Julia Donaldson donates toy farm that inspired her books to Sussex children's hospice – after The Repair Shop transformation
Children's author Julia Donaldson stepped into the magical world of The Repair Shop barn this Christmas with a treasured toy that inspired some of her best-loved books.
She asked the team to transform her granny's toy farm so that she could donate it to Sussex children's hospice Chestnut Tree House, near her home in Steyning.
Julia said the hospice was 'a wonderful place' and she had often visited it to act out her stories with the children, and their brothers and sisters. Explaining her donation, she said: "It's really nice for them to have something to play with."
This is the 13th Christmas that Julia's books have been turned into animations for the BBC, and actor Rob Brydon has been a key voice in every one. He accompanied Julia to the barn and suggested the team make miniature versions of some of her most well-known characters - a Gruffalo, a snail, a whale, even a highway rat - for the farm.
When Julia raises a concern about making them small enough to fit the scale of the farm, Rob points out 'there's nothing that these people can't do'.
Furniture restorer Will Kirk and ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay take the lead on the farm repairs. Will, who says he is a huge fan of Julia's books, describes the farm as 'well loved'.
Julia said: "It was my granny's and this is what my sister Mary and I played with when we were little girls. Sometimes, some of the farm animals would escape through a gap in the fields. I think we had some zoo animals, too, so sometimes we would play exciting adventures, where one of the farm animals joined the zoo or one of the zoo animals invaded the farm.
"I think it probably was at the root of some of my books, books like What the Ladybird Heard, which is set on a farm. And now, this Christmas is The Scarecrow's Wedding animation, which Rob has a real star role, and that all takes place on a farm."
Rob explains that he plays Reginald Rake, 'an absolute cad who comes in and threatens the happiness of Betty and Harry'.
Julia tells the team that she would like to donate the restored farm, 'especially if there were some extra animals and fences as well'.
Will shapes new doorknobs to look like toadstools and makes new shutters for the windows, while Kirsten makes repairs to the rustic walls, paints the farm and does some interior decorating with new wallpaper.
Will tells Julia: "You have brought so much joy and imagination to so many children's lives, so it's quite nice for us to give something back to you."
When they unveil the farm to Julia, she says it is just like she remembers it and immediately starts playing with the characters, much to everyone's delight. Will points out that her stories all come down to the imagination and that ties in with the farm.
Kirsten says: "I hope that this will give the children at the hospice many hours of play."