Author Archives: Neil Frost

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)

OWL’s Christmas Special Litterpick. This year attended by just the three original OWLs! Plus a friendly Masters student who had come to find out what we were all about. Great to meet her and good to get some lovely positive, objective, feedback both about OWL and about our website. She seemed to enjoy being with us and we appreciated her help.

The Safety Briefing first and then off on our well-rehearsed route through the cruising ground, picking up litter on our way to the various Hot Spots and the rubbish sacks we’ve left there to make it easy for guys to dispose of their sexual debris considerately.

It was a good day to be out in the woods!

Nothing like as much litter as we are used to, thankfully. Maybe because there’s a new Epping Forest warden who is litter-picking in that area and certainly because the weather has reduced the amount of activity taking place (but don’t let that put you off – there are plenty of guys still visiting, both daytime, evening and night till late!). Festive headgear was a must!

Not sure what head-banging action must have shaken these off…!

With a lighter load we were able to return to the car park for some excellent festive refreshments. A selection of warm mince pies, mulled wine, hot drinks. What’s not to like?!

Onward for the second half of the litterpicking session and evidence of the variety of activities and customs that take place deep in the woods!

Some areas were still more littered than others, increasing our sack-count considerably.

One of our lowest hauls ever! Just 9 sacksfull – 6 of rubbish and 3 of recylable bottles and cans (well, whatever else is being swallowed by the guys there it isn’t cold drinks at this time of year!)

Hopefully the owner of this Debit card, found on our walk through the woods, has cancelled it. But if they want it back, or want us to cut it up, they can email us at our usual email address: owlsnaresbrook@gmail.com.

That’s it for the OWLs in 2019. Another successful year. In total an amazing 299 sacks of rubbish collected this year. That’s a lot of offensive litter that won’t be drawing negative comments or getting official complaints from other users of the area. And a benefit to the wildlife too!

(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)