Information presented in this article requires clearer citation. The origin of some of the following information is unclear and may be speculative, inaccurate and/or non-canonical.
The Sandleford hlessil overlooking their new home. From left to right: Fiver, Hazel, Blackberry, Dandelion, Bigwig, Captain Holly, Silver, and Pipkin.
The Watership Down Warren is the magnificent place that Fiver envisions in the beginning of the adaptations, where Hazel, Fiver, Pipkin, Bigwig, Hawkbit, Dandelion, Blackberry, Silver, Acorn, Speedwell, and Buckthorn settle after leaving Sandleford Warren.
It is located under a beech tree on the hill of the same name. After it was founded, Hazel and his friends went out to find does to reproduce so that they can build their new warren. They traveled to Efrafa to liberate does from there, but the Efrafans followed them back to the Down and started the Battle of Watership Down. Watership Down won the battle. Afterwards, Captain Campion took control of Efrafa, and they and Watership Down became close allies.
History[]
Book[]
There was a small burrow already present, but Hazel's rabbits had to expand it in order to make the warren livable. On Blackberry's advice, they decided to dig despite being bucks, who do not traditionally dig warrens.
Film[]
The warren was already made but was empty, allowing the rabbits to settle right in.
In the film, Buckthorn, Acorn, Speedwell, and Bluebell don't appear, and Captain Holly joins Hazel's group of hlessil before they reach the Down.
TV series[]
Watership Down in the TV series.
The same as the books and film, the warren was made already but was empty and less spacious.
The bucks Bigwig, Dandelion, and Hawkbit refuse to help Blackberry (who was re-imagined as a doe in the animated adaption) dig, since bucks traditionally don't dig. But after several events surrounding their first few days staying at the Down, the bucks lost to a game of bobstones, and they helped dig the warren.
Under the warren there were caverns leading into the heart of Efrafa, however it eventually collapsed in the third season. Also in said season the warren was seen to have many burrows and many tunnels, with the Honeycomb being spacious enough to fit several different kinds of animals.
Miniseries[]
In the miniseries, Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, Hawkbit, Dandelion, Blackberry, Bluebell, and Strawberry find Watership Down Warren and settle there. Despite their best attempts at digging the bucks fail to dig and deny trying further but Strawberry ends up making Dandelion and Hawkbit help digging later on, however they only manage to dig a tunnel while Strawberry digs the entire warren out.
Unlike the other adaptations, the only burrows in Watership Down Warren shown are the Honeycomb and back burrow that hid the members of Watership Down while Bigwig and General Woundwort fought.
Members[]
- Hazel (Chief)
- Fiver
- Bigwig
- Blackberry
- Dandelion
- Hawkbit (in book and TV series)
- Strawberry
- Pipkin (in book, film, and TV series)
- Silver (in book and film)
- Buckthorn (book only)
- Speedwell (book only)
- Acorn (book only)
- Holly
- Bluebell (in book and miniseries)
- Clover
- Boxwood (book only)
- Haystack (book only)
- Hyzenthlay
- Primrose (TV series only)
- Blackavar
- Thethuthinnang (in book and miniseries)
- Vilthuril (book only)
- Flesca (book only)
- Spartina (TV series only)
- Threar (book only; born at Watership Down)
- Scabious (book only; born at Watership Down)
- Groundsel (temporarily, book only)
- Coltsfoot (book only)
- Thistle (book only)
- Campion (in book and TV series)
- Snowdrop (TV series only; born at Watership Down)
- Mallow (TV series only; born at Watership Down)
- Gilia (TV series only; born at Watership Down)
- Periwinkle (TV series only; born at Watership down)
- Unnamed kits (books, TV series, miniseries)
- Melsa (book only; born at Watership Down)
- Quiens (book only)
- Nyreem (book only)
- Sandwort (book only; born at Watership Down)
- Crowfoot (book only; born at Watership Down)
- Foxglove (book only; born at Watership Down)
- Crowla (book only; born at Watership Down)
- Tindra (book only; born at Watership Down)
- Woodruff (book only; born at Watership Down)
- Peerton (book only; born at Watership Down)
- Rithla (temporarily, book only; born at Watership Down)
- Lemista (book only; born at Watership Down)