HolzWald Squirrel

The carver gives it the upright, alert posture squirrels take when nibbling, with the bushy tail sweeping up behind the body for balance. That curved tail is the signature feature and also acts as a stable base. Even young children read it as a squirrel straight away, which helps it slot into forest storytelling.

It stands 7.2cm tall, 6cm long and 2.2cm wide. The tail and hind legs form a wide contact point, so it stands upright without wobbling on a flat surface. The compact height suits small hands and lets it perch on a shelf, windowsill or play-scene 'tree stump'.

Each squirrel is cut from a single piece of local wood, then the edges are rounded through several sanding stages until the surface feels soft. Natural Biofa dyes add the colour and a quality oil seals it. Because it is one solid carving, there is nothing to glue, clip or lose.

A squirrel lives in a woodland scene, so it pairs well with foxes, deer and other forest animals in the range. Children build a forest floor from cloth and blocks, then have the squirrel dart between 'trees' gathering acorns. Its small size makes it a lively background character in bigger stories.

No. Because every figure is carved and coloured by hand, the grain pattern and tone vary slightly from one squirrel to the next. Small differences in the wood are part of a handmade object and make each piece a little distinct rather than machine-identical.

Wipe it with a dry or lightly damp cloth and let it air dry. Keep it out of water and away from dishwashers, and store it out of long, direct sunlight so the natural colour does not fade. A gentle buff now and then keeps the oiled surface smooth.

It is handmade in a small Georgian workshop with more than 35 years of woodworking behind it. The workshop employs people from the local community, including workers with disabilities, and every squirrel is shaped, sanded and coloured by hand rather than mass produced.