THE WOMBLES

The Wombles came out of hibernation at the beginning of 2020 to spread their positive message of local environmentalism, inspiring a new generation of children (and their parents and grandparents) to do more for the environment, from recycling to reusing and refurbishing old items rather than sending them to landfill.

Orinoco seems to be everyone’s favourite Womble although he spends most of his time napping! Despite Orinoco’s lazy, bumbling ways, he is a great friend, and never fails to put a smile on everyone’s faces. Orinoco is musically gifted and can usually be found playing his guitar. He loves helping with the litter collecting and recycling, as long as he doesn’t have to work too hard!

Great Uncle Bulgaria is the oldest and wisest of The Wombles. He tells the young Wombles to be careful and teaches them how to clean up the rubbish and how to do new things.

Tobermory will invariably be found making a noise in his workshop. He loves making things from the rubbish and objects that people leave behind. He is wonderfully creative and very practical.

Wellington is a bit of a boffin. He loves technology and inventing new things. You can often find him helping Tobermory in his workshop, coming up with fantastic ways to make good use of the things that we find.

Madame Cholet does most of the cooking – vegetarian of course – and is always calm in a crisis. Although she has a French name and speaks with an accent, she isn’t actually French.

Alderney is the most energetic and adventurous of the Wombles. She loves skateboarding and climbing trees and is very clever.

• The Wombles name was born when Elizabeth Beresford took her young children out for a Boxing Day walk and her daughter mispronounced Wimbledon Common as Wombledon Common
• The Wombles first story book was published in 1968, following by a television series directed by Ivor Wood and voiced by Bernard Cribbins
• The Wombles even formed a pop band and performed at Glastonbury Festival in 2011
• Since coming out of hibernation, The Wombles have worked on lots of environmental & community campaigns with Keep Britain Tidy, Remember a Charity in your Will, Eco-Schools, Meat Free Monday and SILC ‘20 to name a few