Author Archives: Neil Frost

It was good to be able to welcome two new OWLs to today’s OWL litterpick. They soon adopted the essential skills of litterpicking, showing impressive understanding and a determination to do the job well.

Safety briefing first, then off to work we go. Two teams heading off to deal with different areas of the cruising ground.

Someone had removed our black sacks from the Nude Sunbathing Area and rodents had been chewing at another of our black sacks. Replacements were needed.

There’s always plenty of litter to collect – although thankfully much of it was in our black sacks. Not in this area, though, which has clearly seen plenty of action. Much better once cleaned up.

With so much hard work being done it was only fair to take a break for refreshments. Which, like today, generally involve a friendly chat and some interesting information being shared.

Then off to do more of the same but in different places. Some were interested to discover how much territory this cruising ground covers. It’s extensive.

With several hours of hard work being put in, and with the majority of the area having been covered, time to return to base and place our haul ready for collection. The equivalent of 20 of our regular-size sacks of rubbish today.

And our solo litterpickers have been busy in the last month, out on their own, collecting litter and emptying sacks and bins so that they didn’t overflow. Huge thanks to them for the valuable work they have done. Between them they’ve collected about 48 sacks of litter.

Giving a grand total for this month of 68 sacks of litter. Not surprising for the month of August – but so much could so easily have been taken away rather then relying on the OWLs to remove it.

A note for regular OWL Litterpick attendees. Our October litterpick is, as usual, on the first Tuesday of the month – 4^th October. The November Litterpick will be on 8^th November (NOT the first Tuesday) with our Christmas Special Litterpick on 6^th December.

(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)

Just four OWLs at today’s litterpick but this was a Parliament (parliament = the collective name for a group of owls) that did far more work than other parliaments we know of!

All experienced OWL litterpickers. All knowing what to do and where to go. So we just got on with it.

These sacks are emptied several times per week. We SO wish someone wouldn’t shit in one of them! (how do they do it?!)

The Explosion in a Kleenex Factory has moved!

Careful scanning to find every last piece of litter

Of course, time for  break and some well-earned refreshments.

Then back to more work. Funny the things we find!

Another good haul.

The equivalent of 27 of our regular sacks. Plus a stunning 49 by three solo litterpickers who visit at other times. That’s a total of 76 sacks of litter this 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)

Covid has got to three of the OWLs! They all seem to be recovering but our July litterpick was cancelled – we think that is the first time that we’ve ever cancelled a monthly litterpick! Damn!

But that hasn’t stopped individual OWLs getting out there and doing their solo things.

This is the sort of thing we find

No excuse really when there’s a rubbish sack so close, like here

But we cheerfully clear up the area, empty the sack, and move on.

Eventually getting our individual hauls to the road where our friends the Forest Keepers will come along and collect the rubbish and take it off to the recycling centre.

We reckon that between us in this last month our individual OWLs have collected, in total, the equivalent of 46 sacks of litter.

And what a difference that makes.

Four loyal OWLs pitched up for the monthly OWL litterpick, ready and willing to clean up the mess that some of our fellow cruisers would rather chuck away than put in one of the many rubbish sacks we’ve provided or take it away with them.

We wanted to cover as much of the area as possible so we were soon down to work.

Is there really an excuse for chucking stuff like this on the ground when there’s a rubbish sack right there?

It’s not only nasty stuff we find. We’ve found mobile phones, wallets, money and today – a front door key. Let us know if it is yours (OWLsnaresbrook@gmail.com).

Meanwhile rubbish was being collected from the various hotspots, both from the ground and from the rubbish sacks

And coming in from all directions

Then time for a chat and well-earned refreshments.

Back to litter-picking for some of us while one of our OWLs got out his big tool and started trimming the vegetation. After all, no one wants nettles or brambles blocking their passage!

Then the final bag count. 16 sacks today, plus another 21 collected by OWLs working solo on other days, making a total of 37 sacks of rubbish this month.

Some might notice that the rubbish is now mainly in one colour of bag. We no longer separate recycling from non-recycling. It’s all done automatically by the solar-powered recycling plant nearby! Eco-OWLs!!

The next OWL litterpick is on Tuesday, 5^th July. If you or someone you know think that it’s worth keeping the woods clear of litter so that everyone can enjoy this unique environment please consider joining us. Everyone is welcome. We are a welcoming, friendly, group who don’t take ourselves too seriously. Just look out for details on Squirt or pitch up at the Snaresbrook Road car park for a 10.30 am start on any of the dates listed 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)

The OWLs were out in the woods again – giving a hoot about the unnecessary litter that degrades the natural environment and is offensive to others. OWLs feel that it is unnecessary rather than offensive. We have placed rubbish sacks in most of the Hot Spots where guys go to have sex, and it is dead easy to place used condoms, foils, lube sachets and wipes in them for us to empty at a later date. One of our volunteers makes sure that sacks are well-maintained. He’s been around recently replacing any damaged or missing sacks.

Before today’s litterpicking, a bit of ‘maintenance’ sawing down an overhanging branch that had got too low for many to get under.

Then  on to litterpicking with five of our excellent OWLS ready to go onto the woods armed with litterpickers and rubbish sacks.

As well as the usual sexual debris, cans and bottles there are other interesting finds. Was the guy who brought this intending to stay the night? (At least it was Kingsize!)

It’s been sunny. Very Dame Edna Everage!

Seems that someone has lost one of their balls

But we aren’t just there for the humour; we are there to clear the place up. It seems the foxes have made a start clearing this bin.

But this is man-made mess.

And is there any excuse for this?

Or this?

We don’t understand why guys throw rubbish on the ground when there is a bag right next to them. Is that what they do at home?

The refreshment break is always a good time to catch up with news, pull each others’ legs and have a chat. One of our number was so involved that he didn’t even get back for the break.

More litterpicking after our break and then time to seal the bags and leave them by the road for collection.

Twenty two collected by the OWLs at this litterpicking session. And nineteen sacks of litter collected by three of our volunteers working at solo sessions. That’s a grand total of forty-one sacks. Forty-one sacks of litter is forty-one sacks too many. But at least that litter has been removed and isn’t there to ruin the natural beauty of the woods, affect wildlife or offend other users.

The next OWL litterpick is on Tuesday, 7^th June. If you or someone you know think that it’s worth keeping the woods clear of litter so that everyone can enjoy this unique environment please consider joining us. Everyone is welcome. Just look out for details on Squirt or pitch up at the Snaresbrook Road car park for a 10.30 am start on any of the dates listed 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)