The Voles (Farthing Wood)

The Voles were two fictional characters from the Colin Dann series The Animals of Farthing Wood

Life On The Journey

Mr. Vole was most infamous for his role as the boss of the Fieldmice and Shrews. He would consistently demand respect for the smaller animals.

When crossing the road, Mother Vole has to be rescued by Badger because Vole goes back to try and help a Fieldmouse whose tail is stuck under a car.

In the episode "So Near And Yet So Far", the Voles, along with one of the Shrews and one of the Fieldmice, become separated from the group and are nearly killed by a lawn mower. Kestrel finds them, but it is Adder who encourages them to move. Despite Adder's apparent death in their sake, they are uncaring, and when Kestrel tells them to hurry up, Vole once again expresses his discontent with the larger animals. Once again, Adder steps in to hurry them up.

Mother Vole, though deaf, often expressed her opinion. It is she who sums up all the animals feelings as they approach White Deer Park, when talking to her son: "Your dreams will never be the dreams of an ordinary vole. Never again. Your dreams will be different till the day you die and so will mine, for I'm proud to be a Farthing Wood traveller. And as for that oath we made, well, we'll keep it among ourselves and amongst our children's children, so that the spirit of this journey will be kept alive forever." ("So Near And Yet So Far")

White Deer Park

Although many of the Farthing Wood animals attempt to make friends with the residents of the Park, the Voles are against such "fraternizing". They are the first to come into contact with Scarface, and despite Mr Vole's constant insistence on the journey that the smaller animals should stand up for themselves, he immediately goes running for Fox. He is quick to insist that the Animals of Farthing Wood have to stick together and that Fox should continue to act as leader.

Vole continues to lead the rodents and decides that they should all build their nests close to Fox, even though they are already on Farthing land. However, once winter has set in the Voles and Mr Fieldmouse are more wary of Fox, who is starving. One Vole is seen eating the hay brought by the White Stag.

Mother Vole met her untimely death at the hands of Scarface. When Mr Vole and Mr Fieldmouse hide from Fox, Mother Vole stays out in the open. As a result, Fox is accused of killing her by Mr Vole and Mr Fieldmouse. Vole himself approaches Fox and makes him swear by the Oath that he had not done it. He then refuses to believe Fox, but it soon convinced by Weasel. Mr Vole is also present in welcoming Badger back from the Warden's house. This is his last appearance (apart from a possible mistake when he appears at the celebrations after Fox's triumph over the poachers) and it is later revealed Mr Vole has perished over the winter.