Diesel and Electric

Above the peaceful Walthamstow Marshes, a hungry kestrel eyes its prey while two young field mice, Diesel and Electric, play innocently below. Venturing out from their family nest within the railway embankment, the duo finds danger swooping down upon them. As the kestrel descends, allies from the marsh emerge: a vigilant rabbit and brave sparrow leader, Brown Wrist, rally to protect the young mice. Diesel and Electric is a tale of unexpected friendships and nature’s camaraderie unveiling amidst a thrilling struggle for survival in the heart of the marshland.

Mike Knowles started the 1977 campaign to save the Walthamstow Marshes in East London. 88 acres of ancient fenland within four miles of St Paul’s in the city, threatened by plans to drain and dig them up for gravel extraction. Rushes, sedges, marsh, grasses, swallows and at least 300 native marsh plants, and bird and animal life such as field mice. The campaign did not just succeed but in 1985 the marshes were declared a site of special scientific interest.