Are Wombles real??

[fucketynamechanged]

Just had an argument with a friend... is there an actual species called Wombles or were they made up creatures?

Thank you

Nothing worse that when the cat brings in a a half dead womble. They’re far more vocal than a mouse.

Yes, they are real. I saw them all at a carnival as a child.

Maybe you're thinking of lemmings?

I saw one in Bradford in 1974. It was in a Ford Capri, with its head sticking out of the sunroof.

This was one of the most exciting moments of my young life, having harboured thoughts of becoming a naturalist like Gerald Durrell.

I wonder whether Gerald Durrell ever saw a Womble in its natural, vinyl topped habitat...

This is what my lampshade looked like

Shockers. Gerald Durrell's problem was that he spent many childhood years in Corfu. Of course, Wombles don't live on Corfu - and, actually, you will never find a Womble on an island. Then GD ended up in Jersey, also an island, with his zoo. Although he invited some Wombles over to Jersey, they refused. They will only agree to live on VERY VERY VERY BIG islands!!!

Candyflip how could you say that. My womble will be cute and furry and tidy up all the crap in our house and maybe cook dinner and live undemandingly in a burrow at the end of the garden... I've wanted a womble for ages sighs whistfully

Elizabeth Beresford lived on the Island of Alderney which is one of the smaller Channel Islands, much smaller then Jersey.

There’s a Womble called Alderney because of that. I suspect they didn’t want to go to Jersey to see Gerald Durrell because he’d have probably locked them up in the zoo and then they wouldn’t have been free to roam the Common, maybe even Braye Common in Alderney.

Was definitely Wombles. Just thought they were a series based on a real species.

I can't be the only one. Aside from Katherine Parkinson. You're all just not admitting it

I see your lampshade, and raise this 1974 childhood toothbrush holder!!!

That is awesome chicken

@RJnomore1 "A wobble of wombles" - noooo
Weebles wobble (but they don't fall down)

A wimble of Wombles?

We have a pet Womble called Derek he lives under the kitchen floor boards and is seemingly the only one who ever remembers to sort the recycling. Well I'm assuming we must have because none of my children do it.

Cheers Tyneteas

Interestingly we had that exact same lampshade but with Paddington on.

Talking bears from Peru - they’re definitely real, right?

I've spent many happy times on Alderney in the past and I never saw a Womble, not even after drinking 'electric soup' (not the Scottish version, but the Alderney version which includes Pernod!)

Paddington is definitely real, he lives with me. He still keeps his marmalade sandwich under his hat but he prefers the sugar free variety now. Think it’s his age.

@TyneTeas @chickendrizzlecake

I see your lampshade and toothbrush holder and raise you this pyjama case I owned

I wasn't born till 84 though

Def a Classics candidate surely, I'm weeping here , you bunch of lovely nutters 😂😂😂

I live in Wimbledon and they're a real problem tbh. Ripping open the bins of a night, crapping in the garden etc.

People will tell you it's foxes, but that's just Tory propaganda to justify hunting.

@DoryNow haha please nominate it for classics, I'd love that!

I thought the song was 'wombles of wimbledon, coming our way' sung with a NE accent

I don’t think you were looking properly, Pan. Definitely wobbles in Alderney.

It’s probably inter-Island rivalry that keeps them away from Jersey.

I think a group of Wombles should be called a 'Wombling'. Although looking at it written down just looks wrong. It sounded better in my head.

fuckety