Brambly Hedge

Brambly Hedge is a series of illustrated children's books by Jill Barklem, recounting the adventures of a community of self-sufficient mice who live together in the tranquil surroundings of the English countryside. The books, whose first titles were published in 1980, are written and illustrated by Barklem. The first four books follow a seasonal pattern of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Her latter four follow the adventures of The Secret Staircase, The High Hills, Sea Story and Poppy’s Babies. Sprout aired the series 2005-2007.

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 lives with her husband and children near Epping Forest in England.

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. This merchandise is in demand by Brambly Hedge collectors all around the world and some pieces are worth a substantial amount of money.

All eight books have been adapted into stop motion television specials, the first four by Cosgrove Hall Films "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. 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.

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