The Enid Blyton Society

number 6 wrote:I was talking to the Jane, the owner of Decoy Pond Farm, on Monday. She informed me that she remembers the closing titles being filmed at PARTRIDGE BUSH, a small insignificant clump of trees just off the B3054 road..

She sounds like she would be able to provide an excellent interview for the Journal too!

Absolutely, Pete! I was thinking along the same lines as you. If she contacts me with any additional info, etc, then I'll certainly forward it to have it included in the journal. However, I won't be pushing her to send me e-mails or bug her regarding anything, as I feel this would be wrong & very intrusive! She has been very generous with her time, so I can't complain.
I would also like to meet Mrs Travers who provided the carriages for Mystery Moor episode. Think that would be quite interesting in itself.

Thanks for the further information, Number 6 and Gary. If you're able to find out more I'd love to read a Journal article on the topic.

Gary Russell wrote:Adi, while you're down there, any chance you could nip along and take some photos please

If the weather is fine & good enough to take photos either Thurs or Fri, then I don't mind popping back over again. No problems. I go home on Saturday, so I've got two days to bag some pics. I'll try my best for you.
Is it just the closing titles area you want?

I did take some photos of the closing titles area on Monday, but it was so dull & overcast that they were very poor quality & you couldn't really see any of the details, so I deleted them.
The Heathland has obviously grown over the years, so it could be difficult for you to decipher the location with just photos alone. As I didn't have a still photo of the scene, I did find it a bit confusing.
I did manage some photos of DPF but, again, not brilliant due to the indifferent New Forest weather that we've had for nearly two weeks. It's been pretty poor at times, to say the least.

Gary Russell wrote:If Partridge Bush is, as memory serves, pretty close to DPF, then I'd say she's 100% spot on! I recall (back in 77, it may have gone now) there wax a Forestry Commission car park on the opposte side of the road, give or take a few yards.

I'd say that Partridge Bush is about 1.5 miles from DPF & a couple of hundred yards from the Pig Bush car park, which is on the same side of the B3054. However, Jane did mention that the production team vehicles were parked in this particular car park during the filming of one of the galloping scenes (the other(s) being along side the Heath at DPF driveway) & the end title sequence. I'm assuming they wouldn't have wanted to cart heavy equipment from there, so filming couldn't have been too far away from the car park.

I am absolutely convinced she's solved that final (for me) riddle. Huzzah for Jane!

Hurrah! At last! It's only taken nearly 40 years!

Jane was curious as to why I wanted to take photos of the F5 locations after so many years & why I was still so interested. My reply was simple. I loved the series, I loved the era & it was an important part of my life at that particular time. Plus, I was also taking photos just in case Gary Russell should require any to include in the book he's intending to write...(one day!) She loved the idea of the book & was quite thrilled by the prospect of it coming to fruition.
No pressure, Gary!!

number 6 wrote: No pressure, Gary!!

You can go off people, y'know...

You sure can!

Got a surviving pic of the end title area, which I didn't delete. It looks good, but I won't know for sure until I download my pics when I get home.

Just to be on the safe side I'll pop over to take some more pics on Friday.

Very interesting, Number 6. I'm enjoying your photos.

number 6 wrote:
Just to be on the safe side I'll pop over to take some more pics on Friday.

Good slave, keep it up...

Yes, Master Russell..!!

John Pickup wrote:Very interesting, Number 6. I'm enjoying your photos.

Thanks, John. The only pics I can actually upload on to the forum at the mo, are the ones I've taken with my I-pad, & that's not often due to the Internet connection in Swanage! It's enough to make you drink...so I'm off to the pub!

The info you got from the lady from Decoy Pond Farm, Number 6, is simply priceless! I guess you feel like someone from the series putting the pieces together in order to solve the mystery.
Since you plan to visit the place of the closing credits again tomorrow and you wrote you didn't have a photo still, here it is. Hope it helps a bit to compare:

Luke wrote: I guess you feel like someone from the series putting the pieces together in order to solve the mystery.

Yes, it feels like the pieces are falling into place, Luke! However, I won't get complacent, as these 'sure things' have an habit of blowing up in your face!

Thank you for posting the still photo, Luke! It'll certainly come in useful tomorrow. Now I've seen the pic, it does seem similar to a patch of heathland I saw on or close to Partridge Bush. Despite the growth of trees/heather, etc, I think I'm in or around the right area. I think if Gary was with me, then I'd be confident he'd be able to point out more or less the exact spot! Just hoping the weather is good enough to take some photos.