26 February 1989 (1989-02-26) – 24 May 1992 (1992-05-24)
Forever Green is a television programme originally broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom from 26 February 1989 to 24 May 1992. It was made for London Weekend Television by Picture Partnership Productions, now named Carnival Films.
Plot
Jack, a former racing driver, and Harriet Boult, a nurse, live in a London flat with their two children, Frederica (Freddy) and Tom. Freddy suffers from asthma, which Harriet believes could be due to the city pollution, and after a serious attack begins to think leaving the city could be the best treatment available. Soon after, a letter arrives advising Harriet of an inheritance from one of her old patients, a run-down house in the country. It only takes one visit to persuade them to move.
The 18 episodes contain plots dealing with their adapting to life in the country and touches on environmental themes, alternative healing and alternative lifestyle choices.
Freddy's asthma is getting worse and Harriet suspects city life might be the cause. A lucky inheritance makes an escape to the country a possibility but can they really just go?
2
2
"Episode 2"
David Giles
Terence Brady, Charlotte Bingham
5 March 1989 (1989-03-05)
The Boult family is upset by the rural pastime of badger baiting. Freddy has a severe attack of asthma. But what can they do? Jack realises there's a way he can settle the score - using his skills at the wheel of a car.
3
3
"Episode 3"
David Giles
Terence Brady, Charlotte Bingham
12 March 1989 (1989-03-12)
Jack comes across some horse rustlers and Freddy is hit by a new asthma attack, the Boults also discover more about Hilly. Maybe she is sitting on some hidden assets which could be worth a lot of money.
4
4
"Episode 4"
David Giles
Terence Brady, Charlotte Bingham
19 March 1989 (1989-03-19)
Jack is late home after a hippy convoy blocks the local roads. Harriet and Hilly find the travelling life attractive and discover some secrets in Jack's past.
5
5
"Episode 5"
David Giles
Terence Brady, Charlotte Bingham
26 March 1989 (1989-03-26)
The Boult family is struck with headaches and ulcers. Only Freddy seems immune.
6
6
"Episode 6"
David Giles
Terence Brady, Charlotte Bingham
2 April 1989 (1989-04-02)
A day trip to London for Harriet, Freddy and Tom serves to reinforce the joys of Meadows Green Farm. But Hilly's musical talents bring a twist of fate to Freddy's apparent return to health.
Freddy is studying for her GCSEs, Harriet hopes to qualify for Shiatsu massage and Jack has his own test.
8
2
"Episode 2"
Sarah Hellings
Douglas Watkinson
15 March 1992 (1992-03-15)
Hilly and her animals invade the Boults' house, but their arrival coincides with a pair of barn owls who are brought to nest in a nearby barn. Suddenly, the place seems overcrowded.
9
3
"Episode 3"
Sarah Hellings
Douglas Watkinson
22 March 1992 (1992-03-22)
Freddy decides to find out what has caused the local river to be unable to support much wildlife anymore.
10
4
"Episode 4"
Sarah Hellings
Douglas Watkinson
29 March 1992 (1992-03-29)
Lady Pat organises a walk to keep local footpaths open.
11
5
"Episode 5"
Sarah Hellings
Douglas Watkinson
5 April 1992 (1992-04-05)
Jack and Harriet are at odds over plans to convert a barn into flats.
12
6
"Episode 6"
Sarah Hellings
Douglas Watkinson
12 April 1992 (1992-04-12)
Freddy and Hilly get to show their riding skills at the Oaksey races.
Freddy's local history project uncovers a mystery surrounding the ownership of Meadows Green Farm.
14
8
"Episode 8"
Christopher King
Douglas Watkinson
26 April 1992 (1992-04-26)
The Boults find a skeleton in their garden, a poltergeist in their house, and Freddy discovers a talent for automatic writing.
15
9
"Episode 9"
Christopher King
Douglas Watkinson, Jeremy Paul
3 May 1992 (1992-05-03)
Jack and Harriet are tempted to move to Wales, while Freddy discovers that Lord Corwen plans to hold a hare coursing meet.
16
10
"Episode 10"
Christopher King
Douglas Watkinson
10 May 1992 (1992-05-10)
A mysterious Polish stranger and a majestic rogue stag arrive on Lady Broughall's estate.
17
11
"Episode 11"
Christopher King
Douglas Watkinson
17 May 1992 (1992-05-17)
Harriet's reluctance to talk about her deceased father is challenged when Ellen, his companion in his final years, turns up.
18
12
"Episode 12"
Christopher King
Douglas Watkinson
24 May 1992 (1992-05-24)
Ted needs a new barn and Freddy has an idea about how to build one. But someone is determined to burn it down. And is there room for a fox hunter and a fox enthusiast in the same family?
Production
The Boult family's country home, Meadows Green Farm, is sometimes said to have been in the Cotswolds, though place names mentioned in the series point to it being further south in Somerset. For example, the fictional address of Geoff Bate's Handcross Garage is Handcross, Somerset, and Shepton is mentioned frequently, presumably a reference to Shepton Mallet. The exact location of the house is at Tunley, two miles southeast of Bisley, near Sapperton, Gloucestershire.
A scene in the first episode of series two was filmed at Furze Platt Senior School in Berkshire.
Also, Wincanton, in Somerset, is mentioned in the third episode. The horse rustlers were caught the other side of Wincanton, more evidence to suggest it was filmed in Somerset.
Originally filmed as three series, broadcast of the second series was delayed by coverage of the Gulf War and series 2 and 3 were shown as a continuous twelve-episode second series in 1992.[1]
The series was originally conceived and written by Terence Brady and Charlotte Bingham for LWTV and Picture Partnerships. Brady and Bingham then wrote the entire first series, but due to a serious dispute with the producers they then withdrew from the subsequent series and requested their names be removed from the credits. They did, however, retain format and copyright in the series and characters.[citation needed]
Home video and DVD
Forever Green: The Complete First Series DVD as released by Network.
The first series of Forever Green was originally released on VHS via Castle Vision, in a set containing two video tapes,[3] before receiving a DVD release in 2006 from Granada Ventures. No further releases were made by these distribution companies.
Network acquired the rights for home distribution and the first series again made available in 2009, with the addition of the first-ever release of the second series, and a complete series set in 2010.
