Developing a Womble Ethic

Trying to cultivate a Wombles ethic in the young is incredibly difficult. Many are happy to engage with the standard virtue signalling list: XR climate strike (aka day off school); buying vegan in subway; putting some rubbish in the appropriate recycle bin. Going beyond this however requires a much deeper understanding of the issues; and the ability to do something about it. Substantial ‘green living’ – repair, upcycle, make your own, grow your own – is not simply uncool it can seriously difficult.

As a boy I had every construction toy available. I could therefore move seamlessly from playing with Meccano, which in those days meant following complicated written instructions with diagrams; into fixing a 1968 BSA 175 2 stroke using a Haynes manual.

Playing with a Lego Star Wars model is of little or no use in fixing an iPhone.