Each year we like to ‘refresh’ the various signs that are displayed around the cruising area.
Some guys don’t care how many condom foils, condoms and lube sachets they could be standing on while having their fun. On the other hand others tell us that they are dismayed that so much offensive sexual debris is left around. The area is used by very many people with a variety of reasons for being there. Some like to enjoy the fresh air, some are there spotting the rich diversity of the wildlife in this ancient woodland, there are walkers, cyclists and runners, picnic-ers, kite-flyers, etc. And there guys cruising for sex. All have a legitimate right to be there. The litterpickers that form the OWL (OUT With Litter) group have a simple aim – to clear up the sexual debris that starts to build up unless dealt with, in order to make the area a nicer place to be and to reduce complaints about the rubbish that many regard as offensive.
Part of what OWL does is to display notices around the cruising area encouraging guys to take their litter away with them or to use the bins, or rubbish sacks, provided. More and more guys are being considerate to others and ensuring that they put their rubbish in a bin or bag
For this session a trio of the longest-serving OWLs (A Parliament of them, in fact!) aimed to clear up a number of the ‘hotspots’ and put up new flyers and posters.
Over the time the OWLs have been clearing up the litter the various ‘hotspots’ have taken on appropriate names: Honeysuckle Corner, Dirty Den, That Place Below the Mound That We Only Discovered Recently, The Gymn, The Orgy Area, That Place Where XXXX Likes to Take His Shags, and so on.
It must surely be a measure of the horniness and enthusiasm of many many guys that so much sexual debris builds up in some of the ‘hotspots’.
Please don’t get us wrong. OWLs are not the litter police and nor are they spoilsports. OWL wants cruising to continue at Snaresbrook. The less litter, and especially sexual debris, there is, the fewer complaints will be received. In fact, when we were last advised, since OWL started running litterpicks there have been no complaints. Result!
So thanks, not just to the OWLs, but to the many guys who dispose of their sexual debris considerately. And to those guys who don’t – please think again.
In several places the OWLs have put up signs requesting that guys take their litter away, and to make it even easier to be considerate, rubbish sacks have been left. Our OWLs collect these regularly, hopefully before they overflow.
Someone has left some almost-clear rubbish sacks around the woods. In OWL’s view not at all discrete, far too many, and not respecting the nature of the environment. Nevertheless, some are being used, and as long as they are emptied or collected regularly then they are potentially helpful.
We’d enjoyed our refreshments during the morning session; we’d covered plenty of territory; we’d achieved our aim of putting flyers in and cleaning up the ‘hotspots’; and we’d put up some general posters as gentle reminders of how good it is to be considerate of others. What’s not to like? Our final tally of rubbish sacks: seven ‘sexual debris’ bags and three bags of recycling.
Our next OWL litterpick is on Tuesday, 12th June, starting off from the Snaresbrook Road car park (whether it’s open or not) at 10.30 am. All are welcome. We are an informal group of volunteers who don’t take ourselves too seriously and are simply there to get on with the task of clearing up the litter. No formality, no ‘membership’, nothing to pay. Why not consider taking part?
(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)