There is tension in Old Pencil Wood when the beaver owner of Alford’s Pencils decides to expand his business into making stools. More beavers moving in requires a wider lake, which would destroy the woodies holds (homes).

Tip the Squirrel, who lives at 2HB, next to the lake, coaxes his woody friends to join him to make his ‘plan’ work. This has to be done without upsetting the beavers, because the woodies like to help themselves to Alford’s Pencils rejects.

Alford Brownside has a ‘partner’, Major Dibbleditch, the only squirrel in the factory who, unbeknown to him, contrives to cause trouble between the beavers and the squirrels for his own ends. Does he succeed?

Sky-diving pigeons, whispering spideries, a fox that sorts out ‘botherers’ are among Tip’s helpers. Will the lake disappear?