The Animals of Farthing Wood

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The Animals of Farthing Wood is a series of children's books written by Colin Dann, which was turned into an afternoon animated series by the European Broadcasting Union between 1992 and 1995.

Contents

1 Books
2 Television series

2.1 Cast of TV series
2.2 Episodes

2.2.1 Series 1 (First aired January 1993)
2.2.2 Series 2 (First aired January 1994)
2.2.3 Series 3 (First aired September 1995)

3 List of characters

3.3 Characters who appear in the TV series
3.4 Characters who appear in the books only

4 Trivia
5 External link

Books

The books tell the story of a group of woodland animals whose home has been paved over by developers. They learn of a nature reserve, "White Deer Park", where they will be safe, and undertake to make the journey together. They form an oath, promising to protect one another and overcome their natural instincts until they reach their destination.

In total, eight Farthing Wood books were written between 1979 and 1994:

The Animals of Farthing Wood (1979)
In the Grip of Winter (1981)
Fox's Feud (1982)
Fox Cub Bold (1983)
The Siege of White Deer Park (1985)
In the Path of Storm (1989)
Battle for the Park (1992)
Farthing Wood - The Adventure Begins (1994)

The book, The Animals of Farthing Wood (1979) was originally published by John Goodchild Publishers in the first half of 1979 as two separate paperbacks, entitled Escape from Danger ISBN 0903445530 and The Way to White Deer Park ISBN 0903445557. They were only released in this separate form once, and have since been released as the single novel, The Animals of Farthing Wood. The only remaining clue to the once split nature of this first story is the way the book is split into chapters, but also into two parts, 'Escape from Danger', and 'Journey to White Deer Park'.

Television series

All of the books were dramatised in the animated series, apart from The Siege of White Deer Park, which was deemed too frightening for the target audience, and Farthing Wood - The Adventure Begins, a prequel to the earlier books.

Three seasons of the animated series were produced. The first two were seen by fans as among the best animated shows on TV at the time due to its complex and intriguing plot, and the dedicated patronage of philanthropist, Robin Stewart, but the third series was seen as a disappointment. Fans claimed this because of its inferior story and script as opposed to the first two series', but the change in animation also did not help. Unlike other children's series, 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 in the journey.

Cast of TV series

Jeremy Barrett: Possibly Male Rabbit,Mole,Male Shrew

Rupert Farley: Fox, Plucky, Trey, Bold, Hare

Jon Glover: Scarface, various other roles

Sally Grace: Owl, Weasel, Dreamer

Stacy Jefferson: Vixen(possibly Adder)

Pamela Keevilkral: Dash,Cleo

Ron Moody: Badger, Toad,Bully,Spike,Male Hedgehog,Male Vole,Male Mouse

Maria Warburg: Whisper (Season 2 audio tape only)

Apart from books and videos, there is also a Farthing Wood CD and in the mid-1990's an 130-part part work magazine for kids titled "Farthing Wood Friends" was also developed. 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 one. 'The Further Adventures of The Animals of Farthing Wood' links with series two. 'The Animals of Farthing Wood - Spirit of Survival' links with series three. These follow the same storylines, but are presented in a comic-strip style.

Episodes

See: List of Animals of Farthing Wood episodes

Series 1 (First aired January 1993)

The Wood In Danger
The Journey Begins
Through Fire And Through Water
False Haven
Snare For The Unwary
Who Shall Wear The Crown?
New Friends, Old Enemies
Friends In Need
Whistler's Quarry
Between Two Evils
A Deathly Calm
Pandemonium
So Near And Yet So Far

Series 2 (First aired January 1994)

A Heroes' Welcome
Winter
Survival
New Enemies
A Joke Backfires
Home Is Where The Heart Is
The Feud Begins
Like Father, Like Son
Narrow Escapes
Shadows
A Time Of Reckoning
Blood Is Thicker Than Water
Reconciliation

Series 3 (First aired September 1995)

Comings And Goings
Out And About
Water, Water
The Missing Fox's Friend
Tiffs And Tempers
Adventure For The Birds
The Long-Tailed Visitor
Scared Silly By Snakes
A Bigger Oink
The Mole Game
The Worst Kind Of Hurricane
Homeward Bound
Bully, Bully, Bully

List of characters

Characters who appear in the TV series

Fox - the leader of the animals of Farthing Wood
Vixen - Fox's mate who he met on the journey to White Deer Park
Bold - one of Fox & Vixen's cubs, born in White Deer Park
Whisper - Bold's mate, whom he meets outside the park.
Plucky - Bold and Whisper's son, born after his father's death.
Friendly - one of Fox & Vixen's cubs, born in White Deer Park
Charmer - one of Fox and Vixen's cubs, born in White Deer Park. In the second series, Charmer defies her parents to become Ranger's mate.
Ranger - one of Scarface and Lady Blue's cubs, later Charmer's mate.
Dreamer - one of Fox & Vixen's cubs, born in White Deer Park. Dreamer was killed as a cub; it is believed that Scarface killed dreamer, although there were no known witnesses. Scarface was eager to war with Fox, and Scarface's assumed murder of Dreamer started the Fox's Feud.

Badger - second-in-command on the journey, wise and gentle, but old. In the TV series, Badger dies of old age at the Park, whereas in the novels he survives to the end of the last book.
Owl - a pompous tawny owl who often scouted for the group.
Hollow - an owl that Owl met in Farthing Hurst.
Kestrel - a kindly kestrel who tended to scout for the group as they travelled.
Whistler - a heron the group picked up in a quarry on the way to White Deer Park. He was shot in the wing, so makes a whistling sound when he flies.
Speedy - Whistler's mate, who he met in White Deer Park
Mr. Pheasant - killed by a farmer early on in the journey
Mrs. Pheasant - killed by a farmer early on in the journey
Toad - he discovered White Deer Park and acted as guide on the journey
Paddock - Toad's mate, who he met in White Deer Park
Mole - a worm-greedy mole who often got lost along the journey. Best friend of the Badger.
Mateless - Mole's mate, who he met in White Deer Park
Mossy - Mole's son, although Mole did not live to see him grow up
Weasel - an annoying weasel who travelled with the group
Measley - a lovesick weasel who fell in love with Weasel as soon as she arrived at White Deer Park; eventually mated with her (did not appear in books).
Cleo - Weasel and Measly's daughter (did not appear in books)
Fido - Weasel and Measly's son (did not appear in books)
Adder - a viciously sarcastic and sharp-witted snake who travelled with the group, risking her life to save her travelling friends on more than one occasion
Sinuous - a male adder that Adder met in White Deer Park. Killed by the rats
Mr. Rabbit - a hypochondriac who travelled with the group and always claimed to be ill
Mrs. Rabbit - Mr Rabbit's long suffering wife
Mr. Hare - A brave hare, who saved all the mice on the journey
Mrs. Hare - Mr Hare's wife. Killed by Scarface
Dash
Mr. Vole - A sturdy mouse, thought he was the leader
Mrs. Vole - Mr Vole's mother
Mr. Fieldmouse - An complaining mouse
Mrs. Fieldmouse - Mr Fieldmouse's wife
Mr. Hedgehog - Died early on the trip
Mrs. Hedgehog - Mr Hedgehog's wife. Died early on the trip
Mr Newt - Died in a fire during episode 3
Mrs Newt - Mr Newt's mate, died in the same fire
Baby Newt - Offspring of Mr and Mrs Newt, died in the same fire as his parents

Scarface - An evil fox, with a scar on his eye. Died bye a bite of Adder
Lady Blue - Scarface's mate
Bounder - Scarface and Lady Blue's cub
Hurkel - a badger who lives in White Deer Park and befriends Mossy and tries to be kind to everyone.
Shadow - Looked after Bold and becomes Hurkel's mate when she comes to White Deer Park
Crow - a crow who looked after and befriended Bold.
Trey - Bad-tempered stag who took over when the Great White Stag died, but is replaced by said stag's grandson.
Laird - The Great White Stag's grandson, who becomes leader of the herd.
Bully - Leader of the Rats.
Spike - Bully's minion, who befriends Toad and joins the Farthing Wood animals.
Brat - Bully's minion.
Leveret: Offspring of the original Farthing Wood hares.

Characters who appear in the books only

Frond: A young female badger who acts as a kind of nurse to Badger, although she does not become his mate.
Holly: In the books, Owl is male, so Holly acts as a female equivalent of Hollow.
Russet: Ranger's cousin, and later Friendly's mate.
Rusty: Rusty's parentage is never specified, but as he is described as "Friendly's nephew", so presumably he is one of Ranger and Charmer's cubs. Killed by the rats.

Trivia

Some of the characters sounded like real comedians, in particular comedians from other BBC shows. Badger sounded like Ballard Berkeley, Owl sounded like Joan Sanderson, Toad sounded like Patrick Allen and Kestrel sounded like Una Stubbs.
Fox, the leader of the Animals of Farthing Wood, was voiced by Rupert Farley in the UK version but in the U.S. version he was played by Ralph Macchio.
The episodes were made in both England and France.
Adder, Weasel and Owl were male in the books but female in the TV series

External link

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