Farthing Wood

Farthing Wood was a forest area where the main characters of the story lived until its ultimate destruction by deforestation. It homed various creatues, such as a fox, rabbits, squirrels, hares, a badger, voles, toads, fieldmice, pheasants, a weasel and an adder.

The Oath of Mutual Protection

 * The oath plays a key role in the journey and in the series to follow. During the first assembly in Farthing Wood, an Oath of Common Safety exists to protect the smaller animals, particularly from Adder. This idea was, according to Fox, introduced by Badger's father. However, when the plan is made to journey to White Deer Park, the smaller animals, fearful that they will be eaten by carnivores such as Fox or Adder, request that this oath be re-sworn. Badger then names the new oath "The Oath of Mutual Protection" and all the animals swear it. Although this was originally all that kept animals such as Adder from eating smaller animals like the fieldmice, it is the oath that brings the animals together, to be replaced by friendship and loyalty. As a result, they agree to continue to respect the oath after arriving at White Deer Park.