Farthing Wood is being destroyed by humans with their chainsaws and bulldozers. To make make matters worse for the
animals who live there, a drought has dried up the stream. So when Kestrel brings the news that the pond has been filled in,
it is the final straw. Badger calls a meeting of all the animals, to discuss their fate. During the meeting, their long
lost friend Toad turns up, over a year since he went missing from the pond. Toad explains that he was captured by humans,
but escaped. After learning that his beloved pond has been filled in, Toad suggests that they travel to a nature reserve called
White Deer Park, which he found on his journey home. Having found no other solution to their dire problems, the other animals
agree to be guided by Toad to White Deer Park. Fox is elected to be the leader of the party and that night, after taking an
oath to protect each other, the animals say goodbye to Farthing Wood, as their long journey begins.
Right from the start, the journey is full of mishap. While taking a drink from a swimming pool, Fox has to rescue Adder
after Weasel drops her in the water. Then Adder and Toad both have narrow escapes when the animals have to cross a road. Even
worse danger lays ahead as a fire breaks out while the animals are crossing some marsh land. Fox has to fight his instinct
to run, and goes back to rescue exhausted Toad from the flames. Mole is also missing during the fire, but is rescued by a
firefighter. The animals fear for the fate of the Newts, who had previously decided to start a new life in the marsh, and
were possibly now dead.
Sheltering in a barn during a storm proves to be a fatal mistake, when Mrs Pheasant is shot by the farmer. The animals
are trapped in the barn, but manage to dig an escape tunnel. Once in the safety of a nearby copse, the animals realise that
Adder (who had been keeping the farm dog quiet during the escape) has been left behind. Mr Pheasant volunteers to go back
for Adder, but ends up suffering the same fate as his poor wife. After Owl goes to get Adder, the animals are finally reunited.
Mole has to rescue one of the baby rabbits from a snare. Crossing a wide river ends in disaster when the rabbits panic and
cause Badger and Fox to be swept over a weir. The animals manage to rescue Badger, but Fox is missing presumed drowned.
With Badger taking over as leader, the downheartened band of animals continue their journey, but face more problems when
Toad's homing instinct begins to drag him back towards Farthing Wood. Owl and Kestrel have to step in to help Toad guide
the way. When the mice have babies, which holds up the group , Vole insists the mice and voles stay behind, but tragedy
strikes when the baby mice are attacked and killed by a shrike (also known as 'the butcher bird'). Meanwhile Fox is alive
and well. On the way back to find his friends, Fox meets the beautiful Vixen, who he immediately falls in love with.
On the trail of the other animals, Fox and Vixen find themselves caught up in a fox hunt. Fox makes it safely back to
his friends, but Vixen is still in deadly danger. Just as Vixen is about to be killed by the hunt leader, Adder bites the
leg of his horse, causing it to rear up. Vixen is safe and agrees to be Fox's mate. The animals have a much needed rest in
an abandoned quarry, where they meet a friendly heron called Whistler. Whistler decides to join the other animals in the hope
of finding a mate at White Deer Park. One of the baby rabbits is sadly killed when he wanders out into a pheasant shoot.
Next, the animals have to face their most dangerous challenge yet - a busy motorway, which had only been under construction
when Toad had crossed it before. Largely thanks to Whistler carrying most of the smaller animals across in his beak, most
of the band get across safely, but the poor hedgehogs stand no chance, and lose their lives bravely trying to cross the final
half of the motorway. Saddened by the loss of the hedgehogs, the animals find themselves crossing fields of poisoned cabbages.
Hunting in a nearby town for food, Fox has a narrow escape when he is chased across a railway line by two big dogs.
The animals are crossing through the town on the last stage of their journey, when a big storm breaks. They manage to find
shelter in a church, but the next morning find themselves trapped when a wedding party of humans arrive. In the panic to escape
the church, the animals run in all directions becomming seperated. Badger and Weasel take refuge in a pub cellar,
where Weasel gets drunk after drinking from a barrel. Fox has to rescue the rabbits from a trench on a building site. Finally
reunited, the animals finish their journey and arrive at the boundry of White Deer Park, where the Great White Stag,
king of the park is waiting to welcome them to their new home.
EPISODES
1. The Wood In Danger
2. The Journey Begins
3. Through Fire & Through Water
4. False Haven
5. Snares For The Unwary
6. Who Shall Wear The Crown?
7. New Friends, Old Enemies
8. Friends In Need
9. Whistler's Quarry
10. Between Two Evils
11. A Deathly Hush
12. Pandemonium
13. So Near & Yet So Far
