A Heroes' Welcome

"A Heroes' Welcome"
The animals discussing the many problems they are facing
Episode Information
Series	2
Episode no.	1 (14 overall)
UK airdate	7 January 1994
Written by	Valerie Georgeson
Episode Chronology
Preceded by	So near and yet so far...
Succeeded by	Winter

A Heroes' Welcome is the first episode of the second series of The Animals of Farthing Wood. It was originally broadcast in the UK on 7 January 1994.

Plot

The Farthing Wood animals have just arrived at White Deer Park and are being welcomed by The Great White Stag. The Stag tells them that they can go where they want. However, while they are being welcomed, a sinister-looking blue fox with a scar on his face, watching them, mutters to his mate, "As long as it's not on my patch". Whistler soon becomes the mate of a rather bossy female heron called Speedy. Weasel is chased by a male weasel called Measley. The squirrels are driven away from the trees by some red squirrels and the smaller animals are frightened by the sinister looking fox, called Scarface. Badger and Mole meet Scarface's mate called Lady Blue, who tells them that they are trespassing and that this land belongs to the blue foxes. Meanwhile, Kestrel accidentally kills and eats Mrs Fieldmouse and the animals soon realize that it will be hard to maintain the oath without knowing which animals belong to Farthing Wood.

Adder eats one of the Edible Frogs, which angers Toad, but Owl points out that the oath cannot extended to non-Farthing Wood animals as they wouldn't be able to eat anything if it did. Weasel is confronted by Scarface but is able to escape. With so many problems, the animals turn to Fox as they aren't able to fit in with the others. Fox speaks to the Stag and he sets up an area of the park to be designated as Farthing land where the oath is still maintained. Scarface and Lady Blue express disgust over the Farthing animals being given their own land and they feel that the red foxes won't last long. Adder goes to sleep for the winter and the rest of the animals begin to prepare for the winter.

Trivia

• This episode marks the first appearance of Scarface, Lady Blue, Measley, Speedy and the Edible Frogs, the only appearance of the Red Squirrels, and the death of Mrs Fieldmouse.
• This is the only time a recap of more than one episode is made.
• The Great White Stag takes over the role of recapping the series.
• This is the only episode of Series 2 to not have narrative during the story.
• On "The Challenge of Winter" VHS, some scenes were cut.
  • Scarface sneaking up on Weasel.
  • Scarface and Lady Blue's last scene.
  • Toad looking for Adder.

Goofs

• Adder just goes into hibernation under a stone. In real life, adders hibernate much further under ground.