Rocky Hollow facts for kids

Rocky Hollow was a fun children's television series that first aired in 1983. It was made in Wales using a special technique called stop motion animation. This is where objects are moved tiny bits at a time and photographed. When played fast, it looks like they are moving on their own!

The show was narrated by Peter Sallis. You might know his voice better as Wallace from the famous Wallace and Gromit cartoons. Rocky Hollow was the very first children's show made by a company called Bumper Films for S4C, a Welsh TV channel. This company later created other popular shows like Fireman Sam.

About Rocky Hollow

Rocky Hollow first appeared in Welsh in 1983 under the name Deri Deg. The Welsh version finished in 1984. Later, the English version was shown across the United Kingdom. It appeared on The Children's Channel in 1985 and ITV in 1989. It was also shown on Channel 4 in 1996. The series finished its run in 1986.

The show also traveled to other countries! It was shown in Ireland on RTÉ One in 1991 and RTÉ2 in 1992. In New Zealand, viewers could watch it on TVNZ 1.

Most of the episodes were released on video tapes (VHS) in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, the show has never been officially released on DVD.

Meet the Characters

The world of Rocky Hollow is home to several interesting characters. Each one has a unique personality and role in the community.

• Mr Oak - He is the oldest and wisest person in Rocky Hollow. Mr Oak wears a yellow shirt and a big brown hat. He often helps everyone stay on the right path with his good advice.
• Acorn - This young boy is Mr Oak's nephew. Acorn wears a blue tank top and a baseball cap. He loves skateboarding and sometimes plays mischievous tricks on others.
• Sycamore - A tall and thin young man who is good friends with Acorn. Sycamore wears white gym clothes and a long red scarf. He often helps Mr Oak with tasks. He can be a bit clumsy and trips over his scarf, but he is always very friendly.
• Miss Myrtle - A lady with blonde hair who always looks her best in a purple dress. Miss Myrtle loves to be well-dressed and enjoys organizing fun picnics for everyone.
• Conker - He is the handyman of Rocky Hollow. Conker has red facial hair and a large red nose, and he wears overalls. He is great at fixing all sorts of things, like clocks, chairs, and boxes.
• Rosie Woodpigeon - A female pigeon who works as the post deliverer. Rosie wears a post hat and yellow rain boots. She delivers letters all over Rocky Hollow and often stops for a cup of tea.

Episodes to Watch

There are 26 episodes of Rocky Hollow. Here are some of the first ones:

1. "The Picnic" – First shown in Welsh in 1983, then in English in 1985.
2. "Spring Cleaning" – First shown in Welsh in 1983, then in English in 1985.
3. "Keep Fit" – First shown in Welsh in 1983, then in English in 1985.
4. "Ghosts" – First shown in Welsh in 1983, then in English in 1985.
5. "The Post Bag" – First shown in Welsh in 1983, then in English in 1985.
6. "Treasure" – First shown in Welsh in 1983, then in English in 1985.
7. "The Operation" – First shown in Welsh in 1983, then in English in 1985.
8. "The Birthday Party" – First shown in Welsh in 1983, then in English in 1985.

Behind the Scenes

Many talented people worked to bring Rocky Hollow to life.

• Story: Bill Clout, Nona Hooper
• Told by: Peter Sallis
• Music: Ian Frampton, Nigel Hess
• Sound: John Cross
• Editor: Richard Bradley
• Puppets: Ian Frampton
• Director: John Walker
• Made by Bumper Films Ltd for S4C–Channel 4 Wales