Spinny's new home
Help Spinny find the perfect place to live and meet the neighbours along the way!
Read the whole story of Spinny the spider from the story trail at Spurn.
Song Thrush © Nidge Nilsen 2019
Hedgerow
‘Why hello there! Who are you?’ asks Spinny.
‘I’m Sam the song thrush! Welcome to my home. What are you looking for?’ flutes Sam.
‘I’m looking for a new home,’ says Spinny, ‘Your house seems nice. Why do you like living here?’
‘Well thank you! I love my house. It’s made of different shrubs and trees. It’s perfect for me because it’s dense, protective and full of berries’ whistles Sam.
‘I’m glad it’s a good house for you’ sighs Spinny. ‘But it’s too prickly for me. I’m searching for a home where I’ll be comfy!’
Scrub
‘Ahhh, this place looks a bit wild. I wonder if anyone lives here?’ thinks Spinny.
‘Yessss, I dooo,’ whispers Gemima the grass snake.
‘Huh?! Oh hey, I’m Spinny the spider! I am looking for a home. Do you like living here?’
‘Yes I do! I slither around here hunting for my favourite foods, like amphibians and eggs. I can bathe in the sunshine too – otherwise I would be too cold.’
‘I’m glad you like it here!’ replies Spinny. ‘But it’s too spooky for me. I’m searching for a home where I’ll be happy!’
Estuary
‘What was that?’ cries Spinny the spider, wiping off a blob of brown mud.
‘I’m so sorry’ trills Riley the redshank. ‘I got carried away splashing about in the mud finding delicious worms. Would you like one?’
‘No thanks,’ squirms Spinny. ‘I’m looking for a home – do you like living here?’
‘I sure do’ smiles Riley. ‘I roost over on the beach when the tide is in and then follow the water out as the mudflats are uncovered, feasting on wiggly worms’.
‘I’m glad you love your home’ sighs Spinny. ‘But it’s too muddy for me. I am searching for a home where I can keep my web clean!’
Common lizard - Bruce Shortland
Sand dunes
‘Oh, you surprised me there Lyndon lizard! Is this your home?’
‘Yesssss it is’ hisses Lyndon. ‘I like to scurry through the marram grass and wildflowers hunting for insects’.
‘Do you like living here?’ asks Spinny.
‘Yesssss, I love the warmth of the sun on these dry dunes!' gushes Lyndon. ‘Not many other animals can live here because it’s so dry and this means I pretty much have the place to myself’.
‘It sounds like the perfect home for you’ sighs Spinny. ‘But it’s too lonely for me. I’m searching for a home where I’ll have company!’
Edible crab (Cancer pagurus), Scotland: Berwickshire, St Abbs (St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve), August - Linda Pitkin/2020VISION
Saltmarsh
‘Why hello!’ Spinny calls into the saltmarsh pool. ‘Who are you?’
‘You can see me? I’m usually pretty good at hiding’ sounds a voice. ‘Hello, I’m Chi the crab. How can I help you?’
‘I’m trying to find a home’ explains Spinny, ‘Is this a great place to live?
‘I love it here in the marsh, it’s quite mysterious and there are loads of different animals to keep me company. It’s a bit muddy and I have to be under water a lot of the time.’
‘Ahh I see – a perfect place for you’ replies Spinny, ‘But it’s too salty for me. I am looking for a home that’s sweet as can be!’
Kestrel - Russell Savory
Meadow
‘Shhh, be quiet, or you will give me away’ calls Kairo the kestrel to Spinny.
‘Ooops! Sorry Kairo, I’m rushing to find a home, do you like it here?’
‘Why, yes I do! It’s my favourite place to be. I hover up in the sky all day and surprise my prey. My eyes can see everything moving below and I swoop down silently to catch animals much bigger that you.’
‘I’m glad to hear that and you like it here!’ replies Spinny. ‘But it’s too breezy for me. I’m searching for a home where my web won't snap in the wind!’
Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus). Donna Nook National Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. December 2009. - Neil Aldridge
Beach
‘Why hello there! Who are you?’ asks Spinny.
‘Excuse me, little spider! You’re disturbing my sleep!’ yawns Grayson the grey seal.
‘Oh, sorry, Grayson! I’m trying to find a new home,’ says Spinny timidly, ‘Do you like living here?’
‘Of course I do! It’s perfect for me because I have salty water to swim in, lots of fish to eat and a sandy spot to rest!’ says Grayson excitedly.
‘I’m glad you like it here!’ replies Spinny. ‘But it’s too wet for me. I’m searching for a home where I’ll be dry!’
(c) Dawn Monrose
Wetland
‘Oh hey!’ croaks Tate the toad. ‘What brings you in to my wetland home little Spinny?’
‘I’m trying to find a new home’ answers Spinny. ‘Do you like living here, Tate?’
‘I sure do,’ smiles Tate. ‘It’s perfect for me as I can camouflage myself in the reeds and hide under damp stones. There is plenty of food here too.’
‘I’m glad you like it here!’ replies Spinny. ‘But it’s too boggy for me. I’m searching for a home my web (full of tasty insects!) won’t sink in the ground!’