Author Archives: Neil Frost

A fine day. A great group of guys. Plenty of litter to pick. What’s not to like?! (Answer: plenty of litter to pick is what’s not to like!). No one is doing the OWLs any favours by throwing their litter on the ground or in the vegetation. But it’s true that since we started litterpicking we’ve managed to avoid there being complaints about it – especially about sexual debris that many find offensive – so we are getting something right. And it is also true that many guys are using the bin and bags we put around the place, meaning that litter that might otherwise be chucked away gets bagged. And we collect it from the bags.

Of course, in these current times of extra concern we ensure that we are appropriately physically-distanced, sanitise our hands regularly and avoid sharing litterpickers.

Our party of eight got to work quickly. We wanted to clear up the nude sunbathing area before it got busy; we aim to avoid disturbing others doing what they are there for. The area was in a nasty mess. We soon took care of that.

On our way through we routinely empty the ‘permanent’ black sacks, separating the recyclable rubbish from the rest. Wipes are not recyclable. Nor do they rot. Just saying!

With OWLs in all parts of the woods it was somewhat surprising that nearly all made it back to the car park in time for some much-needed and cool refreshments. Someone had been a bit enthusiastic about chilling the drinking water; it was frozen; but the thought was there!

Already we had a good haul of filled sacks, but we soon ventured out for more.

We are not sure why some people rip the ‘permanent’ bags down. Maybe they think they detract from the natural environment? (Btw: condom foils, lube sachets, used condoms, bottles of poppers and wipes tend to detract from the natural environment).

The more experienced (wiser?) OWLs reckon we know the majority of the ‘hot spots’ where guys go if they want some time together in more private surroundings. But it’s always good to introduce our volunteers to places that they weren’t previously aware of. And which they then have the option of using should they want to!

Eventually the fun had to come to an end. Final task was to secure the bags and put them beside the road for later collection by our friendly forest warden. A total very close to our maximum – 54 sacks of rubbish of which 22 were recyclable items.

A credit to our loyal volunteers, who we hope we will see again next month. Hopefully along with others who think that what OWL does is worthwhile and worth supporting.

But wait! Did we say 54 sacks of rubbish? WRONG! Two of our trusty OWLs stayed on to do some more clearing up and added a further FIVE sacks, bringing our total haul for the day to a stonking (and in some cases stinking) 59 sacks of rubbish, 23 being of recyclable items. That’s the maximum amount the OWLs have ever collected. Another record-breaker! A brilliant effort! (although it has to be said that it would be good to have had much less work to do and far fewer sacks of litter to collect as a result of people using bins or taking their litter away with them). 

Our next OWL litterpick is on Tuesday, 1^st September.

 (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)

We’d planned to litterpick this year on the first Tuesday of every month from April onwards. Then Covid-19 came along. Lockdown, social-distancing and all that. So in the interests of everyone’s safety we cancelled a few work parties.

But wise OWLs can’t be locked down for ever and we felt that we needed to get back into the woods and do some clearing up of the inevitable sexual debris that would be there.

In fact it wasn’t anything like as bad as it could have been. Several valiant souls have been out litterpicking on their own – including one of our OWL group – and done a brilliant job.

Nevertheless, there was work to be done and following our posts on Squirt, along with messages to several others showing an interest, an amazing total of eleven guys turned up to litterpick. Brilliant!

A welcome, a description of the task in hand, a bit about health and safety and two teams were off in separate directions while another wise OWL flitted round the woods replacing the permanent bags we’ve installed in the hot spots.

There was plenty of litter to find and our newbies were soon up to speed and working well. Much of the litter is what we are used to. Bags, papers, cups, bottles and cans along the paths and in the more public areas. Used condoms, condom foils, lube sachets, wipes and tissues in the hotspots. The odd bottle of poppers. A latex glove. Not really sure what a tin of ‘weed’ sachets was doing in one of the hotspots?! Offering a new deal maybe?

Just over an hour’s intense litterpicking and it was time to regroup for refreshments. Not the full OWL selection due to Covid transmission issues but, following hand-sanitising, the free bottles of water and wrapped biscuits were appreciated.

Before, during and after the session it was good to have a much larger number of people than usual walking past and thanking us for what we are doing.

Time for a couple to leave us but most stayed for Round Two. More of the same but going further afield. It’s always good to introduce newcomers to hot spots they might not be aware of – even if under these circumstances the purpose is just to collect litter.

Corona was still around, of course!

Finally, the fun had to come to an end and the OWLs regrouped again to seal the bags and place them at the roadside. An amazing total number of bags, and an OWL record! FIFTY FIVE sacks of litter; thirty three of general rubbish and twenty two of recyclable rubbish.

HUGE thanks to everyone who came along and made a difference. We hope to see everyone (and more!) next month.

 (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)

With reports of litter building up, and despite the usual hibernation of the OWLs during January, February and March, today was yet another opportunity for some of the OWLs to meet and do an extra bit of cleaning up.

Pretty good weather, though it was definitely more suited to wellies than it was to slingbacks!

It’s not that we WANT to collect litter, it’s just that we reckon the place is much better for everyone if litter – especially litter that will be offensive to some –  isn’t strewn all over the place.

As well as the Epping Forest litter bin in the car park, and another bin we’ve placed in the woods, the OWLs have also put black sacks up in many of the hot spots, allowing easy and quick disposal of used condoms, condom foils, lube sachets and wipes. Many guys helpfully get rid of their litter in the sacks, others just throw it on the ground within a short distance of the rubbish sacks. We don’t understand why!

Working as a team the OWLs move through the woods collecting whatever litter they can spot. Usefully, recyclable rubbish is put in separate sacks.

There’s never a shortage of litter in the woods, but our volunteers are used to that.

It’s no problem picking up rubbish along the various trails.

Every OWL litterpick has its own unique flavour. Today’s litterpick seemed to feature Tropical Fruit condoms!

An interesting combo!

Working out in the fresh air means that, having worked for an hour or so, we are always ready to take a break for some refreshments and a bit of a laugh together.

Then it’s back to more of the same. The place looks so much better when it’s litter-free (well, we think so!)

Eventually time to return to base, staple the sacks up to prevent their contents being strewn across the road, and leave them ready for collection.

Another good day’s work. Thirteen sacks of mixed rubbish and nine of miscellaneous recyclables. RESULT!

Our 2020 series of litterpicks kicks off officially in April. If you’ve had some fun in the woods, or even if you haven’t (yet!) why not put something back by joining in a litterpick? Check the 2020 dates on our Dates of Picks page.

 (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 OWLs were supposed to be hibernating until April, but the thought of a build-up of litter over the winter months awoke three regulars who just couldn’t resist taking up their litter pickers and heading off to fill their sacks on a perfect day.

As well as the usual litter it’s interesting to see what items have been left in the woods.

                             Someone into bare?(feet)

              If one of your balls is this colour you need to get along to                                                      the clinic!

  And if one of your balls looks like this make sure no one kicks you (although maybe a header would be ok?!)

The usual technique for these experienced OWLs – moving through the woods picking up litter from the ground and the bushes and emptying the sacks we’ve left in many of the hot spots.

                                          Sack-emptying is a skill!

                           If the caps fits…?

            A Grinder, but not the Grindr many of us are used to!

The Ts and Cs of any OWL litterpick are that having worked hard so far we take a break for our own Ts and Cs – Teas and Coffees.

Then off to do some more litterpicking in the bushes before bringing it all back to base, stapling the sacks, and placing them at the roadside ready for collection.

Seven sacks of recyclable litter and seven of general rubbish – not bad.

(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)