SOLVED. Children's Fantasy. Main character enters magical forest that only some people can enter. Owner of nearby factory? wants to take over forest. Talking animals? Read around 2006-2011. [s]

[Ben]

I read this book about 10-15 years ago. It was on the shelf in the children's section of the library, so it probably wasn't too old. The story, as far as I can remember, was about a person from normal world entering this magical forest which only certain people can enter. Maybe only certain people can even see it. There's a factory near that forest and the factory owner wants to take it over for nefarious purposes. I think I remember some talking animals, my brain is specifically remembering a hedgehog and some tunnels, but that is of dubious accuracy. I think the cover image was in earth tones, without bright colors, maybe even sepia. The book was in English, but I have no idea where the author was from.

[Rainbowheart]

Suddenly in the Depths of the Forest?

[Ben]

I don't think so.

[Taylor]

Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo? I can't remember if there was a factory, but parts of this sound familiar

[Kris]

Ben, does a man currently own a factory? near the magical forest, and he wants to expand it into the forest? Does that mean chopping down the trees? What does his factory/business produce?

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[Ben]

Taylor wrote: "Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo? I can't remember if there was a factory, but parts of this sound familiar"
That looks like a great book, but it isn't the one I remember.

[Ben]

Kris wrote: "Ben, does a man currently own a factory? near the magical forest, and he wants to expand it into the forest? Does that mean chopping down the trees? What does his factory/business produce?

I added..."

Yes, a man currently owns a factory near the forest. I think there's some magical protection preventing him from damaging the forest, but he's trying to bypass it somehow. I don't remember what it produces. I don't think he's chopping down trees because of the aforementioned protection.

Everything I remember is rather vague because of how young I was when I read it...

[Tab]

The Nobodies has a factory owner. Not sure if anything else fits.

Here is the descrip from Worldcat.org
Now reunited with her real family, eleven-year-old Fern goes to a camp to learn to practice the Anybody magic, where she unexpectedly faces the evil Mole, who has imprisoned the mysterious Nobodies in his factory basement.

[Nora]

Maybe Under Wildwood? It's the second in a series, but it has the elements you described.

[Ben]

Nora wrote: "Maybe Under Wildwood? It's the second in a series, but it has the elements you described."

That's it! Thank you so much!