The Quillback makes its home in the oldest parts of the countryside, where woodland meets grassy banks and open fields. It favours places where fallen trees are left to decay, and thick layers of moss and leaves cover the ground.

During the day, it sleeps beneath roots, hollow logs and fallen branches, hidden away from the world above. As dusk falls, it follows familiar, winding paths through the undergrowth, rarely crossing open ground. Although seldom seen, faint trails beneath the trees can reveal where it has passed.

A quiet and solitary creature, the Quillback spends its nights searching for worms, beetles and slugs. But its journeys serve another purpose. As it pushes through the undergrowth, seeds, leaves and tiny spores become caught amongst its spines. These are carried along the paths before falling onto new ground, where they may take root.

When winter approaches, the Quillback retreats beneath roots and fallen timber, resting through the cold months while the woodland lies quiet. With the arrival of spring, it stirs once more, returning to its familiar paths as new growth emerges from the woodland floor.

Over time, the Quillback has become part of the woodland’s natural cycle, helping to spread seeds and encourage new growth. Having found new life in the woods, it now gives that life back, returning to the earth the very gift it was once given.