This was OWL’s first regular monthly litterpick of 2017, although we had already done an additional ‘Spring Clean’ five weeks ago.
Six enthusiastic volunteers were involved, including two very welcome new group members, both of whom took to litterpicking like naturals (and it’s fair to say, certainly seemed to know their way round the cruising areas!).
As usual there was plenty for us to do and we were soon filling our sacks with the usual range of litter. Cans and bottles. Tissues and wipes (wipes don’t rot – they are a threat to the environment and to wildlife). Condoms, condom foils and lube sachets. And as well as the ‘usual’, the ‘unusual’. The most unusual this time were probably golf balls in condoms (a ‘home made’ version of Love Eggs? – well it is Easter!).
With a good number of sacks filled and a good area of the woods covered the refreshment break, and the refreshments, were much appreciated.
Three of our six volunteers enjoy their refreshments
Then, with one of our number – who had interrupted his holiday to be able to take part – having had to leave, we moved on to another area of the woods that we know is also popular with cruisers.
Again, plenty for us to do, and lots of effort going into making sure that as much sexual debris, and other litter, was removed. Understandably, there are those users of the area who are offended by the amount of sexual debris that they and their children can find so easily, and we know that removing this litter reduces complaints. OWL wants good horny cruising to take place at the woods, and wants to maintain everyone’s right to cruise there. We also acknowledge that there are other legitimate users of the area. OWL believes that everyone should be able to enjoy the woods, and that this is best achieved by reducing the offence that sexual debris can cause.
And there’s plenty about
No shortage of used condom foils – or litterpickers to remove them
Eventually we reckoned we had covered the main cruising areas and returned to our base at the car park to tie and staple the rubbish sacks together. That was going to be the end of today’s litterpick but three of our volunteers felt that there were some areas that still needed attention and set off again, for a third session. After all, the weather was good and why not use the opportunity to check out a few of those already cruising?!
Finally we’d bagged all we were going to bag for the day. An impressive 29 sacks of rubbish. And as we were using larger sacks today, this probably equated to 35 of the usual sacks we use – another record!
Another impressive bag-count! We like an impressive load!
If you cruise at Snaresbrook please consider making the place better by taking your used condoms, condom foils, lube sachets, tissues and wipes away from where you’ve had your fun. Either dispose of them at home, or use one of the bins that are available – on the track through the woods or at the corner of the car park. Thank you!
(please note, we respect everyone’s right to anonymity and only show pics of those willing to have them posted)