Pogles' Wood

Pogles' Wood is an animated British Children's television series produced by Smallfilms between 1966 and 1967 and screened by the BBC between 1966 and 1968 as part of the Watch with Mother series. The Pogles were tiny country folk who lived in a tree. The four principal characters were Mr Pogle, Mrs Pogle, their 'son' Pippin and a squirrel-like creature, Tog, who was Pippin's playmate. The 32 episodes were shot in stop-frame animation in Peter Firmin's barn or shed.

First series - "The Pogles"

The first series featuring Mr and Mrs Pogle was called simply 'The Pogles' and was broadcast in 1965.

This first series which set the scene for the later Pogles Wood - six episodes of ten minutes each - told the story of how the Magic Plant came to live with Mr. and Mrs. Pogle.... and also revealed the truth about Pippin's identity as the foundling son of the King of the Fairies.

Episodes

• The Magic Bean
• A Silver Crown
• Pogle Go Home!
• A Flower For Wishes
• The Singing Bird
• King of The Fairies.

Later series - "Pogles' Wood"

However, the story centred on a very dark and evil old shape-changing Witch, and was so scary that after broadcasting the series only once - the BBC declared it "too frightening" and asked if Oliver Postgate could make a further series about more everyday countryside matters. These were called Pogles Wood, and the first series centred on a view of farm and countryside life through the eyes of Pippin, Tog and the Pogles. The second series had a stronger storytelling element, where Pippin and Tog would often find an item, bring it back to the storytelling plant, who would bring it to life (possibly a precursor of the later Bagpuss).

Episodes

Series 1 (April 1966-June 1966):

• Grains of Wheat
• Milk From The Dairy
• Honey Bees
• Sheep's Wool
• Eggs For Breakfast
• Trains
• Pig-In-The-Middle
• The Secret House
• Noisy Engines
• Badgers and Bears
• Tree Farming
• Cake Crumbs
• Keep Clear of The Water

Series 2 (October 1967- January 1968):

• Woodwinds
• Strong Music
• A Little House
• Bears In The Wood
• Bricks
• A Paper Tiger
• The Princess and The Jewel
• Flowers
• Kings and Queens
• Clocks
• Woodwork
• Roundabouts
• Umbrellas

Annuals and reissues

The Adventures of Pippin and Tog was a popular children's annual book in the 1970s.

All of the episodes of The Pogles and Pogles' Wood survive.^[1][2] Episodes of Pogles Wood, selected by its creators, were released on DVD by the Dragons Friendly Society in 2006.^[3] A final collection of 14 episodes was released in November 2015 as "Pogles' End", again by the Dragons' Friendly Society. All episodes of both "The Pogles" and "Pogles' Wood" are therefore now available.

Production staff

Writer

• Oliver Postgate

Puppets and Pictures

• Peter Firmin

Voices

• Olwen Griffiths – Mrs Pogle and Pippin
• Steve Woodman – Plant and Tog
• Oliver Postgate – Pogle, The Witch, King of the Fairies, Hedgepig, Fairies

Music

• Vernon Elliott, the British bassoonist

References

External links

• Official Pogles' Wood website
• Publishers of Pogles Wood on DVD and CD Rom
• British Film Institute Screen Online