The Wombles Community Charity

Celebrating the re-release of the Wombles original episodes

In a time where environmental action and sustainable living are at the forefront of society’s thinking, the Wombles are set to return. Originally airing 50 years ago, based on the books by Elizabeth Beresford, the Wombles worked towards a greener, cleaner world, by repurposing items found on Wimbledon Common to serve a second life. After decades of hibernation, they’re back! With the release of 60 remastered original episodes, adoring fans can revisit the adventures of Orinoco, Great Uncle Bulgaria and co. on The Wombles Official Youtube channel.

Each five-minute animated episode features a simple story built around a found object that is put to good use, invariably involving the creative DIY skills of Tobermory; for example, a tyre is used to repair Great Uncle Bulgaria’s rocking chair, discarded sticky toffee papers mend a leaky ceiling and tin cans and tennis rackets are turned into musical instruments. Every episode is filled with excitement, humour and more often than not the wise words of Great Uncle Bulgaria, gently steering audiences towards environmental stewardship. We think most would agree that the Wombles were the original eco-warriors, long before “upcycling” was so trendy!

The re-release of the original episodes couldn’t come at a better time. Not only is the topic of the environment more important than ever, but the Wombles celebrated their 50th anniversary of being on TV screens this year. Unfortunately, the problem of litter identified by the original Wombles has worsened in the past 50 years;  Clean Up Britain estimates that in the UK levels of litter have increased 500% during this time.  No wonder a YouGov opinion poll has shown that the majority of the UK public agrees that The Wombles ‘are more relevant today than ever.’ So, the timeless lessons these episodes explore hold greater significance than ever before. 

As the Wombles continue to warm the hearts of existing fans, they also have the chance to inspire new generations of environmental stewards. Through the magic of story-telling and entertainment the Wombles teach respect for nature, how to recycle, reuse and upcycle, as well as the power of local, collective action and change. 

As we celebrate the Wombles’ return, let us learn from their lessons and continue to look after our local environments and communities, and make a difference in the world. With these eco-warriors by our side, we can forge a greener path for generations to come. 

Remastered version of first episode here.