but the leaf has to be strong as well.
You must drop your leaves and see whose leaf lands last and if there is two winners ,find out who's leaf is strongest by dropping a stone or a rock on it.
Which one is the strongest?
LC
,

The King waits eagerly, he has judged many leaves already, but lots of faces are a little glum as nobody has won yet today, but then you place your leaves on the ground and the Kings wise eyes light right up.

'Tell me,' he says, 'Which did Spider choose?

And which did Miss Fly-by-night the moth?

And what about Squire Squirrel, he likes shiny, which did he choose?

And Captain Cricket, he always chooses for worm, which did he like the best.

He talks so fast that you find your head gets dizzy, but you point as quickly as he asks.

'All these leaves are so beautiful,' he says 'but every competition needs a winner and the throne can only hold one person, so . . . ' and he pauses thinking for a moment.

'Is there one leaf which has been chosen more than the others?'

Who's leaf has been chosen the most times?

But the King shakes his head, 'We can't leave it like this, I have an idea, you can take it in turns on my throne.'

And an enormous raw of applause erupts from the crowd, hats are thrown into the air and music begins to start.

Then the Forest Tree King lifts you up high onto the throne of branches and all cheer at the first winner.

Did you enjoy the adventure?

How would you make it better?

Should there have been another judge creature? Fly, Rook, Robin, Field Mouse, Pigeon?

If you were one of the judges what would be your criteria for the best one?

What would you change about the story?

Who's leaf should really have won?