Author Archives: Neil Frost

A great group of guys for our November OWL litterpick, nine in all, including a visitor from SMUT Press.

Following the Introductions and Health and Safety briefings two groups got underway. One heading East (no sign of a star!) and one heading West.

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

There’s always plenty to do.

Our loyal volunteers know just where to go to collect every last bit of litter, whether in one of our rubbish sacks or on the ground.

If the old adage about the amount of berries indicating the severity of the forthcoming winter is true, this winter is going to be harsh.

After a good hour of litterpicking it was time to return to base with the first haul of sacks.

Time to enjoy a break and some delicious home-cooked goodies.

Then back out for more for some. It’s not unusual to hear the comment: “this one’s about a foot!”

Some volunteers went far from base to collect from an area that always provides lots of litter.

Then finally back to base with the sacks tied up and placed on the road for collection tomorrow morning.

The equivalent of 22 of our usual-size sacks collected today. Plus, during the last month, the equivalent of 34 sacks collected by our OWL solo litterpickers, making an impressive total for the last month of 56 sacks.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

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.

It’s always good to be in the woods with other guys and today was no exception. Fine weather and guys who were up for it. (Litterpicking, that is). And good to be able to welcome a new OWL who had come along to take part.

The Health and Safety briefing over, two groups were soon underway. One group heading to the woods between the Snaresbrook Road car park and Eagle Pond. The other group heading to the woods between the car park and Woodford New Road.

We were all quickly down to work

We get used to the variety of things we find. Who wouldn’t expect to find a bass speaker cabinet in the woods?!

One of our team reckons, with them having been banned, this could be the last ever piece of single-use plastic cutlery we find….

Talking of unusual finds, what about these? Had someone thrown their (sex) toys out of the pram?! We really should have included something in the pic to give a sense of scale! Believe us, that is one LARGE dildo! Several said they’d give use of that a wide berth. Another commented that it would create one! 

Much of the woods having been rid of general litter and much offensive litter, and with an extra rubbish sack installed in one place and another removed in another place, it was time to meet up again and enjoy friendly chat, banter and refreshments.

Then, for most of us, off again to do more of the same but in different places.

 With practically all of the woods having been cleared, as well as the stretch along the road and the area near the school, it was time to regroup, tie the bags and leave them ready for collection.

The total bag-count for todays session? The equivalent of 27 standard sized rubbish sacks. Adding 32 collected over the last month by our three ‘solo’ litterpickers gives a monthly total of 59 sacks, much of which heads off for re-cycling. (Not the dildo! That’s being saved for a special occasion!)

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 month; another OWL litterpick. Six willing volunteers were ready to clean up the woods and make them better for all users.

As usual we set off in teams, our tasks being to empty the various rubbish sacks we’ve placed in the many ‘hot spots’; to clear up the rubbish around them (SO unnecessary when there’s a sack so close); and to remove the litter from the paths and tracks.

There’s never a shortage of litter to be collected.

It’s great that in the sunbathing areas generally guys use the rubbish sacks we’ve placed there. Makes it better for everyone. Nevertheless, the sacks still need to be emptied.

If guys are cruising in the woods they are probably after cock. Here are two found in the woods:

With plenty of work done refreshments are always appreciated. Especially when there are home-cooked delights!

More rubbish, including lots of sexual debris, still to be collected so on we went.

Those of a nervous disposition should beware. It might have seemed like a scene from Chainsaw Masacre. In fact it was a friendly OWL ensuring that brambles, nettles and gorse along the paths is trimmed back. No one wants scratches or stings on their sensitive parts.

Our OWL volunteers had covered a lot of ground on this litterpick. Including clearing up two areas of flytipping; one lot seemed to be kitchen items and the other was bedroom items (but not THAT sort of bedroom item)!

The total bag-count for todays session was the equivalent of 32 standard sized rubbish sacks. Adding 39 collected over the last month by our ‘solo’ litterpickers gives a monthly total of 71 sacks. At least much of it heads off for re-cycling.

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.

A bumper litterpick with eight OWLs  ready to get into the woods and clean up the litter – making the place better for all users.

Luckily it was a pleasant, sunny, day and the ground conditions weren’t bad considering the recent rain.

Off our volunteers went, visiting and emptying our black sacks in ‘hot spots’. Somewhat annoyingly having to pick up sexual debris from the ground and the bushes that hadn’t made its way into the sacks (why do guys chuck stuff away when it’s often easier to put it in a black sack?). And, of course, using the opportunity to pick up all other litter enroute.

Our volunteers weren’t alone!

The young fox that sometimes scares cruisers at night when it strolls confidently past decided it might like to join in!

With much work done it was time for the mid-session break. Always appreciated and today with extra goodies added to the menu.

Onwards to do more, ensuring that the cruising areas are about as clear of litter as they’ve ever been.

A bit of a ‘gleaners’ theme to things today. Fungi were sprouting everywhere like magic. Who doesn’t like a mushroom head?! (btw – we know these are not mushrooms and should not be eaten).

It was reported that there were some sightings of things that were plump and juicy! And so were these blackberries.

The whole area having been given a brilliant, comprehensive, clean up it was time to get back to base and put the filled sacks beside the road ready for collection.

Another excellent amount of work done by our OWL volunteers and another impressive haul. The equivalent of 21 of our standard-sized sacks. With another 32 having been collected by our solo litterpickers that’s a total of 53 this 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.

Great to have three OWLs returning after a while away, meaning that we had seven volunteers in total for today’s litterpick. All experienced litterpickers. All skilled and knowledgeable.

With a plan of how we would approach things we set off in various directions.

Visiting the various hot spots where action takes place, emptying rubbish sacks and picking up the used condoms, condom foils, lube sachets and many, many tissues.

Funny the things you find in the woods!

An impressive amount of rubbish collected on the first sweep which covered much of the cruising area. Time to get back to base for a break and some refreshments. Jammy Dodgers and fresh coffee included.

Then back to work and on to areas we sometimes don’t manage to get to.

Those areas dealt with it was time to meet up again.

And head back to base to tie and count the sacks and put them beside the road for collection.

We reckon that we collected the equivalent of 30 of our usual-size sacks today (30 s.b.e for those who understand the jargon!). Our solo litterpickers had collected 39 sacks-full in the last month, giving a total of 69 standard-size sacks of rubbish. What a haul!

We are used to inconsiderate litterers. Nevertheless it’s annoying when litter is chucked on the ground when it would be easier to put it in a rubbish sack. Guys could help us so much if they:

• Took their litter away with them.
• Put litter in sacks rather than chucking it on the ground or in the bushes.
• Crushed cans and plastic bottles so they take up much less room.

Just saying…..!

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)