Author Archives: Neil Frost

Another record-breaking litterpick for the OWLs. Eight enthusiastic volunteers, with the opportunity to welcome two new guys.

As always there was plenty to do and after the initial briefing – including, unusually, a request to sort drinks cans into separate rubbish sacks – we were off. Most of us are old hands at this and the new hands soon got the hang of things and were working effectively. Along the paths and into the various ‘hot spots’ with many yielding plenty of swag for us to collect. Our ‘permanent’ bags are being well-used, as is the bin we’ve placed on the footpath. Sadly some guys don’t seem to understand how to use a rubbish sack and throw their sexual debris into the bushes; potentially that’s more difficult than dropping their rubbish into the conveniently-place rubbish sacks. Do they do the same at home?! OWL believes that, as a facility used by a range of people, there is no need to piss others off by leaving used condoms, condom foils, lube sachets and so on all over the place. The recent cutting back of vegetation to expose (and ruin) several of the ‘hot spots’ seems to suggest that at least one ‘vigilante’ has taken it upon themselves to try to stop the horny action that goes on in the bushes.

Eventually it was time to take the ‘first half’ sacks back to the car park and enjoy a bit of friendly banter and some Covid-compliant refreshments.

Then on for more. We’ve noticed that some of the action has moved (maybe because of the cutting-back of vegetation?) nearer to Woodford New Road. We were on a mission to clear that area up.

There was plenty to deal with and two groups attacked the large amounts of litter – in newly-discovered ‘hot spots’ – with enthusiasm and efficiency!

We think it’s a lot better for everyone when it looks more like this – with only dappled sunlight on the ground:

To save us lugging sacks back to the car park our friends, the Forest Wardens, had agreed that we could leave some of the sacks near the traffic lights for them to collect.

Then a stroll back to base, taking in some of the other areas, including the nude sunbathing area.

And finally the task of sealing the remaining sacks and placing them by the road.

The final total, including two extra sacks collected by a volunteer when the rest had left, was 34 sacks of general litter and 26 of recyclable materials. That’s an amazing 60 sacks of litter which we think is a record-breaker. Since our April litterpick two of our lovely volunteers had also undertaken their own solo litterpicks, collecting a further 11 sacks. Giving a Grand Total of 71 sacks of litter over the last month.

Ten sacks of cans went off to be used in the creation of a piece of art! We’ll be pleased to see it in due course!

Although we always feel good when we collect record amounts of litter it would be better still if we didn’t have to!

If you think you might like to help keep the cruising area in a state that minimises the likelihood of complaints, feel free to join us at one of our litterpicks. We are a friendly group. Many of us cruise the woods. We welcome anyone with a bit of time to spare on the first Tuesday of each month. We publish details of forthcoming litterpicks on Squirt; dates of the rest of our OWL litterpicks for 2021 can be found by clicking here.

 (Please note, we respect everyone’s right to anonymity and only show pics of those willing to have them posted. No inferences should be drawn from anyone’s participation in an OWL litterpicking session)

Our first official OWL Litterpick of 2021. A great group of guys; good weather; good atmosphere; good banter.

We knew there would be plenty to do – although some of our OWLs had undertaken their own individual litterpicks in January and February (what some stars!) so there could have been even more litter to collect.

Experienced litterpickers, we knew what we had to do and got on with it. Some emptying and replacing the ‘permanent’ bags we’ve left in many of the hot spots

Others working through the woods collecting the range of litter we are used to finding.

We think cleaning the woods up – especially of the large amount of sexual debris – is worthwhile. But we also find it difficult to understand why litter has to be discarded, rather than put in the various rubbish sacks and bins that are available. Some places are pretty grim.

Is it any wonder that members of the public, often with kids who enjoy exploring the woods and the various paths and hidey-holes, get upset when they see so much offensive litter? Although we don’t approve of it, does it come as any surprise that someone has cut down much of the vegetation, presumably to spoil our fun by removing the bushes that used to hide a popular hot spot? If we don’t want more of this to happen surely we have to take some responsibility and not leave evidence of our fun there for all to see?! (Rant over!)

A good first half and time for some well-earned refreshments (all provided in a Covid-secure way, of course).

Then off for more. And guess what?! Another area that many of us like to use for nude sunbathing. But does it really have to be left like this?

Much better if it was left like this

We don’t want to be party-poopers. We want guys to be able to do what they want to do, enjoying horny fun. But without causing offence to others and risking complaints and the inevitable negative responses.

Our willing volunteers (yes, we do it for no reward apart from knowing that we’ve potentially helped make the woods a better place for everyone) did a brilliant job.

Thirty six sacks of rubbish collected today. And add forty six sacks that individual OWLs have already collected in 2021 – that’s a total of EIGHTY TWO sacks of litter, including a very large amount of condoms, condom foils, lube sachets, wipes, tissues, the odd vinyl glove, syringes, a bong, poppers bottles and so on.

 (Please note, we respect everyone’s right to anonymity and only show pics of those willing to have them posted. No inferences should be drawn from anyone’s participation in an OWL litterpicking session)

It was good for our OWLs to meet again, post-Lockdown, and to be prepared to take part in a litterpick despite the conditions not being the most favourable. Any excuse to have a fun time in the woods, eh?

This was not just any OWL Christmas Special Litterpick, this was a Birthday Special Litterpick for two of our group!

As usual we set off in our various directions, aiming to clear up as much litter as we could find. Although the recent bad weather might potentially have reduced the amount of cruising in the woods, maybe Lockdown had increased the motivation to get out and have fun!

It’s surprising who you find loitering (or anti-littering) in the woods!

The hot spots delivered their usual ‘treasure’ – condoms, condom foils, lube sachets, wipes and tissues. As well as the odd empty bottle of poppers, latex glove and kamagra sachet. Many of the paths were pretty free from litter

A substantial amount of litterpicking having been done it was time for our Festive Refreshments (who can resist a warm mince pie and a glass of mulled wine – all prepared under the most careful conditions). And it was time to toast our two Birthday Boys! Many Happy Returns (and not just to the woods!).

Then off for another round of litterpicking. Good to see that some of the rubbish sacks we’ve left in the hotspots are being so well used.

What a great way to spend some time in the woods!

And finally the sealing of the bags and display at the roadside – with, again, several people thanking us for what we are doing. Thirty-three sacks of rubbish in total; twenty of general rubbish and thirteen of recyclables.

It almost being Christmas we aren’t sure if Santa would approve of us filling so many sacks. Maybe, like so many other users of the woods, he’d like his sack emptied!

All credit to our OWLs for all of their work throughout the year. In 2020 the OWLs have collected over 350 sacks of litter from the woods.

For the rest of the winter the OWLs would usually hibernate. But given the amount of litter that we continue to find, we’ll be carrying on with our ‘First Tuesday of The Month’ litterpicks throughout 2021. All are welcome. Click here for the dates of OWL Litterpicks in 2021

 (Please note, we respect everyone’s right to anonymity and only show pics of those willing to have them posted. No inferences should be drawn from anyone’s participation in an OWL litterpicking session)

Like other guys who use the woods, we wanted to get one in before Lockdown. That ‘one’ being another OWL litterpick.

For good reasons some of our regulars couldn’t make it, but those who did were among the finest, and made a brilliant job of the task in hand – to rid the woods of litter, much of it offensive to other legitimate users of the woods.

Safety briefing over we headed off on our usual routes, clearing litter and emptying black sacks as we went on our merry way. We know the woods well (why wouldn’t we – many of us enjoy the facilities they have to offer!). There’s unlikely to be a ‘hot spot’ (for ‘hot spot’ read ‘shagging place’) we don’t know of and don’t visit.

We are used to finding a range of unusual or ‘wouldn’t expect to be there’ items. Today’s were more ‘wish they hadn’t been left there like that’ items. In an area many use to have their fun, lots of discarded syringes. Fair enough if that’s your thing. But leaving them used and uncapped, potentially able to stab animals and, worse still, horny guys? That’s not on.

After a good session filling our sacks (well, Christmas is on the way) it was time to bring them back to the car park and have a break and some refreshments. Socially-distanced, of course.

Then back to the task in hand and more visits to more hot spots. It’s surprising who you find in them.

One for the ecologists – this bramble in flower at this time of year? If only it was a sign that Spring was soon on its way!

More litter-picking, high and low.

And then the final return to the car park, stapling of the bags, and displaying of them at the roadside ready for them to be collected by the rubbish cart. Today’s haul – 29 sacks of assorted rubbish.

And just as we were finishing, nice to be complimented on our amazing work by some passers-by.

Our next, December, litterpick was to have been on 2^nd December – the last day of Lockdown. As long as any restrictions in place at the time don’t prevent it our Christmas Special (and Birthday Special for two of our regulars!) will be on Friday, 4^th December. All are welcome.

 (Please note, we respect everyone’s right to anonymity and only show pics of those willing to have them posted. No inferences should be drawn from anyone’s participation in an OWL litterpicking session)

The weather might have been forecast as gloomy and wet, but our brilliant volunteers weren’t going to be put off by that. Ten skilled guys turned up to what was going to be another highly productive litterpicking session.

With such a good number we had groups heading out in various directions both to pick up the litter on the paths and in the bushes, and also to empty the black sacks we leave in the many ‘hot spots’.

Well, when you are litterpicking it seems that a wheelie bin could be handy!

That gorse is growing up tall again!

Giving plenty of opportunities for playtime. Presumably the only thing missing from here is the Rock n Roll?!

Pleasingly much of the area didn’t have too much litter. Even the area around the Fuck Tree.

Time for refreshments and already our sacks were getting pretty full.

Then more of the same, with some going in deep and strong (to the woods, of course). But wherever we are, there’s always some litter to be found.

Finally back to base and the stapling and display of the bags ready for collection. Another superb effort, and all credit to each and every one of our volunteers. Fifty two sacks of litter left for collection beside the road. Four more for collection elsewhere. Ten more collected over the last two weeks by two of our volunteers working independently and twelve more collected by another volunteer not long after our last group litterpick. THAT’S SEVENTY EIGHT SACKS OF LITTER!

What a great achievement!

Our next OWL litterpick is on Tuesday, 3^rd November.

 (Please note, we respect everyone’s right to anonymity and only show pics of those willing to have them posted. No inferences should be drawn from anyone’s participation in an OWL litterpicking session)