Children's Literature
The Wombles are a fictional species of pointy-nosed, burrow-dwelling creatures created by British author Elisabeth Beresford. They first appeared in the 1968 novel The Wombles and became a cultural phenomenon in the 1970s through a popular BBC children's television series. The Wombles are known for their environmental ethos: they recycle and reuse human rubbish to create useful items, embodying a conservationist message decades before widespread recycling movements.
The Wombles were conceived by Elisabeth Beresford in 1968 while walking on Wimbledon Common with her children. Her daughter's mispronunciation of 'Wimbledon' as 'Wombledon' inspired the name. Beresford imagined a family of furry creatures who lived in burrows beneath the common and cleaned up after careless humans. The first book, The Wombles, introduced the characters and their society, which was organized around recycling and communal living. Beresford wrote five novels in total, each expanding the Wombles' world and their adventures.
The BBC commissioned a stop-motion animated series in 1973, produced by FilmFair. The show, narrated by Bernard Cribbins, became a hit and ran for 60 episodes. The Wombles' popularity spawned a pop group, The Wombles, which released novelty songs like 'Wombling Merry Christmas' and 'Remember You're a Womble,' achieving chart success in the UK. The characters also appeared in comics, toys, and a stage show. The franchise's environmental message resonated with the growing ecological awareness of the 1970s, making the Wombles early icons of recycling.
The Wombles live in a hierarchical society led by the wise Great Uncle Bulgaria. Other notable Wombles include Tobermory, the inventor; Orinoco, who is lazy and food-loving; Madame Cholet, the cook; and Bungo, who is eager but clumsy. Each Womble has a distinct personality, and their names reflect Beresford's love of place names. The Wombles' burrow is a model of sustainability, with workshops, a library, and a nursery. Their primary activity is 'wombleing'—collecting rubbish and transforming it into useful objects, from furniture to musical instruments.
Beyond the mainstream success, the Wombles have several obscure facets. Beresford based Great Uncle Bulgaria on her own father, who was a solicitor. The original TV series used a technique called 'live-action animation' with puppets, and the voices were provided by actors like Bernard Cribbins and later by the singer Mike Batt, who also wrote the theme song. In the 1990s, the Wombles were revived in a new TV series with updated animation, and in 2011 a CGI series aired. The Wombles have also been used in educational campaigns about litter and recycling, and they even appeared on UK postage stamps in 2011. A little-known fact: the Wombles' burrow is said to be located under Wimbledon Common, but Beresford also placed them in other locations like Hyde Park in later books.
The Wombles' legacy endures as a symbol of environmental stewardship. Their catchphrase, 'Make good use of bad rubbish,' has become a proverb. In recent years, the characters have been embraced by environmental groups and have appeared in campaigns for recycling and anti-littering. The Wombles' message of reusing and repurposing aligns with contemporary sustainability movements, and they remain a nostalgic touchstone for generations. The original books are still in print, and the TV series is available on streaming platforms, ensuring that the Wombles continue to inspire new audiences.
The Wombles are a registered trademark of Elisabeth Beresford's estate.
Help improve the encyclopedia. Reports go straight to the site manager.