Bertie Bee flying over the Willowbrook countryside – the wonderful world of Bertie

Welcome to Willowbrook

The only way to get to Willowbrook is down the twisting lane…

Follow it through the countryside and you'll discover a gentle little world where friendship matters, adventures are never far away, and there's always a little magic to be found in the ordinary things.

And, of course, there's Bertie Bee — who can usually be found investigating something he probably shouldn't. 🐝

Where Willowbrook Began

Willowbrook may be imaginary, but some of its magic comes from very real places and very happy childhood memories.

When I was a little girl, I played in a field filled with cowslips. My dad used to tell me that abandoned windmills were where giraffes lived, and my grandad told me stories about the fairies who made their homes in a clay bank close to where we lived.

To a child, those things didn't seem impossible. They simply made the ordinary world a little more magical.

Willowbrook grew from those memories — a place where bees, giraffes, elephants, unicorns, dinosaurs and all sorts of other friends can make their homes together.

Because in Willowbrook, it doesn't really matter what you are or where you came from.

There's always room for another friend.

Watercolour illustration of the childhood memories that inspired Willowbrook, with a cowslip field, a giraffe in an old windmill and fairies living in a clay bank

Picnic at Willowbrook

The first adventure in the Willowbrook series.

Join Bertie Bee and his friends for a very special picnic in the gentle countryside world of Willowbrook — where friendship matters, adventures are never far away, and even an ordinary day can contain a little magic.

Written and hand-illustrated by Trish Rodgers.

Perfect for little readers

Gentle illustrated adventures for children approximately 3–8 years old — perfect for sharing aloud with younger children and for growing independent readers to discover for themselves.

Book cover of Picnic at Willowbrook, a children's book by Trish Rodgers featuring Bertie Bee in the Willowbrook countryside

Coming Soon

The Island at Willowbrook

A brand-new Willowbrook adventure is on its way!

There’s something rather mysterious about the little island in the middle of the lake — and Daphne Duck is determined to investigate.

Before long, an adventure is underway, Bertie has questions, Walter has worries, Poppy is rowing in circles… and the friends of Willowbrook discover that sometimes the best adventures are the ones you share together.

Coming soon!

Book cover of The Island at Willowbrook, a children's book by Trish Rodgers featuring Bertie Bee and his friends on a lake adventure

Willowbrook Around the World 🌍

The twisting lane is beginning to lead rather further than expected…

Willowbrook may be a little corner of the English countryside, but Bertie and his friends are already beginning to travel around the world.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom
🇳🇿 New Zealand

Where will Willowbrook travel next? 🐝

Bertie Bee travelling from Willowbrook in the UK to New Zealand, celebrating Willowbrook Books around the world

Meet the Author

Hi, I’m Trish Rodgers, the author and illustrator behind Willowbrook. Years ago, I read to my children and made up stories to comfort them after nightmares. Now I’ve created Willowbrook through words and watercolour, with a little magic tucked into ordinary things.

Trish Rodgers, author and illustrator of Picnic at Willowbrook, holding her children's book at her art table
Trish Rodgers painting an original watercolour illustration for the Willowbrook children's book series