Author Archives: Neil Frost

Nine OWLs ready for the 2025 Festive Litterpick! And the weather was far better than it had been yesterday!

Litterpickers and rubbish sacks distributed, and gloves for those who wanted them, groups and individuals set off to find whatever litter they could in the various parts of the cruising ground. After a bit of ‘pose for the camera’.

There was plenty of litter to be found on the ground and in the black sacks we’ve placed in the ‘busy’ areas. Given the recent weather it was no surprise that tissues and wet wipes were as expected – wet.

After a good session across all of the cruising ground we counted them back.

Our Festive Litterpick and therefore time for festive refreshments! We were spoiled. Warmed napkins, flavoursome mulled wine and a selection of very fine, warmed, mince pies. What’s not to like?!

After which the litter that had been collected – the equivalent of 20 of our regular-size sacks – was taken to the road ready for collection tomorrow.

Adding the 17 that our solo volunteers have collected in the last month gives us a total of 37 sacks. Exactly the same as last month. We’re keeping the forest clean for all to enjoy!

Please note that we respect everyone’s right to anonymity and only show pics of those willing to have them posted. There might have been more OWL volunteers taking part than are in the above pictures.

No inferences should be drawn from anyone’s participation in an OWL litterpicking session.

Another nice day to be out in the woods!

Just five of us. So rather than head off in groups as we usually do we all went solo. Meaning that we could cover much of the various areas used for cruising.

Someone has been out and about. Who didn’t believe him when he said he had exactly a foot…?

Maybe that bit of extra help wasn’t needed after all…?

And it seems things are getting a bit classy…

With a number of unusual items having been collected, as well of course as the usual sexual debris, bottles and cans, nearly all areas were covered and it was back to base for drinks and a friendly chat.

Then today’s haul taken to the road, ready for collection tomorrow by our friends the Forest Wardens. We reckon that we collected the equivalent of 21 of our regular size sacks, plus a kitchen cabinet door!

Adding the 16 that our solo volunteers have collected in the last month gives us a total of 37 sacks. We’re keeping the forest clean for all to enjoy!

Please note that we respect everyone’s right to anonymity and only show pics of those willing to have them posted. There might have been more OWL volunteers taking part than are in the above pictures.

No inferences should be drawn from anyone’s participation in an OWL litterpicking session.

Our band of loyal volunteers turned up on time and ready to get started on another OWL litterpick.

A nice day for it! Safety briefing over we set off.

Depending on how you define litter it’s interesting what we find!

Three teams of volunteers ranged far and wide across all of the cruising area. Although lots of the undergrowth has been cut back it’s good to see that there are areas that haven’t been and are still being well-used.

Oh dear – not that old “Sorry, not tonight, I’ve got a headache” excuse!!

After lots of hard work by all three teams it was time to bring all of the litter back to base.

Then time for well-earned refreshments and a chat.

Before taking today’s haul to the road for collection by our friendly Epping Forest colleagues.

In the last month our solo litterpickers have been dutifully out and about collecting the equivalent of 42 small sacks (what some stars!) and we reckon today we collected the equivalent of 19 small sacks. That gives a total this month of the equivalent of 61 small bags of litter.

                    Please note that we respect everyone’s right to anonymity and only show pics of those willing to have them posted. There might have been more OWL volunteers taking part than are in the above pictures.

No inferences should be drawn from anyone’s participation in an OWL litterpick.

A litterpick that started to the sounds of chainsaws coming from the woods. The continuation was underway of what is described as ‘Habitat Restoration’ (a programme fully documented elsewhere on our website) but which also has the effect of removing much of the useful cover of some of the paths and the removal of some useful private areas.

Our group of seven trusty volunteers headed out across the woods to collect whatever litter they could. We are used to it all. Bottles and cans of all descriptions. Sexual debris including condom and lube sachets, used condoms, tissues and wipes, the occasional vinyl glove.

After a considerable time collecting what was on the ground, in the bushes and in the rubbish sacks it was time to bring it all back. 

   Time for a catch-up and welcome refreshments. 

Then the tying of the sacks and carrying them to the road for our good friends, the Epping Forest Keepers, to collect the following morning. Today’s haul – the equivalent of 17 original-size rubbish sacks.

In the last month our solo litterpickers have been dutifully out and about collecting the equivalent of 32 original-size sacks. That gives a total this month of 49 bags of litter.

Please note that we respect everyone’s right to anonymity and only show pics of those willing to have them posted. There might have been more OWL volunteers taking part than are in the above pictures.

No inferences should be drawn from anyone’s participation in an OWL litterpicking session.

Another first Tuesday of the month. Another OWL group litterpick. Seven willing volunteers keen to remove unsightly and, offensive to some, litter.

Health and Safety briefing over our vounteers set off.

As well as empty bottles and cans, tissues, condom and lube foils and so on we also find other things – like this industrial-size Nitrous Oxide container.

Whatever was that doing in the woods? (of course we know what it had been doing!)

Our volunteers covered all parts of the cruising ground. 

It wasn’t all about litterpicking. We want to keep access open (!) and our hard working volunteer was out and about with his trimmer.

For ten years, at our own expense, we’ve positioned a bin in the woods at a place where many guys gather or walk through. It’s been well-used. We’ve recently been emptying it 3 times per week.

Sadly, someone has complained about the bin and Epping Forest personnel have removed it! We think that’s short-sighted as, without a bin, people are still going to leave rubbish. Our current OWL policy is that we won’t pick up litter left where our bin would have been. We hope the person who complained is pleased with the effect.

With such efficient volunteers we’d soon got the area clear of all litter – for now – and it was time to get back to base and enjoy a chat and some welcome refreshments. One of our volunteers had been up all night doing some baking!

Then the task of tying the sacks and putting them ready for collection beside the road. Today we’d collected the equivalent of 18 of our small-sized bags.

Our Solo OWLS have been doing a brilliant job, working on their own between litterpicks. In the last month they’d collected the equivalent of 51 small sacks. Amazing! That gives a total this month of 69 sacks of litter.

 Please note that we respect everyone’s right to anonymity and only show pics of those willing to have them posted. There might have been more OWL volunteers taking part than are in the above pictures.

No inferences should be drawn from anyone’s participation in an OWL litterpicking session.