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The Animals of Farthing Wood is a children's animated series commissioned by the European Broadcasting Union between 1997, and 2004, and is based on the series of books written by English author Colin Dann.[1] It was produced by Telemagination, based in London, and La Fabrique, based in Montpellier in France, but also aired in other European countries. The first countries to air the series were Germany, Belgium, Ireland and the United Kingdom, in September 1997.

Synopsis[]

The television series followed the basic plots of the series of books, although certain elements were changed. It followed the animals of Farthing Wood, who were forced to flee their homes after humans started destroying the wood to build houses. Led by Fox, and guided by Toad, the animals left Farthing Wood on a journey to White Deer Park, a nature reserve where they would be protected.

Unlike other children's series and films, The Animals of Farthing Wood did not feature much comedic content but rather relied on its strong storyline and plot, and multiple main characters are killed or die during the journey. The series contains mild gore in some episodes, which is one of its controversial points, like the 1978 film Watership Down. However the darker storyline has also earned the series a strong cult following and positive reception from many cartoon fans and critics.

Series 1 chronicled the journey to White Deer Park, Series 2 took place in White Deer Park and chronicled the feud between the Farthing Wood animals and the hostile blue foxes, the third, final series chronicled the invasion of the rats into White Deer Park and the animals' attempts to fight them off.

The episodes were made in both the UK and France. Because of this, in Series 1 the motorway's carriageways have traffic driving on the right hand carriageway of the motorway. However, they are briefly seen in Series 3 driving on the left hand side.

Series[]

Three seasons of the show were produced, each based on one or more of the Farthing Wood books.

  • Season 1 (1992–1993)
    • The Animals of Farthing Wood
  • Season 2 (1994)
    • In the Grip of Winter
    • Fox's Feud
    • The Fox Cub Bold
  • Season 3 (1995)
    • In the Path of the Storm
    • Battle for the Park

The first two seasons were seen by fans as among the best animated shows on TV at the time due to its complex and intriguing plot, solid script and generally consistent animation, along with being liked for its darker and more dramatic themes for a children's show. However, the third season was seen[by whom?] as a disappointment. Fans claimed this was due its inferior story and script as opposed to the first two seasons, but the change in animation also did not help.[citation needed]. The change in animation style was also an attempt for the series to fit in with the 'cartoonish' appeal of other children's shows that were being aired at the time. In Season 3, the animals appear to take on more human movements, like folding their arms, or wings (though this occurred to a minor extent in the first seasons).

Episodes[]

Season 1 (January–March 1993)[]

Episode Title UK Airdate (Approx)[1] Episode Number
The Wood in Danger 6 January 1993 1.01 (#1)
Toad returns home to Farthing Wood after a long and

difficult journey. The woodland is however being felled to create a town and he is buried. Meanwhile, other animals discover that Farthing Wood Pond has been filled in, and the only remaining stream is now just a muddy trickle. Fox proposes 'an Assembly', a gathering of all the animals, in the hope that someone may have an idea. Badger agrees to organise it in his den at dusk. With Weasel's help, he spreads the message, before enlarging his set and sending Weasel to collect glowworms. Owl at first refuses to go underground, but eventually relents, setting the standard for the other birds. She is soon followed by the Newts, Kestrel, the Squirrels, the Rabbits, the Mice, the Voles, the Hares, the Pheasants, the Shrews, the Hedgehogs, and finally Fox and Adder (to the dismay of the smaller creatures). Mole arrives late, unaware a meeting has even been called. As the animals discuss the problem, Toad breaks out of the ground and makes his way towards the set, coming through the roof. He tells how he was captured in a jam jar, and has been travelling back to his pond until that day. He is dismayed when Owl tells him (very bluntly) that it has been filled in. Fox declares that they have to find a new home, or perish. Toad, luckily, has a suggestion; they head to place where humans protect animals rather than hunt them, called 'White Deer Park'. Some are skeptical, but with no alternative, Fox agrees this is their best bet. Hare points out that carnivores would be placed near their natural prey, a recipe for disaster. Badger suggests they all take the "Oath of Mutual Protection", that is, none will 'terrorise nor consume' the others. All agree to this, although Adder is less than pleased. Badger nominates Fox as their leader, and Toad as their guide. The animals agree to meet at midnight to begin their great journey.

First appearance of Toad, Kestrel, Badger, Weasel, Owl, Fox, Mole, Rabbits, Squirrels, Hares, Mr. Hedgehog, Pheasants, Adder, Voles, Shrews, Mr. and Mrs. Newt and Mice.

The Journey Begins 13 January 1993 1.02 (#2)
The animals meet to start their journey to White Deer

Park. Unfortunately, Mole refuses to join his fellow animals after hearing Adder calling him, among other insults, slow. As the rest begin, Badger waits behind and is able to persuade Mole that he won’t be a burden, especially as he will be allowed to ride on Badger.

As they leave the wood, the smallers animals begin to panic about the length of the journey, and the Newts become concerned for their child's health without water. Owl finds a house with a swimming pool, and quickly directs the animals to it. Toad and the Newts go for a swim whilst the other animals drink. Things nearly end in disaster when Toad, the Rabbits and Hares cause a commotion with a lilo. As the lights come on, Adder winds up in the pool, and has to be pulled out by Fox. The group makes their escape as a fat Cat tries to come out and eat the Mice.

The animals become tired as dawn breaks and begin looking for a safe place to rest. Kestrel is able to locate some army land, however, the animals must cross a road to reach it. Most do so safely, but Adder's slow progress puts her in danger, and she narrowly escapes being run over thanks to Badger. Toad meanwhile, collapses in front of a truck, but is saved by Owl and Fox. The animals then fall asleep in the cover of a gorse thicket.

First appearance of the Mrs Hedgehog and Baby Newt.

Through Fire and Through Water 20 January 1993 1.03 (#3)
The animals awake in the army land several hours later

to the sound of blasting cannons. The two baby rabbits become frightened to the point of hysteria and are only just stopped from running back onto the road by the hissing Adder. Fortunately, after Weasel provoks a hive of wasps, the soldiers run away from the stinging insects, leaving the coast clear for the party to continue.

The party eventually have a small break at a nearby marsh in order to drink and find food. At this point, the Newt family decide it’s too challenging to carry on and resolve to stay at the relatively safe side of the marsh, after Toad tells them that they will do just as well here as at White Deer Park. The rest carry on, until one of the squirrels finds a live bullet. They accidentally throw it in a panic and it explodes, ruining Pheasant’s tail, which aggravates him greatly.

Subsequently, when a careless smoker drops his cigarette, a massive fire sweeps across the army land, which nearly kills the exhausted Toad and may well have killed the Newts. Mole is separated from the others while eating worms below ground and is found by firemen and placed in a jacket. The rest manage to escape the flames by swimming onto an island in the middle of a lake, whilst firemen bring an end to the flames. Mole escapes from the jacket, and is then spotted by Kestrel, who along with Owl distracts the firemen while Fox rescues Mole. It soon begins to rain and the animals begin swimming to the other side of the lake, planning to reach safe farm land.

Departure of the Newts. First and only appearance of three more Mice and two more shrews.

False Haven 27 January 1993 1.04 (#4)
A journey through very muddy terrain brings the animals

to the border fence, but they are unable to rest comfortably due to rain. Toad finds a dry, warm barn for the animals on the farm land, so the animals quickly set off again. Once inside the barn, Fox is at first worried about their close proximity to humans, but Kestrel, Owl and Mr. Pheasant all agree to take turns keeping watch from a plum tree. However, that night when Pheasant is too busy sleeping, his wife volunteers to take his job, only to fall asleep herself. She hears the Farmer and his dog too late, and is shot.

The rest of the animals are then locked in the barn with the Farmer threatening to kill Fox after finishing his dinner. Adder distracts Bruno the dog whilst the small animals eat through the floorboards, allowing Mole and Badger to dig a tunnel out. After everybody else flees, Adder goes to ground, and Fox manages to outwit Bruno, persuading him that killing Fox and taking him back to Bruno's master will rob him of the satisfaction of doing the job himself. The group are able to carry on walking until they reach a small copse in order to rest, until they realise Adder is still hiding at the farm.

Death of Mrs. Pheasant.

Snare for the Unwary 3 February 1993 1.05 (#5)
The usually-cowardly Pheasant volunteers to go back to

the farm to find Adder. Sadly, despite Adder's warnings, he makes too much noise when he sees his wife's plucked roasted corpse, and he too is shot. Owl then flies on to find Adder at sunset, and both have a conversation about the possible demise of Fox as the group leader, while enjoying a house rat killed by Adder for dinner.

Meanwhile, at the rook copse, the animals spend the evening listening to the singing of Weasel, Toad and a family of rooks. Owl and Adder rejoin in the morning, only to find one of baby rabbits trapped in a snare. Luckily, though, he is freed when Owl suggests Mole dig the snare out of the ground. Leaving the copse, the animals attempt to cross a river. Unfortunately, the rabbits panic and Fox exhausts himself carrying them. Badger tries to help Fox out of the river but they are swept away by some massive drift wood.

Death of Mr. Pheasant.

Who Shall Wear the Crown? 10 February 1993 1.06 (#6)
Far down the river, Badger is spotted tangled in some

reeds and Toad, Hare, Hedgehog and Weasel haul him out. Kestrel attempts to find Fox but loses sight of him under a bridge. Although the animals begin debating about who should take over, Badger does so as soon as Kestrel returns and decides to press on.

However, Toad loses his sense of direction, leading the animals back to the river. Owl realises that Toad's homing instinct, which led him back to Farthing Wood originally, is affecting his judgement. After Kestrel scouts ahead and reports back, Toad remembers the way again. Before the animals can make much progress in the right direction, they are forced to stop when the Mice have babies. Badger and the others are faced with a dilemma, as going on will slow down the group even more, but leaving the Mice behind will mean they can no longer be protected, and they may suffer the fate that likely befell the Newts. Even farther downstream, it is shown that Fox climbed onto a boat taking him back up the river, but he has been spotted by humans at a lock gate in a town.

First appearance of the Baby Mice.

New Friends, Old Enemies 17 February 1993 1.07 (#7)
When he is spotted at the lock gate, Fox flees into the

town and takes refuge in an alleyway. There, he meets a cat named Tom and agrees to hunt for mice in return for shelter. After hunting, Fox rests in a box which is loaded onto a truck and taken back into the countryside, where he escapes. He meets a friendly horse and takes a rest, only then discovering this area is where a large amount of fox-hunting takes place. Fox bids the horse goodbye, and heads off again, discovering a fox den to rest in. However, a female fox called Vixen returns and allows Fox to stay for a time, then invites him to go hunting.

Meanwhile, after a long debate, the Voles stay behind with the Mice, while the rest of the Farthing Wood animals decide to continue their journey. Soon, Hare sees a shrike carrying a baby mouse and alerts Badger. Hare quickly heads back to the Voles and Field mice, only to see the baby mice in a grisly scene: killed and brutally impaled on bloodstained thorns by the shrike. Hare continues on to find the Voles and Field Mice cowering in fear; they agree to rejoin the journey to White Deer Park.

Introduction of Vixen. Death of the Baby Mice.

Friends in Need 24 February 1993 1.08 (#8)
Fox and Vixen go hunting. Fox tells Vixen about his friends and how he'd lost them. Vixen tells Fox about the Fox hunts

that happen in the area. Fox and Vixen meet the Big Owl, who informs that he spoke with the Farthing Wood Owl. The pair quickly head off on the trail of the other animals.

Elsewhere Mole, unbeknownst to Badger, has 'lost his transport' as the Farthing Wood animals climb a steep hill out of the woodland. Later the Foxes split up when they find the scent has divided. However, a fox hunt picks up Vixen's scent as she deliberates about coming Fox's mate. Fox, hearing the hunt, bravely attempts to rescue her, before running into his friends on the hill. Vixen nearly meets her end, until Adder strikes out at the Master's horse, and the hunt is called off. Knowing that Fox tried to save her, Vixen is honoured to be his mate, and the Farthing Wood animals make a new friend.

Whistler's Quarry 3 March 1993 1.09 (#9)
After escaping the Hunt for now, the animals reach a

large quarry (with Mole digging their way in). It is here they meet Whistler, a grey heron named for the wind whistling through a bullet hole in his wing when he flies. Whistler saves Toad's life after a carp fish catches him, when Toad tries to fish. Whistler fetches the carp from the water and returns Toad to the other animals. Whistler is intrigued by the animals' new respect for life, and decides to join in the hope of finding a mate at White Deer Park. Whistler therefore takes the oath alongside Vixen. However, when the animals leave the quarry they walk into a pheasant shoot. The gunshots cause one of the baby rabbits to panic, running out into the open where he is shot and killed.

Introduction of Whistler. Death of a Baby Rabbit.

Between Two Evils 10 March 1993 1.10 (#10)
A busy motorway lies ahead of the animals, which was

under construction when Toad was making his way back to Farthing Wood. All of the animals apart from the Birds are hesitant to cross it. Most want to find another way around and some wish to remain where they are, but the sound of the Hunting horn (from the episode Friend in Need) is heard in the distance. This forces the animals to head to the motorway, and the Hunt eventually turns back. Although some animals, none more so than the Hedgehogs, are frightened of crossing, they agree to head into the middle, as the nearest cars are in a traffic jam. Once all the animals, apart from Adder, reach this point, Whistler agrees to carry the smaller animals over. Toad is carried first, with Fox, Vixen and the Hares running across when a gap in the traffic appears. Once Whistler has carried the Voles, Mice, Shrews and Squirrels over he apologizes to the Hedgehogs who he cannot help. He is then forced to go to Weasel's rescue after she is concussed following a "fight" with humans in a car involving the throwing of litter, and then attempts to run across. Finally Badger (with Mole on his back), the three Rabbits and the Hedgehogs wait for a long gap in the traffic. When it comes, Badger, Mole and the Rabbits all make it across safely, but the instincts of the Hedgehogs overcome them, and they curl up when they see a truck heading towards them and tragically die. Some time later, Adder, who refuses to be humiliated by being carried over by Owl, then suffers a much greater embarrassment by being surprised and carried by Whistler instead.

Deaths of Mr. & Mrs. Hedgehog.

A Deathly Calm 17 March 1993 1.11 (#11)
The animals find themselves in a large field filled with

vegetables. The grass-eating animals are overjoyed with the abundance of food until Fox senses something wrong. He believes the field may be poisonous due to an unusual smell and the absence of any natural wild-life. Owl discovers the reason for it: chemicals that the farmer is even concealing from other humans. After the animals enter an orchard as dusk falls, Fox, Vixen, Owl and Whistler head to a close by town to get food. Whistlers brings back some Sausages for the meat-eaters and Owl brings back some Lettuce for the grass-eaters. However Fox and Vixen disturb 2 dogs and are chased. They split up with both the dogs following Fox, who luckily loses them crossing some railway tracks. Vixen returns to the other animals alone. Badger decides to set off again, leading the animals into a field that has yet to be sprayed, though Badger still decides that it is safer not to eat anything. When Fox makes it back, a tractor spraying a liquid substance is heading for the animals. Fox has the animals run back to the orchard, where the farmer won't be spraying again. However Mr Rabbit trips, falls and is coated in the substance. As Mr Rabbit panics about his imminent death, Fox tells the animals that the poisonous chemical is in fact only harmful to insects like caterpillars and butterflies at low levels. Mr Rabbit is not going to die, but he starts complaining again about the lack of food. Fox then comes up with a solution: rather than head to White Deer Park across the poisoned fields around the town, he decides instead to have the animals go through the town itself.

Pandemonium 24 March 1993 1.12 (#12)
The Farthing animals head into the town, but are forced

to find shelter when a storm breaks and so make for a church. Mole finds an entrance into the building through some loose bricks in a wall. The animals, now safe from the elements, settle down for the night. However at dawn workers close the hole, trapping the party inside. Later, humans enter the Church for a wedding and the animals attempt to sit it out. However, the Mice are frightened by the organ, and chaos ensues, with the animals causing further mayhem in their desperation to escape. Fox, Vixen (with Mole on her back following an accident with a hat), Owl, Kestrel, Whistler, the Baby Rabbit and the Hares follow Toad, only realising that the others have been separated from them when they are a short distance from White Deer Park. Badger and Weasel hide in a wine cellar in the town, The Squirrels end up clinging to a telegraph pole on the edge of town, Adder followed the Mice, Voles and Shrews into the long grass and Mr and Mrs Rabbit hide in a bush just outside the town.

So Near and Yet So Far 31 March 1993 1.13 (#13)
When escaping the church some of the animals took wrong

turns and ended up scattered in all directions. Some of them even end up even further into the town. Badger and Weasel, in a rush to hide, enter in a wine cellar. Weasel is thirsty and drinks from one of the barrels and becomes quite drunk. After they escape from the wine cellar, with Weasel drunkenly singing all the while, Owl finds the two by a bin where Weasel has passed out. Owl then leads Badger back to the others, while he carries Weasel on his back. Kestrel finds the Squirrels clinging to the telegraph pole on the edge of town and she leads them back to Fox. Later she finds Adder who is (initially by accident for once) chasing the Voles, Mice and Shrews on a golf course. Luckily, Adder's actions save them from a Lawn mower heading their way. The lost Rabbits are the last to be found and are discovered in a building site, having fallen into a steep sided pit. Whistler spots them and tries to help them out, but Mr Rabbit proves too heavy to carry. Fox eventually rescues them. Once all the animals are reunited they make the last part of the journey to White Deer Park. All the animals agree that Toad, their guide through the entire journey should be the first to enter the park. They are all greeted by the Great White Stag, who welcomes them to their new home.

First appearance of the Great White Stag.

Season 2 (January–March 1994)[]

Episode Title UK Airdate (Approx) [2] Episode #
A Hero's Welcome 7 January 1994 2.01 (#14)
The Farthing animals have finally completed their long

journey to White Deer Park.They are welcomed by many of the animals like Speedy the Heron (who mates Whistler), Measly the Weasel (who mates Weasel) and Frogs named The Edible Frogs. Some are not so pleased to see them. A sinister blue fox called Scarface doesn't want the new arrivals to be in the park and feels that they are trespassing on his territory. With the journey over the Oath is no longer needed. However, the Farthing animals find it difficult to revert to their old ways before they took the Oath and so continue to uphold it and remain friends. Fox speaks to the Great Stag and together they suggest an area of the park to be allocated for the Farthing creatures to live together how they wish.

Introduction of the White Deer Park inhabitants Speedy, Scarface, Lady Blue, Measly and the Edible Frogs. The only appearance of the Red Squirrels. Death of Mrs. Mouse.

Winter 14 January 1994 2.02 (#15)
A harsh winter arrives and the Farthing animals are

finding food scarce, especially because their recent arrival left them unable to stock food. Whistler and Speedy spare some of their fish for the meat-eaters, but the animals soon become sick of the same diet. While out hunting Fox and Vixen meet Scarface and his mate Lady Blue. Vixen tries to start a conversation with them but Scarface warns her to stay on her own land. Meanwhile Badger slips in the heavy snow while out walking and is injured. The Park Warden finds him and takes him back to his home to treat him. The other animals worry for their missing friend. Badger manages to persuade the Warden's cat to inform the others that he is safe. While the cat is telling Mole about Badger being with him at his cottage, Kestrel spots them and thinks Mole is in danger. She dives on the cat, injuring him and causing him to fall to the ground in pain.

First appearance of the Warden and his Cat.

Survival 21 January 1994 2.03 (#16)
When smaller animals have another dispute about the fear

of being eaten by larger animals, arguing ensures between them and the birds of prey. This leaves Mrs. Vole unprotected, giving Scarface enough time to leap out of his territory to snatch her. Weasel saw it all, and soon manages to clear Fox's reputation by telling the truth when Fox is being presumed of resorting to eating Mrs. Vole. Scarface, however, corners Weasel and, thinking that nobody knows, threatens her into becoming his spy.

Meanwhile Mole, Kestrel and Vixen nurse the Warden's Cat back to health. Owl proposes to once again resort to scavenging, and most of them leave for the night, with Mole left to guard the injured cat. The cat then pretends to falling asleep, and when Mole himself does, he returns home, not wanting to stay near wild animals any longer.

Days later Badger is released from the Warden's cottage and is quite irritated to find out that none of his friends came to meet him (this undoughtly because they did not know he was coming but he completely ignore it ). Upon finding Mole and the others, Badger tries to persuade them that the Warden's cottage is the best place to spend winter, much to his anger nobody follows him back. Much to his surprise, Badger finds himself forbidden to return to the cottage because he is a wild animal, with the cat standing ground. Kestrel, who followed Badger, finally speaks reason into him, but is then herself attacked by the cat in revenge, with Badger having no other choice but to fend off the cat.

Death of Mother Vole.

New Enemies 28 January 1994 2.04 (#17)
Spring was coming slowly to White Deer Park. One morning

Mr. Mouse perishes. Owl had told the animals that two men took the Warden out of his cottage and put him in a white van and thought that he was very ill but he will be back in the spring. Meanwhile a woman took his cat out in a basket. Mole had made a mate called Mateless and will be with her for the Winter.

However, one night, Whistler and Kestrel had seen a man shoot a deer and there lots of Deer Hunters in the park. They went to warn Fox and he would warn the Great White Stag if they come back. However the did come back the next night and one of the poachers had shot a doe. Scarface had heard everything and pounced on Weasel the next day. In the previous episode, he wanted Weasel to be his spy and tell him everything each Farthing animal does including Fox. The Other Farthing Wood animals had found her acting strangely. That evening one of the poachers had seen Fox and intended to shoot him first. Luckily Fox had got way from the poachers when they fell into the unfreezing pond. The animals had congratulated Fox on his brilliant plan. In the end Vixen had told Fox that he is going to be a father and that she will give birth to cubs in the next episode.

First appearance of Mateless. Death of Mr Vole. Only appearance of Stoat and the other stoats.

A Joke Backfires 4 February 1994 2.05 (#18)
While Fox orders the rest of the animals to cease their

food raids, now that Spring has come and everyone can fend for themselves, Whistler and Kestrel decide to play a joke on Owl by not telling her about Fox's orders. After Owl learns of this, she loses confidence in the Farthing Animals and the oath and fails to alert Fox when the poachers return. Because of this, the poaches kill one of the blue foxes, which causes Scarface to blame Fox for bringing the poachers on all of them, and vowing his revenge. Vixen finally gives birth to her cubs. The animals all gather to congratulate the new parents and to help decide on names for the four cubs. The poachers still plague all the animals in the park but when the warden returns they believe their troubles to be over. However the poachers continue to hunt in the park while the warden remains ignorant to their nightly activities. The Great White Stag and the other deer drive off the poachers for a time, only to have them return later. Fox then sets into motion a plan to get rid of the poachers by bringing them to the attention of the warden. Wandering round in the open and calling out they finally spot him and give chase, straight to the warden's cottage. Hearing gunshots the warden runs out and catches the poachers in the act, putting a stop to their hunting for good and they got arrested for the poaching.

The birth of Fox and Vixen's cubs - Bold, Dreamer, Charmer and Friendly; and Scarface and Lady Blue's cubs including Ranger and Bounder, and the Rabbit's offspring.

Home is Where the Heart Is 11 February 1994 2.06 (#19)
The cubs Bold, Charmer, Dreamer and Friendly are being

taught the ways of the world by their parents Fox and Vixen. However while Fox is away Scarface spies on the cubs while Vixen is teaching them to hunt. Weasel spots him and bravely informs Vixen, scaring him off by singing. However Vixen doesn't believe her and upsets Weasel. Fox later sniffs the area and believes Weasel may have been telling the truth. Back at his den Scarface's jealously tells Lady Blue that Vixen's cubs are better than hers. After this Lady Blue decides to see the cubs for herself and is confronted by Vixen. Meanwhile Toad has awoken from hibernation confused and his homing instincts drawing him back to Farthing Wood. However he is caught by a young boy and put into a jar. He becomes fascinated with a female Toad also trapped in a jar and so comes out of his trance. Luckily for them Whistler catches the two occupied jars, dropping one and freeing the female Toad and taking Toad to the warden's cottage to be freed. Toad and the female Toad, Paddock become mates, this new instinct over-riding the homing instinct. The fear that Mole may be dead are confirmed when his mate (now called Mirthful) and two babies meet the animals. But to help Badger avoid any heart-break in his old age Mossy has to pretend to be his father, Mole.

Mention to the Death of Mole. First appearance of his son Mossy. The only appearance of Mossy's sister. First appearance of Toad's mate Paddock.

The Feud Begins 18 February 1994 2.07 (#20)
The animals grieve when Dreamer, Fox and Vixen's cub is

found dead. Although it cannot be certain as to the cause of death, Fox believes that Scarface is to blame. The impulsive Bold slips away and wanders into Scarface's land, where he meets Ranger, Scarface's son and tries to become friends. Scarface spots them and imprisons Bold in his earth. Fox and Friendly enter Scarface's land in an attempt to rescue Bold, but soon become surrounded by blue foxes. Fox manages to convince Scarface to allow Friendly to return home. Meanwhile Bold was able to cunningly escape just as his father and brother trespassed onto the blue foxes' territory. Weasel informs the White Stag about the situation and he steps in to prevent any feuding. Fox is allowed to return to Farthing land, only to find Bold was already there. Fox is infuriated with him and tells him that he will remain where Fox can watch him at all times and is not to wander off. Bold can't take it and feels the park isn't big enough for both him and his father. Vixen pleads with Bold to stay, however he leaves vowing to never return.

Death of Dreamer. First appearance of the Baby Hares: Dash and Leveret.

Like Father, Like Son 25 February 1994 2.08 (#21)
Bold has left White Deer Park and is enjoying his new

independent life. He first meets Crow then a friendly female Badger called Shadow when he unintentionally enters her den. He catches a pheasant for her and they become friends. She warns him about the gamekeeper, which explains the abundance of pheasants and a lack of foxes. Shadow gets caught in a trap meant for him and stays to release her when the human is on his way. However as he chews through the wire it springs back, releasing her but catches him in the eye. Later when hunting for pheasants, unable to see out of his injured eye he does not notice the farmer until it is too late and Bold is shot. Meanwhile back in White Deer Park, Charmer the remaining female cub of Fox and Vixen meets and befriends Ranger, Scarface's son. Scarface kills Mrs Hare and so Mr Hare moves his family back onto Farthing land. The animals plot to kill Scarface by stealth the way he probably did to kill Dreamer. They elect Adder but make the mistake of sending the Weasels to send the message to her. Adder ends up killing Bounder, Scarface's elder son instead of Scarface himself, leaving the animals of Farthing Wood waiting for the Blue fox's revenge.

First appearances of Crow and Shadow. Death of Mrs. Hare and Bounder.

Narrow Escapes 4 March 1994 2.09 (#22)
Bold is helpless and starving due to his gunshot wound

but luckily for him Crow agrees to help him and fetches Shadow. She tends to him and stays with him until he feels stronger. But while she goes out hunting he slips away not wanting to be dependent on anyone. He heads towards a farmhouse where Shadow catches up to him. She understands his need to be independent and live his own life and tells him to be careful. He catches a chicken but alerts the farmer and his dog who give chase. Bold dashes down a nearby hole but the farmer tries to dig him out. The farmer manages to dig hem out, but Bold pretends he's sleeping so the farmer thinks he got the wrong fox and walks away. Crow tells him that he is extremely lucky and suggests that if he still wants to feed off humans to try the town. The rest of the Farthing Animals are still worried about Scarface. Adder gets cornered by him and hides down a hole but not before he tears her tail. The animals decide to punish the Weasels and hold a trial for them. Fox sets up a watch to look out for any trouble.

Shadows 11 March 1994 2.10 (#23)
Bold arrives in the town with Crow and they continue to

keep their bargain of feeding one another. While wandering the town for food Bold comes across a female fox but she doesn't seem interested. The following night he sees her again and they hunt together and she, Whisper invites him back to her earth. However he can't break his agreement with Crow so goes back to him. Crow frees him from his agreement so that Bold can be free to see Whisper and says that if they need each other, to leave food under the bush. Bold goes back with Whisper to her earth in the Church grounds and tells her his story when she thinks that he is old. She is honoured to know him, the son of the famous, heroic Farthing fox. Meanwhile Friendly finds out that his sister Charmer is seeing Ranger and informs his parents. Fox is not happy about it and agrees to meet him. Ranger says that in a fight between the Blue foxes and the Farthing Wood animals he won't fight for any side. A sad event leaves the animals grieving when Badger passes away. Fox is able to apologise to Badger before he dies, surrounded by all of his friends.

Death of Badger. First appearance of Whisper.

A Time of Reckoning 18 March 1994 2.11 (#24)
Now sharing a den, Bold and Whisper continue to grow

closer. With the help of Whisper, Crow - and a St. Bernards dog Rollo whom he befriends, Bold is now finding the struggle for survival less and less of a challenge. But his pride has taken a blow&he can not stand having to rely on others all the time. When Whisper reveals that she is with cub, and wants him to guide her back to White Deer Park, Bold's self-confidence takes another blow; She chose him only to mate since his father was the heroic fox and she wants her children to be like Fox. Whisper denies this, but the journey takes its toll on Bold and he grows steadily weaker. Meanwhile, back in White Deer Park, the feud comes to a head when Vixen and Lady Blue become involved in a vicious fight.

First appearance of Rollo.

Blood is Thicker Than Water 25 March 1994 2.12 (#25)
Infuriated by Lady Blue's wounds following her fight

with Vixen, Scarface leads an attack on the Farthing Wood animals. Fortunately, Hare manages to warn Fox and gather the animals in time. Ranger meanwhile attempts to aid the Farthing Wood animals but, in doing so unintentionally leads Scarface to their whereabouts. Determined to avoid a siege, Fox challenges Scarface to single combat. Scarface initially dominates the fight, but Fox gains the upper hand at a crucial moment. The Warden then appears suddenly, and the victorious Fox allows the injured Scarface to limp away. Elsewhere, Adder finally emerges from hiding to exact her own vengeance.

Reconciliation 30 March 1994 2.13 (#26)
The Farthing Wood animals celebrate in the lieu of Fox's

victory - but Scarface makes a shocking return, vengefully killing Mrs Rabbit. Adder spies Scarface drinking at the pond, and then strikes the tyrant from beneath the water - Scarface only survives long enough to recognise his killer. Scarface's death marks the end of the feud - but Fox and his family have no time for celebration. Whisper has arrived at White Deer Park - but without Bold, who has hidden himself away, refusing to return to the park out of pride. When Fox and Vixen come to the fence in search of their son, Crow leads them to him just in time to say one last goodbye before he dies, Bold at last content with his father's approval. Bold's death triggering an epiphany, Fox at last gives his blessing to Ranger and Charmer's union.

Deaths of Scarface, Bold, and Mrs. Rabbit. Last appearances of Lady Blue, Other Blue Foxes, Crow, Mirthful, Paddock, the Shrews, Hare and Kestrel.

Season 3 (September–December 1995)[]

Episode Title UK Airdate (Approx) [3] Episode #
Comings and Goings 28 September 1995 3.1 (#27)
The Great White Stag goes to take a drink from a stream

near the boundary. In the distance a plague of rats come scurrying towards the fence. Many of the Animals have had children and even grandchildren. Fox's Grandson Plucky wanted a race with Dash. Weasel is going to have children which Weasel was not happy about. Whistler who was flying around White Deer Park sees the Great White Stag at the stream he was drinking from with his head nearly touching the water with his eyes closed and then he collapsed. Whistler realised that he perished from drinking and that the Stream was poisoned. He went and alerted Fox and the other animals. Fox had Figured out that a bad tempered Deer named Trey would take his place.

Owl had flown away to go look for a Mate. Meanwhile, a Plague of Rats head towards the Great White Stag's Dead Body led by a big white Rat named Bully. Elsewhere, When Plucky and Dash take a Drink at a Pond, They get encountered by Trey and he tells them that it's his pond he will not let Non-Deer drink from it. The Rats had been watching and they were about to Capture Mossy until Measly scared them away. The Weasels had a great chase from Trey from that screaming who prevents screaming happening in White Deer Park. Weasel had decided for she and Measly to leave White Deer Park. Meanwhile Shadow the Badger arrives at White Deer Park with a mate named Hurkel and a Snake named Sinuous who mates Adder and some Voles arrive at the Park as well.

Death of the Great White Stag. First appearances of Hurkel, Bully, Spike, Brat, Plucky, The White Deer Park Voles, Sinuous, and Trey.

Out and About 5 October 1995 3.2 (#28)
Owl leaves the park in search of a mate and the Weasel

family have left to start a new life else where. Plucky and Dash race again, while Trey harasses the other Farthing Wood animals. Meanwhile, Bully and his rats begin to build their numbers.

Birth of Weasel and Measley's offspring Fido and Cleo.

Water, Water 12 October 1995 3.3 (#29)
Water becomes an issue for the Animals of White Deer

Park. Shadow and Hurkel arrive at the park only to see that the only water source Trey will allow the animals to drink from has been poisoned. That was the stream that The Great White Stag perished from. Meanwhile outside White Deer Park, Owl encounters a Rook named Moth eaten Rook who wants to talk to her. However Owl flies away with the Rook following her.

First appearance of Moth eaten rook.

The Missing Fox's Friend 19 October 1995 3.4 (#30)
While the number of Bully's rats continues to grow, so

does the number of missing animals. When Dash sees Plucky being taken away in a cage to a truck, she decides to follow the truck only to be shut out of a mysterious human establishment surrounded by high walls and spike-top gates. Meanwhile, the Weasels to stay at a farm but the animals wouldn't let them stay. They gain a new Protector who is Rollo the Sheep Dog.

Tiffs and Tempers 26 October 1995 3.5 (#31)
Weasel and Measley find a seemingly nice burrow for them

to live when they discover it is being occupied by vicious wildcats. Their loyal "weasel dog" Rollo comes to their rescue. Meanwhile, Fox confronts Trey and tells him that he'll either come to hell or high water, Trey will respect the other animals of the park and he will step down as leader if one of the stags can fight against him for Leadership. Also Ranger, Charmer, and Whisper confront Bully for the first time and he makes his intentions clear-to take over the entire park for himself and his rats. Charmer, Ranger and Whisper kill all of the rats with rats that where aiding Bully, but Bully tells them that there are still hundreds of rats coming, then he escapes into a nearby pound.

Only appearance and Death of a Rat named Scragg.

Adventure for the Birds 2 November 1995 3.6 (#32)
The weasel family are still looking for another home

away from White Deer Park. While the rest of the Farthing animals are still trying to find out where the missing animals are. It is up to Whistler to solve it. He follows the truck to a walled-in nature reserve. When Plucky finds him, he tells him that the place is a new sanctuary. Although it's a nice place, many of the animals were separated from their families. Meanwhile Owl is still trying to escape the moth-eaten Rook, who says he loves her, but gets into trouble when she hides in a house.

The Long-Tailed Visitor 9 November 1995 3.7 (#33)
Bully has asked a rat named Spike to befriend a Farthing

animal for him. He finds Toad the next morning and became his Matey and Toad told him that the weasels have gone. While the stags fight for leadership of the herd, Fox is visited by Bully and his minions who threaten his life. To ensure the park's safety, Fox orders an attack on the rats' headquarters, but the rat casualties was nothing compared to the ever growing population. Meanwhile Owl is awoken by the sound of a male owl who is also mateless. Meanwhile while the Weasels and Rollo have a nap Cleo and Fido jump in a dog bowl which flows down a river. However at a Bridge the Chief Wildcat from the episode Tiff's and Temper's prepares to bounce on the weasel pups but they were saved by Rollo and some Terrapins that took them back to shore. Unfortunately when Measly wanted to go back to White Deer Park and Weasel said No, Rollo did and he became the Warden's Pet.

First appearance of Owl's mate Hollow.

Scared Silly by Snakes 16 November 1995 3.8 (#34)
The two snakes make their way into Bully's headquarters

to try to kill him. However they end up frantically trying to escape as hundreds of rats chase after them. Plucky escapes the new sanctuary to return home and Owl ends up coated in cement that quickly sets. Meanwhile, Fido and Cleo make a new friend. A piglet who has named himself I'll Never Be Sausages.

First appearance of Piglet.

A Bigger Oink 23 November 1995 3.9 (#35)
The animals in White Deer Park are still trying to deal

with the army of rats and try to make the Warden aware of the problem. Meanwhile the weasels and the piglet come across a copse with a grumpy Wild Boar living there. Bully forms a task force to hunt down and kill the snakes. They find Sinuous, thinking it's Adder and kill him. Hurkel and Shadow try to comfort Adder as Bully slinks away unnoticed.

Death of Sinuous

The Mole Game 30 November 1995 3.10 (#36)
Toad and Spike invent a game called "The Mole Game" They

have to guess where Mossy the Mole will come up. Ranger ends up winning when Charmer asks what Toad and Spike are doing, which quite makes his day. Adder has vowed to kill as many rats as she can to avenge her mate's death. Owl is still imprisoned in her Jacket of building cement, a few other fellow flappers (A Robin, A Green Woodpecker, A Rook, and another female owl) decide to try to break the cement by shoving her off the branch, but the plan fails, she is off the branch and still in the cement (It made her feel very Slow and Heavy). Toad and Spike continue playing their game, but soon become surrounded by Bully and his rat army, Spike's cover is blown when he responds to Bully's Call of "Who am I" With a "Bully Bully Bully" complete with salute! Toad tries to escape, but ends up captured. Mossy has rushed to get help, only to find Dash. Dash goes and gets some White Deer to chase her, they stampede over the rats, squashing nearly every one. Spike feels awful for his behaviour, but is relieved when Toad is found alive at the pond, and Toad fully forgives him when Spike promises to fight like a Terrier the next time it happens. Spike was kicked out of the rat plague.

The Worst Kind of Hurricane 7 December 1995 3.11 (#37)
As Mossy predicted, a hurricane come to the area around

White Deer Park. The fierce winds knock over the last Farthing Wood beech tree and release Owl from her cement shell. After the hurricane ends, Rollo and the Warden find Shadow unconscious and take her to the cottage. Fox discovers Trey pinned under a tree. Another stag, Laird, comes to free Trey and readies to challenge him to a fight for leadership. Because of his injury, Trey reluctantly limps away abdicating his power to Laird. Afterwards, he is taken away by the Warden. Measley declares that he will take no more of Weasel's insults and decides to take their young ones back to White Deer Park. Weasel agrees wholeheartedly.

First appearance of Laird.

Homeward Bound 14 December 1995 3.12 (#38)
When the weasels return home, all the animals are

overrun with joy. Fox explains their problem with the rats to the weasels and asks for their help. They agree, but first they must train Fido and Cleo on how to deal with rats...using Spike as a volunteer. Mossy tells Hurkel that he found Shadow in a hutch by the Warden's cottage. While Hurkel and the weasels try to get her out, the Warden's cat summons Rollo to get rid of them. Of course, he recognizes his weasel friends and is very happy to see them. Meanwhile, after a few fights for leadership of the herd, the white deer and Farthing animals name Laird as the new leader of White Deer Park. Elsewhere, the rats, at their largest number yet, prepare to launch a massed attack on the animals of the park.

Departure of The Warden.

Bully-Bully-Bully 21 December 1995 3.13 (#39)
In the series finale, Owl and Hollow return to White

Deer Park just in time to overhear Bully addressing an assembly of his rats. She goes to gather the other animals and they plan to counterattack. Plucky sends Mossy to find Laird so he can send the white deer to stampede the rats. But despite their best efforts, the rats are still too numerous. There seems to be no chance of stopping them, until Cleo bites off Bully's tail. All the animals, including the rats begin to laugh at Bully and he skulks off to the sewers where he came from. After the battle was won, the other rats apart from Spike returned to where they were before they came to the park and Fox calls an assembly to announce that he has decided to step down as leader of Farthing Land. He places Plucky in charge despite slight protest from Ranger. Trey returns to inform the animals that the Warden has merged White Deer Park with the new sanctuary to make one large wildlife preserve. He announces that with so much more space, he has decided to lose his brutish disposition, though he is still not fond of weasels. As Fox and Trey walk away together, Plucky decides that after a hard day's fighting, everyone should rest and explore the new addition to White Deer Park the next day.

Last appearance of all characters and the departure of Bully and the rats (not Spike).

VHS/DVD Availability[]

The classic VHS titles of the series, released through BBC Video, were nine volumes in all, each amalgamating several episodes to form feature-length omnibuses. Because of time limitations on each cassette, some original episode sequences were cut out. Such scenes removed from the series one VHS titles, for example, included Fox's confrontation with the farmer's dog, and his conversation and 'employment' with the town cat, where he kills several mice. The swimming pool scene from the journey is also excluded.

DVD Releases[]

Series 1 came out in France in February 2009.

Series 1 was released in Germany on September 25, 2009, and Series 2 will be released in Germany on May 27, 2011. The German DVD releases offer both English and German audio options. Series 3 has also been released in Germany

VHS Releases[]

VHS titles were as follows:

  • Vol. 1: "The Journey Begins"
  • Vol. 2: "From Copse to Quarry"
  • Vol. 3: "On to White Deer Park"
  • Vol. 4: "The Challenge of Winter"
  • Vol. 5: "Friends & Enemies"
  • Vol. 6: "New Beginnings"
  • Vol. 7: "New Dangers"
  • Vol. 8: "The Rise of the Rats"
  • Vol. 9: "The Wanderers' Return"

'New Beginnings' was the first TAOFW video title to receive a 'PG' certificate from the BBFC, largely due to the violent battle between Fox and Scarface and the strong emphasis on death, although generally the content was actually not much grimmer than that in earlier volumes.

In 1996, Another tape was released entitled "Three Tales" featured 'Toad's Tale', 'Badger's Tale' and 'The Foxes' Tale'. This was compiled from series 1 and 2.

Individual episodes were also available on VHS as part of a running promotion in 'Farthing Wood Friends' magazine.

Characters[]

Original Farthing Wood animals[]

Animal name Description Books TV series Gender Mate Offspring First appearance Last appearance
Fox A red fox who was the leader of the Farthing Wood animals. He’s very

tolerant and loyal, although after arriving in White Deer Park the many stresses (White Deer Park foxes, winter, poachers) turn him temporarily incensed. In Series 3 and the 5th-final book, he had a darker coat of fur since he was getting old. In the end of the TV series (not the books) he puts Plucky in charge of the Farthing Wood animals.

Yes Yes Male Vixen Bold, Charmer, Friendly, Dreamer The Wood in Danger (1x01) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Badger Fatherly figure and second-in-command of the animals. He had a

special bond with Mole, and later on Mossy. Badger passes away peacefully later on in the TV series, but ends the books having acquired a mate-of-sorts in the young sow badger Frond.

Yes Yes Male N/A None The Wood in Danger (1x01) Shadows (2x10)
Toad A boisterous common toad who discovered White Deer Park by being

captured in a jam jar. He acted as guide on the journey, and caused concern on a few occasions when he was nearly killed by fire, a car and a carp fish. In the TV series he survives, but he is killed by Bully in the books.

Yes Yes Male Paddock None (TV) multiple unnamed (books) The Wood in Danger (1x01) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Owl Pompous tawny owl who often scouted for the group and voiced her

opinion on everything. She breaks down later on in the series and leaves the Park, however soon turns back to her old self. She returns with a mate. In the books she is male and called Tawny Owl, and his relationship with his mate (Holly) disintegrates (but returns again).

Yes (as Tawny Owl) Yes Female (TV) male (books) Hollow (TV) Holly (books) Three unnamed The Wood in Danger (1x01) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Weasel TV series: Female, loud, cheeky and childish – the group's comic

foil. Books: Male, and the quiet loner of the group, though he shares a loose friendship with Adder and feuds with Tawny Owl.

Yes Yes Female (TV) male (books) Measly (TV) unnamed (books) Cleo and Fido (TV) multiple unnamed (books) The Wood in Danger (1x01) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Adder Viciously sarcastic and sharp-witted European adder. Throughout the

journey, the animals, particularly the tiny fieldmice, voles and shrews, are wary of his commitment to the Oath. Very much the foil to the other animals' pretensions or idealism. Adder is male with red eyes in the books and a female in the TV series.

Yes Yes Female (TV) male (books) Sinuous None (TV) multiple unnamed (books) The Wood in Danger (1x01) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Kestrel Lookout and scout for the group as they travelled. She mysteriously

disappeared after the second season. In the books she is a male and had moved away to find food without the risk of eating a Farthing Wood animal before the beginning of the 5th book.

Yes Yes Female (TV) male (books) None (TV) unnamed (books) None (TV) multiple unnamed (books) The Wood in Danger (1x01) Reconciliation (2x13)
Mole Worm-greedy mole who often got lost or left behind along the

journey. He digs tunnels to help the Animals get in and out of places during the journey. Best friend of Badger. Died in the first winter in White Deer Park, leaving his mate, a son named Mossy and an unnamed daughter which was mentioned at Springtime. He is sometimes referred to as Moley (often by Badger). Mole was sometimes transported by Badger on the Journey because he was very slow due to his small feet and short-sighted eyes.

Yes Yes Male Mirthful Mossy and unnamed daughter (TV) Mossy and multiple unnamed (books) The Wood in Danger (1x01) New Enemies (2x04)
Pheasants Two game birds who were often afraid of being shot at, and who had a

very poor relationship. Both perished early in the series, shot separately by a farmer.

Yes Yes Both Each Other None The Wood in Danger (1x01) False Haven (1x04) (Hen Pheasant)/Snare for the Unwary (1x05) (Cock Pheasant)
Rabbits TV series: Father Rabbit, a hypochondriac, and Mother Rabbit who

often says "Don't Panic!". Both usually panicked in dangerous situations. The pair had two babies at the beginning of the series, but one was shot by a man. They had another baby during the rest of the series. Mother Rabbit was eventually killed by Scarface. Father Rabbit is sometimes known as Rabbit. Books: Multiple rabbits went on the journey from Farthing Wood to White Deer Park in the books. Their leader is referred to as Rabbit. All of the original rabbits had died before the beginning of the 5th book due to their short life span, but they had many offspring.

Yes Yes Both Mother and Father Rabbit were mates (TV) multiple pairs (books) Three unnamed (TV) multiple unnamed (books) The Wood in Danger (1x01) Whistler's Quarry (1x09) (one of the babies)/Reconciliation (2x13) (Mother Rabbit)/Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13) (Father Rabbit)
Hares TV series: A hare who was a bit full of himself, and his mate, Mrs.

Hare, who was eventually killed by Scarface. They had a couple of offspring in the park, named Leveret and Dash. Hare disappeared after the second series. Books: Hare and his mate. They had died before the beginning of the 5th book due to old age. They had two sons, one was killed in the park by a stoat, the other was called Leveret by the Farthing Wood Animals and survived.

Yes Yes Both Each other Leveret and Dash (TV) Leveret and unnamed son (books) The Wood in Danger (1x01) Like Father, Like Son (2x08) (Mrs. Hare)/Reconciliation (2x13) (Hare)
Hedgehogs TV series: Pair of hedgehogs who were often among the slowest

animals of the group. Both were run over by a lorry on a motorway since they were too prickly to be carried across. Books: Multiple hedgehogs made the journey from Farthing Wood to White Deer Park. Their leader was referred to as Hedgehog. Two old hedgehogs were run over on the motorway, the others made it to the park. All the original hedgehogs had died before the beginning of the 5th book due to old age, but they had many offspring.

Yes Yes Both Each other (TV) multiple pairs (books) None (TV) multiple unnamed (books) The Wood in Danger (1x01) (Hedgehog)/The Journey Begins (1x02) (Mrs. Hedgehog) Between Two Evils (1x10)
Squirrels TV series: Grey Squirrel and his mate who were present for the

entire series. They are good climbers and the motorway was no trouble for them. Books: Multiple squirrels made the journey from Farthing Wood to White Deer Park. Their leader was referred to as Squirrel.

Yes Yes Both Each other (TV) multiple pairs (books) None (TV) multiple unnamed (books) The Wood in Danger (1x01) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Voles TV series: Vole, who often attempted to assert his authority in the

group, and his mother, Mrs. Vole. Mrs. Vole was killed by Scarface. Vole was accidentally killed by the Farthing Wood carnivores in the first winter. Books: Multiple voles made the journey from Farthing Wood to White Deer Park. Their leader was referred to as Vole. Some of the voles had babies during the journey, but they were killed by the Butcher Bird together with some adult voles. All of the original voles had died before the beginning of the 5th book due to old age and being hunted, but they had many offspring.

Yes Yes Both N/A (TV) multiple pairs (books) Vole is Mrs. Vole's Son (TV) multiple unnamed (books) The Wood in Danger (1x01) Survival (02x03) (Mrs. Vole)/New Enemies (2x04) (Vole)
Shrews A shrew and his mate. They were the quietest and least noticed of

the entire group. Both disappear after the second series. These animals appeared only in the TV series.

No Yes Both Each other None The Wood in Danger (1x01) Reconciliation (2x13)
Field mice TV series: Fieldmouse and his mate Mrs. Fieldmouse, who had three

babies during the journey to White Deer Park, but they were killed by the Butcher Bird. Mrs. Fieldmouse was accidentally killed by Kestrel shortly after the arrival at White Deer Park. Fieldmouse supposedly perishes at the end of the first winter. Books: Multiple fieldmice made the journey from Farthing Wood to White Deer Park. Their leader was referred to as Fieldmouse. Some of the fieldmice had babies during the journey, but they were all killed together with some adult fieldmice. All of the original fieldmice had died before the beginning of the 5th book due to old age and being hunted, but they had many offspring.

Yes Yes (as the Mice) Both Each other (TV) multiple pairs (books) Three unnamed (TV) multiple unnamed (books) The Wood in Danger (1x01) New Friends, Old Enemies (1x07) (babies)/A Hero's Welcome (2x01) (Mrs. Fieldmouse)/New Enemies (2x04) (Fieldmouse)
Lizards / newts TV series: Two newts and their baby. Aquatic creatures who often

became desperate for water. Left behind at a marsh during the journey because they couldn't go any further and assumed to have been killed by fire. Books: Multiple lizards made the journey from Farthing Wood to White Deer Park. Their leader was referred to as Lizard. They were left behind at a marsh, because they couldn't go on. There was a fire at the marsh and it is unknown if they survived it.

Yes (Lizards) Yes (Newts) Both Each other (TV) multiple pairs (books) Baby newt (TV) multiple unnamed (books) The Wood in Danger (1x01) (adult newts)/The Journey Begins (1x02) (baby newt) Through the Fire and Water (1x03)

Animals who joined the group during the journey[]

Animal name Description Books TV series Gender Mate Offspring First appearance Last appearance
Vixen Fox's mate whom he met at a fox hunting reserve while separated from

the other animals. She joined the animals and took the oath after escaping a fox hunt. She is shown to be wise and beautiful.

Yes Yes Female Fox Bold, Charmer, Friendly, Dreamer New Friends, Old Enemies (1x07) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Whistler A helpful, droll and friendly heron whom the group met in a quarry.

He was shot in the wing, and thus makes a whistling sound when he flies. He took the oath when he joined The Farthing Animals. He helped the animals on numerous occasions during the journey. He often flies around White Deer Park and he sometimes has bad news with what he had seen on his flight.

Yes Yes Male Speedy (TV) unnamed (books) None (TV) multiple unnamed (books) Whistler's Quarry (1x09) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)

Residents of White Deer Park[]

Animal name Description Books TV series Gender Mate Offspring First appearance Last appearance
The Great White Stag Leader of all animals in White Deer Park. He perishes after drinking

from the poisoned stream (probably caused by the Poachers), causing rats to take over White Deer Park. He is sometimes referred as Stag which is in fact his real name.

Yes Yes Male Yes (unmentioned) Multiple unnamed (TV and books) Laird (grandson, TV only) So Near and Yet So Far (1x13) Comings and Goings (3x01)
The Warden A kindly man who looks after White Deer Park and everything in it.

He helped the animals on several occasions, such as caring for Badger when he hurt his front paw and stopping the poachers, but he was of no help in getting rid of the rats. Later in the series, he had been sending some of the animals (including Plucky) to a new Nature Reserve but they were rescued by Whistler. He leaves White Deer Park at the end. His real name was never mentioned.

Yes Yes Male N/A N/A Winter (2x02) Homeward Bound (3x12)
Scarface A vicious fox, with a prominent scar over his right eye. He is the

leader of the White Deer Park foxes. His family (apart from Ranger) and pack had a great feud with the Farthing animals (including Vixen, Whistler and their offspring) even after the Great White Stag told him to leave the Farthing animals alone and prevented him from feuding. He is killed in White Deer Park by Adder when he takes a drink from a stream. In the TV series he is responsible for killing Mrs Vole, Dreamer, Mrs Hare and Mother Rabbit. In the books, he killed Dreamer, Mrs Hare and several Farthing Wood voles, fieldmice and rabbits. In the TV series, he and the other White Deer Park foxes are blue foxes.

Yes Yes (as a blue fox) Male Lady Blue (TV) unnamed (books) Ranger, Bounder and multiple unnamed (TV) Ranger, Blaze and multiple unnamed (books) A Hero's Welcome (2x01) Reconciliation (2x13)
Lady Blue Scarface's mate and the mother of his cubs. Vixen had torn off her ear in a vicious fight. Yes (unnamed) Yes Female Scarface Ranger, Bounder and multiple unnamed (TV) Ranger, Blaze and multiple unnamed (books) A Hero's Welcome (2x01) Reconciliation (2x13)
Measley A lovesick weasel who fell in love with Weasel as soon as she

arrived at White Deer Park. When Scarface followed Weasel around everywhere he hid from the latter until Scarface died. Later he and Weasel went to look for a new home outside White Deer Park. Weasel had given birth to Fido and Cleo just as they left. They made friends with Rollo the dog and a piglet who has made his name up and they had trouble with wildcats and a wild boar, and later Measly decided to return to White Deer Park and get rid of the rats. He is frequently insulted by Weasel, who usually refers to him as "Measly Twerp".

No Yes Male Weasel Cleo and Fido A Hero's Welcome (2x01) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Speedy Conceited female heron who became Whistler's mate. Yes (unnamed) Yes Female Whistler Various unnamed chicks A Hero's Welcome (2x01) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Ranger Scarface and Lady Blue's son, later Charmer's mate. He didn't accept

the great feud between his family and the Farthing Wood animals.

Yes Yes Male Charmer Rusty and various unnamed cubs A Joke Backfires (2x05) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Bounder Another of Scarface and Lady Blue's cubs. Killed by Adder, who

mistook him for his father (this is because the weasel's had given her the wrong message) and as punishment for that, the real Scarface attacked Adder and bit her tail.

Yes (unnamed) Yes Male Unknown Unknown A Joke Backfires (2x05) Like Father, Like Son (2x08)
Hurkel A strange badger who befriends Mossy the mole. He tries to be kind to everyone. He only appeared in the TV series. No Yes Male Shadow Three unnamed cubs Comings and Goings (3x01) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Sinuous An adder who became Adder's mate. In the TV series the character is

male and he is ambushed by a gang of rats mistaking him for Adder and strangled to death by a very large town rat as punishment for trying to kill their leader. The character is female in the books and is bitten to death by many rats to avenge Brat's death.

Yes Yes Male (TV) female (books) Adder Various unnamed adders Comings and Goings (3x01) A Bigger Oink (3x09)
Trey A rude, bad-tempered stag who becomes leader of the deer herd after

The White Stag dies. He looks like the Great White Stag except that he has grey fur. He prevents anyone other than the deer herd from drinking the clean water and eating the juiciest grass. The other stags fought against Trey for leadership after Fox has a talk with him. During a hurricane a tree falls on top of him and pins him to the ground but he is rescued by Fox and the Great White Stag's grandson, and nursed back to health by the Warden along with Shadow. After this, he is no longer leader of the herd and his temper is improved and he also started to be nice to the Non-Deer. In the books, after being injured by the falling tree, he is taken away by the Warden and is never seen again.

Yes Yes Male N/A N/A Comings and Goings (3x01) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Laird The Great White Stag's grandson, who becomes leader of the herd

after Trey. He only appeared in the TV series, although the Great White Stag did have a different grandson in the books.

No Yes Male N/A N/A The Worst Kind of Hurricane (3x11) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Ginger Cat The Warden's pet cat, who befriends Badger when he is injured and

being cared for by the Warden. In the TV series, he is a grey-furred cat just called Cat. His real name was never mentioned.

Yes Yes (as Cat) Male N/A N/A Winter (2x02) Homeward Bound (3x12)
Bully The leader of the rats who attempted to take over the park. He hates

non-rats (which is what he calls anybody that isn't a rat). In the books' end Vixen killed him to avenge Toad's death and threw him over the boundary fence as a signal to all the other rats that the battle was won. In the end of the TV series Cleo bites his tail off, causing all the animals including the rats laughed at him. Afterwards he returned to the sewers. He isn't scared of anything expect weasels. In both endings all the other rats (not Spike in the TV series) left White Deer Park, back to where they were before they came to the park.

Yes Yes Male N/A N/A Comings and Goings (3x01) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Spike Bully's minion, who befriends Toad and eventually joins the Farthing

Wood animals in the TV series. The other rats were unaware of this until after they captured Toad. In the books he is a mean rat like the others and kills Mossy the mole.

Yes Yes Male N/A N/A Comings and Goings (3x01) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Brat A yellow rat who is Bully's right hand minion. In the book he is

killed by Sinuous, but in the TV series he lived and returned to the sewers (which is where Bully lives as well).

Yes Yes Male N/A N/A Comings and Goings (3x01) Scared by Silly Snakes (3x08)
Mateless (Mirthful) Kind mole who became Mole's mate and changed her name to Mirthful.she did not appear in season 3 with Mossy Yes Yes Female Mole Mossy and unnamed daughter (TV) Mossy and multiple unnamed (books) New Enemies (2x04) (as Mateless) Reconciliation (2x13) (as Mirthful)
Paddock Toad's mate whom he met when caught in a jar while his homing

instincts were drawing him back to Farthing Wood after his hibernation. Both were rescued by Whistler and he took them to the Warden so they could be freed.

Yes Yes Female Toad Various unnamed tadpoles Home is where the Heart is (2x06) Blood is Thicker Than Water (2x12)
Blaze Ranger's brother who tries to search for Adder after Scarface's death. He only appeared in the books. Yes No Male Unknown Unknown N/A N/A
Russet A female cousin of Ranger who becomes Friendly's mate. She only appeared in the books. Yes No Female Friendly Pace and multiple unnamed N/A N/A
Trip A male cousin of Ranger who often joins him in accompanying the Farthing Wood animals. He only appeared in the books. Yes No Male Unknown Unknown N/A N/A
Frond A female badger who moves into Badger's set and cares for him in his

old age, but they apparently do not become mates. She only appeared in the books. Her role in the third series is taken by Shadow, while Badger's is taken by Hurkel.

Yes No Female N/A N/A N/A N/A
The Beast A huge, vicious cat who terrorizes the inhabitants of White Deer

Park, before leaving to answer the mating call of a female giant cat. He only appeared in the books.

Yes No Male Another Giant Cat N/A N/A N/A
The Large Town Rat Bully's minion, a hulk-like rat who is good at killing other animals

and preventing them from entering the rat headquarters and killing Bully. He killed Sinuous (in the TV series) and many edible frogs. He is the largest rat in the plague of rats.

Yes Yes Male N/A N/A Out and About (3x02) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)

Offspring of the Farthing Wood animals[]

Animal name Description Books TV series Gender Mate Offspring First appearance Last appearance
Bold Fox and Vixen's son, born in White Deer Park. He received the name

because he had a sturdy build and liked to wander far afield. In the books he (instead of Friendly) shared the prejudice against the White Deer Park foxes. He left the park for the city during the TV series after his father was being hard on him, but is convinced by his mate Whisper to return to White Deer Park for the sake of their cubs. He died on his return and his parents arrived just in time to say goodbye. In the books, he left the park after the death of Scarface.

Yes Yes Male Whisper Plucky (TV), Husky and multiple unnamed (books) A Joke Backfires (2X05) Reconciliation (2x13)
Charmer Fox and Vixen's daughter, defies her parents to become Ranger's

mate. She received the name because she looked Charming on her birth.

Yes Yes Female Ranger Rusty and various unnamed cubs A Joke Backfires (2x05) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Friendly Fox and Vixen's son. He is loyal to his family and does his best to

keep on his father's good side. He received the name because he was smiling on his birth and he was very friendly throughout his life. In the TV series, he shares his father's prejudice against the White Deer Park foxes more than his siblings.

Yes Yes Male Russet Pace and Various unnamed cubs A Joke Backfires (2x05) Reconciliation (2x13)
Dreamer Fox and Vixen's daughter, who was killed as a cub by Scarface. She

received the name because she was sleeping peacefully at the point she was given that name.

Yes Yes Female None None A Joke Backfires (2x05) The Feud Begins (2x07)
Plucky Fox's great-grandson, the grandson of Bold and Whisper and the son

of Husky in the books. He is Bold's son and Fox's grandson in the TV series. In the TV series he became the leader of the Farthing Wood animals in the end.

Yes (as Husky's son) Yes (as Bold's son) Male N/A N/A Comings and Goings (3x01) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Mossy Mole's son, who pretended to be his father to save Badger from the

pain of his passing during his old age. He is killed by Spike in the books.

Yes Yes Male Unnamed female mole Various unnamed pups Home is where the Heart is (2x06) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Cleo Weasel and Measly's daughter. She was the White Deer Park hero

because she got rid of the rats. She and Fido only appeared in the TV series.

No Yes Female N/A N/A Out and About (3x02) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Fido Weasel and Measly's son. He and Cleo only appeared in the TV series. No Yes Male N/A N/A Out and About (3x02) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Leveret Son of the Farthing Wood hares. In the books, he goes on the journey

to White Deer Park with his parents and brother, who is killed by a stoat in the first winter. He made only a brief season 3 appearance.

Yes Yes Male Unnamed female hare Dash and Various unnamed leverets The Feud Begins (2x07) Reconciliation (2x13)
Dash Daughter of the Farthing Wood hares in the TV series. She often races against Plucky. In the books she is Leveret's daughter. Yes (as Leveret's Daughter) Yes (as the Hares' Daughter) Female N/A N/A The Feud Begins (2x07) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13)
Husky Son of Bold and Whisper, who becomes one of the victims of the Beast. He only appeared in the books. Yes No Male Unnamed Plucky and multiple unnamed N/A N/A
Pace Son of Friendly and Russet. He only appeared in the books. Yes No Male Unnamed female fox Various unnamed cubs N/A N/A
Rusty Son of Charmer and Ranger. He only appeared in the books. Yes No Male Unnamed female fox Various unnamed cubs N/A N/A

Other characters[]

Animal name Description Books TV series Gender Mate Offspring First appearance Last appearance Whisper A vixen; Bold's mate, whom he meets outside the park. She convinced Bold to return to White Deer Park when she was expecting his cub, but Bold perished on their arrival at White Deer Park. Yes Yes Female Bold Plucky (TV), Husky and multiple unnamed (books) Shadows (2x10) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13) Shadow Kind female badger who looked after Bold and became Hurkel's mate when she came to White Deer Park. She didn't come to White Deer Park in the books. Yes (though she never went to White Deer Park) Yes Female Hurkel (TV) unnamed (books) Three unnamed cubs Like Father, Like Son (2x08) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13) Rollo English Mastiff who befriends Bold and Whisper. In season 2 of the TV series he is a St. Bernard who befriends Bold and Whisper. In season 3 he is a sheepdog who becomes the weasel's weaseldog and eventually the Warden's pet. He didn't leave White Deer Park with the Warden because he wanted to be with his friends the weasels. Yes Yes Male N/A N/A Time of Reckoning (2x11) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13) Hollow/Holly Owl's mate, whom he/she meets at the former site of Farthing Wood. It took longer for them to get back to White Deer Park due to Owl getting her talons stuck in cement, even after breaking out and getting back to White Deer Park. He is a male in the TV series and a female in the books. Yes Yes Male (TV) female (books) Tawny Owl (Owl) Three unnamed owlets The Long Tailed Visitor (3x07) Bully, Bully, Bully (3x13) Robber A crow who looked after and befriended Bold. He is called Crow in the TV series. Yes Yes (as Crow) Male N/A N/A Like Father, Like Son (2x08) Reconciliation (2x13) Moth-Eaten Rook A rook who falls in love with Owl. He followed her back to the former site of Farthing Wood. He only appears in the TV series. No Yes Male Yes (unnamed) Yes (unnamed) Water, Water (3x03) Adventure for the Birds (3x06) I'll Never Be Sausages A friendly domestic orphan piglet whom the weasels met when they were searching for a new home outside White Deer Park. He made friends with Cleo and Fido until they went back to White Deer Park. He only appeared in the TV series. No Yes Male N/A N/A Scared By Silly Snakes (3x08) The Worst Kind of Hurricane (3x11)

Cast[]

  • Jeremy Barrett: Mr. Rabbit, Mole, Bold, Friendly, Hollow, Mossy, Measley, Mr. Shrew, and others.
  • Rupert Farley: Fox, Mr. Hare, Mr. Pheasant, Plucky, Trey, and others.
  • Jon Glover: Scarface, Ranger, The Warden, and others.
  • Sally Grace: Owl, Weasel, Charmer, and others.
  • Stacy Jefferson: Vixen, Adder, Kestrel, Mrs. Hare, Mrs. Rabbit, and others.
  • Pamela Keevilkral: Dash, Cleo, Fido, Speedy, Whisper, Mrs. Squirrel, Mrs. Hedgehog, and others.
  • Ron Moody: Badger, Toad, Whistler, Bully, Spike, Rollo, Mr. Hedgehog, Mr. Vole, Mr. Mouse, The Great White Stag, and others.
  • Maria Warburg: Whisper (Audiobook only)

Fox, the leader of the Animals of Farthing Wood, was voiced by Rupert Farley in the UK and Ireland version but in the US version he was played by Ralph Macchio.

In France, Germany, Italy, Norway and Sweden the cast included the following:

Character German Italian French Swedish Norwegian
Fox Stephan Schwartz Michele Gammino Bernard Tiphaine Totte Wallin Hallvard Lydvo
Vixen Uschi Wolff Pinella Dragani

Hildegun Riise
Badger Franz-Josef Steffens Bruno Alessandro Marc de Georgi Svante Thuresson Harald Mæle
Mole Ulli Philipp Fabrizio Vidale Serge Lhorca Michael B Tretow Åsleik Engmark
Owl Tilly Lauenstein Alina Moradei Maaïké Jansen
Liv Bernhoft Osa
Weasel Marion Martinzen
Laurence Badie Meta Roos Hildegun Riise
Whistler Donald Arthur Fabrizio Manfredi

S 1&2: Harald Mæle S3: Hallvard Lydvo
Toad Manfred Lehmann
Raoul Delfosse Bo Maniette Trond Brænne
Adder Karin Kernke
Évelyne Grandjean Christel Körner Unn Vibeke Hol
Kestrel Andrea Wildner Rossella Acerbo/Federica De Bortoli Mireille Audibert
Unn Vibeke Hol
Mr. Hare Horst Sachtleben


Hallvard Lydvo
Mr. Vole Walter von Hauff


Trond Brænne
Mr. Shrew Walter von Hauff



Mr. Fieldmouse Walter von Hauff



Mrs. Fieldmouse
Isa Di Marzio


Mr. Hedgehog Martin Semmelrogge Vittorio Stagni

Harald Mæle
Mr. Rabbit Michael Habeck


Åsleik Engmark
Baby Rabbit Sabine Bohlmann



Mr. Pheasant Thomas Reiner


Åsleik Engmark
Mrs. Pheasant Andrea Wildner


Unn Vibeke Hol
Mr. Squirrel Walter von Hauff



Mrs. Squirrel Monika John



Mr. Newt Oliver Stritzel



Mrs. Newt Karin Kernke



Baby Newt Sabine Bohlmann



Scarface Benno Hoffmann


Åsleik Engmark
Lady Blue Elisabeth Endriss


Liv Bernhoft Osa
Ranger Oliver Stritzel


S2: Harald Mæle S3: Ivar Nørve
Bounder Oliver Stritzel



Bully Otto Sander


Ivar Nørve
Brat Walter von Hauff



Great White Stag Roland Hemmo


Trond Brænne
Bold Udo Wachtveitl


Åsleik Engmark
Charmer Anja Jaenicke Stella Musy


Friendly Axel Malzacher


Trond Brænne
Dreamer Simone Weyrich



Plucky Pierre Peters Arnolds


Henrik Mestad
Speedy Kathrin Ackermann Georgia Lepore

Unn Vibeke Hol
Whisper Karin Kernke


S2: Hildegun Riise S3: Unn Vibeke Hol
Measly Pierre Franckh


Trond Brænne
Sinuous Franz Rudnick


Hallvard Lydvo
Dash Madeleine Stolze



Mossy Ulli Philipp


Henrik Mestad
Trey Jan Gebauer



Laird Peter Fricke



Spike Martin Semmelrogge


Henrik Mestad
Fido Alexander Brem


Henrik Mestad
Cleo Sabine Bohlmann



Warden's Cat Arne Elsholtz


Trond Brænne
Rollo Michael Gahr


Trond Brænne
Donkey Wichart von Roell


Hallvard Lydvo
Boar Stefan Orlac



Crow Tommi Piper


Harald Mæle
Shadow Angelika Bender


Liv Bernhoft Osa
Hurkel Helmut Ruge


Ivar Nørve
Bruno Benno Hoffmann



Large rat Helmut Krauss



Chief wild cat Ingeborg Lapsien



Tom, the cat Arne Elsholtz



Bats Kathrin Ackermann



Other crow Tommi Piper


Ivar Nørve
Young crows Tommi Piper



Shrike Benno Hoffmann



Piglet Andrea L'Arronge



Buzz Books[]

These are based upon the Characters in the Television series. Some parts had happened differently.

  • "Farewell to the Wood" (based upon The Wood in Danger)
  • "The Adventure Begins" (based upon The Journey Begins)
  • "Fire" (based upon Through the Fire and Water)
  • "A New Friend" (based upon Friend in Need)
  • "Heroes" (based upon Whistler's Quarry)
  • "The Silent Field" (based upon A Deathly Calm)
  • "The Storm Shelter" (based upon Pandemonium)
  • "Journey's End" (based upon So Near and Yet So Far)
  • "A New Home" (based upon A Hero's Welcome, Winter, and Survival)
  • "Badger in Danger" (based upon Winter, and Survival)
  • "Unwelcome Visitors" (based upon New Enemies)
  • "Spring Awakening" (based upon Home is Where the Heart Is)
  • "Bold" (based upon The Feud Begins)
  • "Trouble in the Park" (based upon Like Father, Like Son, Narrow Escapes, and Shadows)
  • "Showdown" (based upon Blood is Thicker Than Water)
  • "Peace" (based upon Reconciliation)
  • "Strangers in the Park" (based upon Comings and Goings)
  • "The Weasels' Adventure" (based upon The Missing Fox's Friend, Tiffs and Tempers, and The Long Tailed Visitor)
  • "To the Rescue" (based upon The Missing Fox's Friend', Adventure for the Birds,' and Scared by Silly Snakes)
  • "The Rat Spy" (based upon The Long Tailed Visitor and The Mole Game)
  • "What is Buzz Book 21 Called?" (based upon The Worst Kind of Hurricane, Homeward Bound, and Bully, Bully, Bully)

Broadcasts and releases[]

In France the programme is known as Les Animaux du Bois de Quat'sous ("The Animals of the Wood of Quat'sous"). It first aired on France 2 in 1994, and in Switzerland at the same time on TSR. It also aired in the following countries:

  • Belgium (BRTN and RTBF), as Beestenbos is Boos (for BRTN) and Les Animaux du Bois de Quat'Sous (for RTBF)
  • Bulgaria (Канал 1), as Животните от старата гора
  • Croatia (HRT), as Pustolovine Šumske Družine
  • Denmark (DR), as Dyrene Fra Lilleskoven
  • Finland (YLE), both in Finnish and Swedish, as Kaukametsän Pakolaiset and De Vilda Djurens Flykt respectively
  • Sweden (SVT), as above
  • Germany (ARD) and Austria (ORF), as Als die Tiere den Wald Verließen
  • Hungary (MTV), as A Gyűszűnyi Erdő Lakói
  • Ireland (RTE), both in English and Irish, the latter as Cairde Na Coille (The Woodland Friends or Friends of/from the Woods)
  • Italy (RAI), as Le avventure del bosco piccolo/Volpe, Tasso e compagnia
  • Netherlands (NOS), as Beestenbos is Boos and Het Wakkere Woud
  • Norway (NRK), as Flukta frå Dyreskogen (Season 1) and Dyra i Hjorteparken (Season 2 and 3) (in Nynorsk)
  • Poland (WOT), as Zwierzęta z Ginącego Lasu, later (Polsat), as Zwierzęta z Zielonego Lasu
  • Portugal (RTP2), as Animais do Bosque
  • Romania (TVR), as Animalele din pădurea lemnului
  • Scotland (BBC One Scotland, BBC Two Scotland) both in English and Gaelic, as Astar Mòr nam Beathaichean as part of Dè a-nis?
  • Spain (TVE), as Los Animales del Bosque
  • Turkey (TRT), as Gürültülü Ormanin Hayvanlari
  • United States (Syndication) and (Cartoon Network)
  • Canada (Télé-Québec) as Les Animaux du Bois de Quat'sous and (YTV) in English
  • Mexico (Canal 5) Aired European Spanish dub
  • Honduras (Canal 11) European Spanish Dub
  • Argentina (Magic Kids)
  • Chile (Canal 13)
  • Ecuador (Equavisa)
  • Bolivia (Bolivisión)
  • Japan (SATV), as ファージングウッドのなかまたち (Farthingwood no Nakamatachi)

It also aired in Brazil (TV Cultura, Os animais do bosque dos vinténs), featuring Élcio Sodré (Fox), Vanessa Alves (Vixen), Maximira Figueiredo (Owl), Francisco Bretas (Toad), Neuza Azevedo (Mole and Adder), Eudes Carvalho (Badger), Zaíra Zordan (Lady Blue) and Fábio Tomazine (Scarface). 26 episodes were also broadcast in Japan by Shizuoka Asahi Television. The series was broadcast by the ABC in Australia (8 May 1996 – 15 February 1999) where it also became popular.

Adventures of Fox[]

Comes last on the Greatest BBC Children's Video ever along with Fireman Sam, Pingu, Spider, William's Wish Wellingtons, Clangers, Nursery Rhyme Time, Noddy's Toyland Adventures, Funnybones, Hairy Jeremy and The Little Polar Bear. It has clips from the following episodes:

  • Beginning and end of The Wood in Danger (Loggers attack the Wood, Owl informed about the pond filled in, Assembly)
  • Beginning of The Journey Begins (Leaving the Wood)
  • End of Snare for the Unwary (Kestrel spots river, Animals cross River, Fox and Badger hit by driftwood)
  • Beginning of Who Shall Wear the Crown? (Badger found in reeds, Kestrel loses Fox, Animals move on)
  • Some beginning and Middle of New Friends, Old Enemies (Fox arrives at Town, Fox put onto truck, Fox meets Vixen)
  • Some parts of Friend in Need (parts with Hunting, Meeting Big Owl, Searching, Fox Hunt and the ending)

Merchandise[]

Apart from books and videos, there was also a Farthing Wood CD and in the mid-1990s, a 130-part magazine for children entitled "Farthing Wood Friends" was also developed. Audio tapes recapping the first two seasons were released, with the story being told to young fox cubs by several of the cast who would also debate the events and mimic some of the other characters.

There are also three TV tie-in books available, one to accompany each of the TV series:

The Animals of Farthing Wood links with Series 1.
The Further Adventures of The Animals of Farthing Wood links with Series 2.
The Animals of Farthing Wood – Spirit of Survival links with Series 3.

These follow the same storylines, but are presented in a comic-strip style.

Watered-down versions of episode storylines were also featured as a running story in 'Farthing Wood Friends', illustrated using photographic stills from the series. Between magazine coverages of second and third series episodes, abridgements of Colin Dann's original stories were used to fill the void, entitled 'Tales From Farthing Wood'. Another book adaptation of the running story employed for series one was released by Ted Smart Publishing, with illustrations by Stuart Trotter.

Episode stories were also abridged for Buzz Books, Reed Children's Books' range of storybooks based on popular children's characters. The Farthing Wood stories in this range started with five books to begin with, then steadily expanded to cover the remainder of series one and series two. Illustrations were produced by William Heinemann in favour of using stills from the series.

Hornby, known mainly for its model railways, produced collectable figurines of the series ensemble, released in batches or 'presentation packs'. They were as follows:

1st Series: Fox, Badger, Mole, Weasel, Toad & Owl

2nd Series: White Stag, Scarface, Kestrel, Adder, Whistler & Rabbit

3rd Series: Bully, Vixen, Plucky, Fido, Cleo, Rollo, Measly, Speedy, Hollow, Hurkel, Dash & Sinuous

The characters were also released in twin packs and later in the run, Hornby produced compatible play-scenes. Early in the run, almost simultaneous with the first series being shown in the UK, they released plush toys of Badger, Fox and Mole. Although these were rare finds in toyshops, they were the subject of a running promotion in 'Farthing Wood Friends', enabling readers to win them.

Despite the show being very popular, the series did not see any form of DVD release until 2009, with the episodes on VHS hard to find up to then (in particular the last two collections). However, there had been an increase in unofficial DVDs available on eBay.[citation needed]

Series 1 came out in France in February 2009.[2]

Series 1 was released in Germany on 25 September 2009,[3] Series 2 was released in Germany on 27 May 2011,[4] and Series 3 was released in Germany on 24 February 2012.[5] The German DVD releases offer both English and German audio options.

Differences between the books and the series[]

There are a number of differences between the books and the television series, most notably the changing of a number of characters from male to female. This included Adder, Weasel, Owl and Kestrel, who retained the markings of a male kestrel. Owl had also been known as Tawny Owl in the books. In addition to this, the books featured a family of lizards who became the newts of the television series. New characters like the Shrews, Hurkel and Measley were introduced. Plucky is also changed from being Bold's grandson to his son. There are females that are Males now. They are Sinuous, The Big Owl and Hollow. The Fieldmice are now known as the Mice. Holly is now known as Hollow.

Minor plot changes also exist, such as the order of the pheasant's deaths, the deaths of Badger and Moley, and the motives of certain characters. Scarface has a different reason for attacking the Farthing Animals and Bold leaves the Park after an argument with his father, rather than to find a mate as he does in the books. In contrast to Badger's death, Toad and Mossy survive the television series, the former befriending the rat who killed him in the books. The cause of Sinuous death was also changed. Of the rats, Brat originally returned to the sewers instead of being killed by Sinuous, while Bully had his tail bitten off by Cleo rather than being killed by Vixen.

Scarface and his tribe were rival red foxes in the books. His mate was not also named in the books and her personality is not so developed. Too many red foxes would have been confusing for viewers, so the animators made Scarface and his family distinguishable by making them "blue foxes" (actually "silver foxes", a species with a greyish coat which is normally found only in fur farmings). Speedy was also unnamed. There are also one-episode characters that didn't appear in the books such as The Red Squirrels, Stoat and Scragg the Rat who is killed on his one-time appearance.

The only main plotline that is left out of the series is the plot of The Siege of White Deer Park, in which the character known as 'The Beast' (a big wild cat) attacks the park causing further trouble for the animals' survival. The storyline of this book is presumably removed because of too much horror and peril themes and the sub-plots that occur in the book (such as Badger mistaking Mossy for Mole) are broken down into small plot changes in the other book storylines for the series.

Credits[]

  • Based on the Books by: Colin Dann
  • Written by: Alan Case, Steve Walker, Sue Butterworth, Jenny McDade, Gordon Harrison, Elphin Lloyd-Jones, Valerie Georgeson
  • Adapted by: Steve Walker
  • Music Composed by: Detlev Kuhne
  • Theme Music Composed and Arranged by: Dennis Cooper
  • Recorded by: WDR Orchestra, KRO Cologne
  • Directors: Elphin Lloyd-Jones, Philippe LeClerc
  • Assistant Director: Emile Bourget
  • Animation Director: Alan Simpson
  • Character Designs: Elphin Lloyd-Jones, Philippe LeClerc, Patrick Michel
  • Storyboard: Gordon Harrison, Jean Francois Laguionie, Claude Aufrere
  • Backgrounds: Ian Henderson, Richard Mithonard, Valerie Carmona
  • Layouts: Sue Butterworth, Gordon Harrison, Ted Pettengell, Trevor Ricketts, Patrick Michel, Gerard Kiszel, Christian Ragoust
  • Animation: Thomas Barker, Monica Brutton, Alison de Vere,

Andy Eraclerus, Christopher Evans, Joan Freestone, Tony Guy, Peter Hale, Arthur Humberstone, Simon Loxton, Fraser MacLean, Charlie MacRae, Janet Nunn, John Perkins, Mike Pocock, Paul Stone, Rosemary Welch, José Xavier

  • Key Animators: Chris Clarke, Gary Hender, Nathalie Biston, Marian

Brooks, Valerie Pouyanne, Jean Francois Galataud, Monica Moinar, Lea Movement

  • Assistant Animators: Philippe Archer, Jean-Yves Regnault, Laurence

Commeyras, Isabelle Pouyanne, Didier Chenu, Catherine Halvic, Muriel Chevallier, Sega Favre, Sylvia Bottiau, Sim Lignon

  • Trace & Paint: Audrey Hammond, Pat Arthy, Pete Arthy, Lynda

Marmont, Chris Jones, Ross Marks, Sharon Martin, Becky New, Vivienne Redmond, Jenni Steers, Dominique Lenoble, Clarie Dame, Nancy Rey, Frederic Jaubert, Suzy Kopp, Sophie Beltran, Brigitte Boursereau, Rodney Crofton, Carole Dorange, Nathalie Finiels, Cathy Gentric, Isabelle Landmann, Claire Larnelle, Cathy Rigall, Maria Stockman, Mireille Valentin

  • Checking: Ann Kotch, Janine Arthy, Isabelle Perrichon
  • Rostrum Camera: Chris Williams, Anthony Hagen, Jacques Armand, Yves Francon, Jean Paul Rossard
  • Software: Animo Cambridge Animation Systems
  • Production Supervisor: Jean-Paul Gaspari
  • Production Coordinator: Dominique Edmond-Marlette
  • Production Accountants: Helmut Breuer, Philippe Marteaux
  • Editing: Theresa Plummer-Andrews, John Daniels, Ken Morgan, Tom Oliver
  • Special Effects: Stephan Hartl, Malcolm Beattie
  • Picture Editor: Fiona Keene
  • Videotape Services: Video Time
  • Line Test Camera: Plaza Synchron
  • Dialogue Editor: John Daniels, Hilary Daniels, Hans-Peter Kaufman
  • Track Readers: Otto Sander, Ulli Philipp, Tilly Lauenstein, Martin

Semmelrogge, Helmut Ruge, Wichart V. Roell, Karin Kernke, Franz-Josef Steffens, Stephan Schwartz, Marion Martinzen, Manfred Lehmann, Peter Fricke, Benno Hoffmann, Thomas Reiner, Horst Sachtleben, Michael Habeck, Tommy Piper, Arne Elsholtz, Ingeborg Lapsien, Stefan Orlac

  • Associate Producer: Wolfgang Wegmann
  • Producer: John M. Mills
  • Production: Telemagination (London), Praxinos (Montpeller)
  • EBU Coordinator: Marie-Claire Vionnet
  • Executive Producers: Siegmund Grewenig, Theresa Plummer-Andrews
  • Film Laboratories: European Cineman, Television Year

TV Transmission & Repeats[]

Originally in the UK, first series episodes made its airing every Wednesday afternoon on Children's BBC (CBBC) from January 1993, with the week's episode being repeated on a Sunday morning.

Interestingly, series two was repeated twice on CBBC during 1994. Here, the schedule changed to Fridays, similarly with a Sunday repeat. When the entire series was repeated again in the autumn/winter of '94, the schedule was changed to Thursdays.

With series three, Thursdays became the norm, again with the Sunday morning repeat. Series one resurfaced on Wednesday afternoons during 1995 and again on Sunday mornings during 1997. Since then, it was regularly syndicated on the CBBC Channel, and on CBBC's Sunday morning 'Smile' programme, as was Noah's Island. The last known repeat of the series on terrestrial television was of series three, which was shown every weekday morning during October/November 2004.

The series was also repeated in Gaelic in Scotland, know as Astar Mòr nam Beathaichean and was shown on BBC One Scotland at lunchtime from January - April 1994, The series was also shown on Dè a-nis? on BBC Two Scotland shortly after.

The show was also repeated on cable and satellite channel Nickelodeon from January 1996 during its CBBC block presented by Otis the Aardvark which was originally shown during school hours along with the Nick Jr. block which launched in 1997. It was repeated on the channel for 4 years and was the only show to survive from the CBBC block after July 1999. The Animals of Farthing Wood returned to Nickelodeon on Monday 6 September 1999 on weekday mornings at 9.30am and from October 1999 through to January 2000, The repeats aired at early morning breakfast time at 6.00am. As of January 2000, The Animals of Farthing Wood no longer airs on Nickelodeon.

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