The Wombles

Where it came from 

The Wombles are a series of children’s stories created by Elisabeth Beresford, first published in 1968. The idea came during a Boxing Day walk on Wimbledon Common in London, when Beresford’s daughter mispronounced "Wimbledon" as “Wombledon”, sparking her imagination. She developed a cast of gentle, furry creatures — the Wombles — who live beneath the Common and make it their mission to collect and recycle human rubbish, turning discarded items into useful things. Many of the characters were inspired by members of Beresford’s own family and named after places significant to them. Their motto, “Make Good Use of Bad Rubbish”, reflects an early environmental ethos in children’s literature. 

Where it went next

After the first book’s publication, The Wombles story gained wider attention when it was featured on the BBC’s Jackanory programme. This led the BBC to commission a stop‑motion animated television series (1973–1975) produced by FilmFair and narrated by Bernard Cribbins, with theme music by Mike Batt. The series brought the characters to life for a broad audience and cemented their place in British children’s culture; the music even spawned hit singles in the UK charts. Merchandising followed, and the Wombles appeared in a variety of media including a 1997 animated TV series. Over the years, adaptations and reissues have kept the stories in circulation. 

Associated stories

Beresford wrote six original Wombles books:

• The Wombles (1968)
• The Wandering Wombles (1970)
• The Wombles at Work (1973)
• The Invisible Womble and Other Stories (1973)
• The Wombles to the Rescue (1974)
• The Wombles Go Round the World (1976) 

These expanded the Wombles’ world from Wimbledon Common to other locales and adventures. Later editions, reprints, audiobooks, and series revivals (including new broadcast versions and environmental campaigns featuring the characters) have continued the legacy of the Wombles and their message of care for the natural world.