Somehow, it’s 30 years since New Forest Friends & The Litterbugs was first published. It’s no exaggeration to say that this book utterly changed my life, and I’m incredibly pleased that it’s still popular today. I was recently at the Orchard Schools’ Fete where a parent bought one for her child having so enjoyed it herself all those years ago. That’s happened a lot in the last ten years or so, and it always wrong-foots me. I mean, I don’t feel 30 years older, so how can these people who read it as children be buying it for their children? Makes my head spin.

 

I did the illustrations with colouring pencils on A2 board, and each one took an age. At the time my fingers would ache from all the cross-hatching and sharpening, and I went through a ridiculous amount of pencils and pencil sharpeners. Only too often would I end up using a stub in a desperate attempt to get a page finished or because I couldn’t make it into Atkins in Southampton to get a replacement.

 

My original plan had been to go to university and study animation after my A-levels but I, somewhat optimistically, took a year out first to have a go at a book. I had a part-time job to keep me going, spending much of the rest of the time colouring at my drawing board. It was a complete punt in the dark, as I didn’t have a publisher or any clue how to get one. I was just lost in this notion of giving it a try.

 

Because the story involved litter in the New Forest an old teacher from secondary school got it under the noses of the Forestry Commission who in turn showed it to New Forest District Council. Back then it was a prose story, and the suggestion was made that it would work better in rhyme – so I re-wrote it. NFDC published 5000 copies, got Chris Packham involved for the book launch, and the lady that created Aslan for the BBC’s The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe made four amazing heads of the main characters that could be worn. Lord Montague donated his Rolls Royce Silver Ghost for the day and four children from Beaulieu Village Primary School donned the character heads while riding past Bolton’s Bench to the launch. The day’s press, radio and TV coverage, plus the fact that WHSmith’s in Southampton had a dedicated stand at the foot of the stairs, meant that all 5000 copies were sold out in two weeks. It went straight to a reprint and hasn’t been out of print since.

 

Some of you will remember Playdays, the BBC kids’ TV show. They chose the book as their Patch Stop story, so Litterbugs got a whole new audience via that too. Bill Oddie even offered to read it as an audiobook.

 

And I never did do animation at university. Because of the book, I was offered a job at a design studio and so went and did that instead, and went on to create two further New Forest Friends books in my spare time.

 

I have a huge soft spot for the book and the characters. Its story of litter as seen from the animal’s point of view never seems to be less relevant (sadly) and it’s gratifying to still see it used in schools, and to be able to use it when I do talks and workshops. It’s opened all sorts of doors for me, and, I like to think, made a bit of a difference in the New Forest.

 

When it was first published it was just £3.99 a copy. It was a deliberate pocket money price to ensure it and its message about litter reached as many people as possible. Even now, 30 years later, it’s only £4.99. Bargain! BUT, because it is now 30 years old, I’m making it £3 throughout the summer. If you know of anyone that might like a copy, point them to here.