Author Archives: Neil Frost

Our first OWL litterpick of 2025. With the Habitat Restoration Project having done its nasty work there were less areas to visit, but nevertheless there’s still plenty of cruising going on in the areas that are left. Which is very good news. The bad news is that guys are still leaving lots of litter around. Which means that there’s a greater likelihood of complaints. Complaints can lead to ‘enforcement’.

But we OWLs are a positive, can do, group who value the opportunities that a good cruising area can offer. So, as usual, after a brief visit from an OWL generous enough to bring some refreshments, we set off cheerfully to clear the cruising area of sexual debris and other litter. Sometimes we litterpick alone. Often we work in twos and threes. Today we had four of us litterpicking. Two teams of two.

Although fewer areas to visit, there were still plenty of the cruising areas to cover.

 We took the opportunity to instal a number of rubbish sacks in ‘hot spots’ – nooks and crannies where guys go for some horny action. Hopefully these will be used for used condoms, sachets and wipes. And hopefully the twat(s) who has slashed and burned the sacks in the past, leaving piles of litter below where the sacks had been, will have got a life by now.

 A bit chilly, so we earned our warm mid-session refreshments. Our very kind OWL who couldn’t stay for the litterpick had dropped off some delicious, freshly-baked, sausage and vegetarian rolls. They went down well with hot drinks and other sweet goodies.

On to the other side of the car park after our break – the area between the car park and Eagle Pond where there’s plenty of vegetation to cruise in. Between us we collected quite a lot of litter there including the inevitable used condoms, condom and lube sachets and wipes. But at least it proved that there’s been some action there.

Then back to base to tie up the bags and place them at the roadside for collection by the Forest Warden refuse truck which calls by every day.

Today’s haul: the equivalent of 17 of our standard-size sacks. Added to the 24 equivalents collected by our three ‘solo’ litterpickers making a total of 41 sacks-worth.

 Another good haul.

 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 Annual Festive OWL litterpick.

Today’s litterpick was over some territory we’re not used to. The so-called ‘habitat restoration programme’ is underway with undergrowth having been removed and many of the Hot Spots having been completely destroyed.

One effect is that a lot of rubbish that had been deep in the bushes was now on the surface and ready to be removed by our talented OWLs.

A litter sack on a tree – the only evidence left of what used to be a very convenient, secluded, ‘hot spot’. (We called it the Leisure Centre as it was close to a Hot Spot we called The Gymn!)

If there’s litter ready to be picked then our OWLs will be onto it.

Having covered everywhere that was accessible, time for our Festive Refreshments. By tradition, and very welcome, mulled wine, a variety of Waitrose mince pies, and other festive goodies – a treat appreciated by all of the OWLs.

Then just time to tie the sacks and place them near the road ready for collection.

The equivalent of 16 of our regular litter sacks collected today. And in the last month 23 collected by our three solo Owls – giving a grand total of 39 for the month

 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.

Despite two of our regular volunteers not being able to be there, nevertheless, we had a good turnout. And the weather wasn’t too bad either.

This litterpick was typical of what we are used to. Several groups and individuals taking on different parts of the cruising area

Then back to base with our spoils.

Brought from a number of directions.

Always good to catch up over a cup of tea or coffee.

Finally a count-up of the sacks.

The equivalent of 17 of our standard-size bags. With a further, impressive, 41 sacks collected by our solo litterpickers in the last month that’s a total of 58 sacks this month. Thanks to everyone who takes part in OWL litterpicking. It makes a difference!

 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 threesome in the cruising area! But this activity involved litterpicking. And to be fair there were actually five OWLs involved in the session. After a chat with our friendly LGBTQ+ police liaison officer it was time to go into the woods. And soon our volunteers were hard at work.

As well as litterpicking one of the tasks was to replace the black sacks we place in many of the HotSpots. Quite a few guys drop their sexual debris in them when they’ve done the deed. (sadly, some go to the extra effort of throwing the same sort of stuff in the bushes).

Because the weather is getting worse, but significantly because a couple of our ‘solo’ OWL volunteers litterpick regularly, there was much less litter than we would usually collect.

Presumably someone was distracted as they finished and left without their umbrella?!

With practically every area having been covered by the three OWLs it was time for refreshments and a chat with one of our ‘soloists’.

A quick trip followed, to an area that might well become busier if the planned changes to the current cruising area take place.

Then the final bag-count. The equivalent of 15 of our regular-size sacks collected today.

When we add the 39 sacks collected by our ‘soloists’ that gives a total of 53 sacks of litter in the last month.

 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.