Brambly Hedge

Brambly Hedge is a series of illustrated children's books by Jill Barklem, recounting the adventures of a community of mice who live together in the tranquil surroundings of the English countryside. The writer described Brambly Hedge as a loving and caring society. The tales involve conflict resolution within nature or exploration, and/or the adventures of working together to achieve a common goal. There are no unkind characters or predators.

The books, whose first titles were published in 1980, are written and illustrated by Barklem. The first four books follow the seasonal pattern of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Her later four books follow the mice's various adventures and activities.

Works
  • Spring Story (1980) – Wilfred Toadflax enjoys a picnic and a surprise for his birthday at Bluebell Bank.
  • Summer Story (1980) – The mice celebrate a special wedding, and everyone takes part in the preparations.
  • Autumn Story (1980) – Primrose Woodmouse wanders off and finds herself in uncharted territory. Will anyone ever find her as the storm rages?
  • Winter Story (1980) – The biggest snowstorm in years leaves just enough snow for a party in a palace made entirely out of ice.
  • The Secret Staircase (1983) – Primrose and Wilfred go up to the attic on their own to practice reciting the Mid-Winter Poem for an important performance.
  • The High Hills (1986) – Wilfred is determined to find some treasure in the hills above Brambly Hedge.
  • Sea Story (1990) – Dusty Dogwood, Poppy Eyebright, Primrose Woodmouse and Wilfred Toadflax set off down river to retrieve salt from the sea mice.
  • Poppy's Babies (1994) – A surprise comes to mother Poppy Eyebright on the babies' naming day.

The four seasons were originally released as individual volumes in a miniature format (17.6x14.6 cm / 5.7x6.9in). The next two, The Secret Staircase and The High Hills, were published as full-sized books (24x19.5 cm / 7.6x9.5in). The last two books, Sea Story and Poppy's Babies, were released in the miniature format (17.6x14.6 cm / 5.7x6.9in). Many later collections have all books in a larger format.

Partial Collections
  • The Brambly Hedge Treasury (1999) 1 volume containing The Secret Staircase, The High Hills and Introduction with select illustrations from the first four books (~A4 book size)
  • A Year in Brambly Hedge (2010) 4 book box set containing the seasonal first four books (5.75 x 2.01 x 6.93 inches)

Complete Collections
  • The Brambly Hedge Library (2000) 8 book box set (3.23 x 5.91 x 7.24 inches)
  • The Brambly Hedge Complete Collection (1999) 1 slipcased volume (1.2 x 8.9 x 11.5 inches)
  • Brambly Hedge: The Classic Collection (2018) 1 slipcased volume (Trimsize: 221x286mm / 8.7 x 11.26 inches)
  • The Complete Brambly Hedge (1999) 1 volume. Produced for The Book People Ltd/Ted Smart by HarperCollins (7.75 x 10 inches)
  • The Complete Brambly Hedge (1999, 2011, 2020...) 1 volume (7.75 x 10 inches)

HarperCollins publishes the Brambly Hedge books.

Audio - CDs and Audiobooks
  • The Brambly Hedge Collection (2005) 25th Anniversary. First four books and Audio CD
  • Year In Brambly Hedge (2014) performed by John Moffatt. First four books on audio CD
  • Audiobooks on iTunes

Books by other authors
  • Stories from Brambly Hedge: Wilfred to the Rescue (2005)[1][nb 1] writer: Alan MacDonald; illustrator: Lizzie Sanders
  • Stories from Brambly Hedge: Primrose in Charge (2006)[2][nb 1] writer: Alan MacDonald; illustrator: Lizzie Sanders

Development

Barklem spent five years on research before she started to write her stories about the mice of Brambly Hedge. Her interest in natural history and traditional rural customs and crafts has spilled over into these chronicles of hedgerow life. She lived with her husband and children near Epping Forest in England.

Merchandise

Since the 1980s, the Brambly Hedge characters have appeared on merchandise ranging from china to chocolate, stationery to pewter miniatures. Companies such as Royal Doulton, Hantel, Crummles and Border Fine Arts have all produced collectible pieces licensed from Brambly Hedge.

Adaptations

All eight books have been adapted into stop motion television specials, produced by HIT Entertainment. The first season of specials titled Seasons was animated by Cosgrove Hall Films while the second season titled Classics was animated by the then-newly formed HOT Animation.

"Winter Story" was first broadcast on Christmas Day 1996 on BBC1, while the specials made their U.S. debut on the Starz pay-cable network the following year.[3] The series features the voices of Neil Morrissey as Wilfred and Dusty, Alun Lewis as Mr Toadflax, June Whitfield as Mrs Apple, Noreen Kershaw as Mrs Toadflax, Jim Broadbent as Basil and Old Vole, Charlotte Coleman as Primrose and Poppy, Anton Rodgers as Lord Woodmouse, Robert Lindsay is the narrator and Rosemary Leach as Lady Daisy and Old Mrs Eyebright. The series also aired on CBeebies between 2002-2005.

In 2008, HiT Entertainment and Reader's Digest Video issued The Enchanted World of Brambly Hedge, a DVD compilation of the specials.

Episodes

The Seasons

  • Winter Story (25 December 1996)
  • Spring Story (31 March 1997)
  • Summer Story (11 June 1997)
  • Autumn Story (8 September 1997)

Classics

  • The Secret Staircase (26 December 1998)
  • The High Hills (2 April 1999)
  • Sea Story (29 December 1999)
  • Poppy's Babies (3 January 2000)

Notes
  1. Written by Alan MacDonald and illustrated by Lizzie Sanders.

References
  1. "Catalogue information for Wilfred to the Rescue". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  2. "Catalogue information for Primrose in Charge". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  3. O'Hare, Kate (6 April 1997). "Cable networks offer variety of shows for 'Kids and Family Week'". Buffalo News. Tribune Media Services. p. 24. Retrieved 17 April 2012. 'Brambly Hedge' (7 p.m. Wednesday, Starz): Author Jill Barklem's enchanting 1980 illustrations about the lives of a community of mice who live in Brambly Hedge comes to life.
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