Festive Cheer with Free Bus Travel in West Berkshire this Christmas!
 Get ready for a jolly holiday season filled with free bus travel in West Berkshire! This year, we're again excited to announce a fantastic opportunity for residents to embrace the festive spirit without worrying about transport costs. For two Saturdays in December, all bus journeys within West Berkshire will be free, providing an excellent chance to explore and enjoy various seasonal events and activities in the run up to Christmas!
Mark your calendars for these special days:
If you start your journey in West Berkshire, your return journey is also FREE, but you need to request a return ticket from the driver when boarding to take advantage of this offer. For more information on the buses taking part, click here.
The Dee Caf Community Cafe have nicknamed their West Berkshire Council Cargo bike 'The Beast of Tilehurst'.
Business owner Tina said:
“Our work means we have to drive around West Berkshire and in Reading to visit our suppliers and drop off our deliveries. The Urban Arrow Cargo Bike lent to us by West Berkshire Council means we have an alternative to the car, a green solution which is good for the environment.
We are in the heart of Dee Park Housing estate with four primary schools nearby, so the use of our car has a detrimental impact on our local community, plus it's a good example to others showing there is an alternative to driving."
- The Community Café recently won the Pride of Reading Award for Business in Action
- The bike is working really well for them, except when windy!
If your business or community would like the use of a FREE electric cargo bike, please contact: travelplanofficer@westberks.gov.uk
|
Did you know that most wet wipes contain plastic and lots of chemicals and 75% of drain blockages are caused by wet wipes!
Because they contain plastic, wet wipes don’t breakdown in the way that loo paper does. Blockages increase the risk of sewer lids ‘popping’ with untreated sewage, (along with whatever else you’ve flushed down your loo or poured down your sink) - it all flows straight into your rivers.
|
When sewage treatment works (STW) ‘spill’, in addition to the untreated sewage that directly enters your river, the wet wipes and sanitary products enter the river too. Unsurprisingly this pollution has a negative impact on fish and other aquatic wildlife, ingesting the microplastics and thus entering the food chain.
Action for the River Kennet (ARK), the rivers trust for the River Kennet and Pang catchments has 2 actions you can take to help your local rivers and beyond:
-
Ideally stop using wet wipes (they are single use plastics, which is not good for the planet)
- If you do use wet wipes DON’T flush them down the loo, only flush the 3 Ps – poo, pee and paper (toilet paper).
 Please join Pang Valley Flood Forum on Saturday 20 January 1-6pm at the Pang Valley Flood Protection Exhibition in Hampstead Norreys Village Hall, RG18 0TR. This is a FREE event to learn more about local flooding from:
- Pang Valley Flood Forum
- West Berkshire Council
- Project Groundwater
- Environment Agency
- Thames Water
- And more!
With a variety of organisations present to answer your questions on flooding in the Pang Valley area, you can improve your knowledge of who is available to support you and how you can prepare for future flood events.
There will be stands with flood protection devices and an opportunity to see these in situ in a purpose built mobile demonstration vehicle known as the Floodmobile.
The Floodmobile is packed with around 50 different property flood resilience measures that can be installed in buildings to make them more resilient.
Refreshments will also be available.
We have all seen the devastating impact extreme weather can cause to roads and our homes. Be prepared and if in doubt, the check list below can help on what you can do now:
As always, keep up to date on weather warnings by following your local news and weather channels. For more information about preparing for emergencies and bad weather please look at our webpages: https://www.westberks.gov.uk/emergency-planning
 On 22 November all designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in England and Wales became National Landscapes – and as a result the North Wessex Downs AONB will now be known as the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. The new name reflects their national importance; the vital contribution they make to protect the nation from the threats of climate change, nature depletion and the wellbeing crisis.
 West Berkshire Council recently signed a Contract with Ubitricity to supply and install up to 250 standard on-street electric vehicle charge points across the district over the next 4 years. After a few months assessing sites and arranging for the works to be undertaken, 22 new charge point bollards have been installed in areas where residents have little or no off-street parking and will rely on on-street charge points to charge their electric vehicles. This brings the total on-street provision to 57.
More sites are being proposed and considered with the aim of providing additional on-street charge points by the end of March. This will reassure residents with no off-street parking that on-street charging is possible near to their property and help allay their charging fears when they are considering switching to an electric vehicle. If you would like to propose a site for consideration for an on-street charge point, please contact us on: ev@westberks.gov.uk.
EV Charging Cable Channel Trial
We are pleased to announce a new trial that could revolutionise how residents without a driveway can charge their electric vehicle right from their home. This innovative trial uses a through-pavement channel where residents insert their charging cable into the channel that has a self-closing lid that closes behind like a zip. This allows residents to safely charge an electric vehicle on the road as it removes the risk of trips and falls from trailing charging cables from a property across the footway.
The channel, manufactured in the UK by Kerbo Charge contours with the pavement during installation so it sits perfectly flush with the pavement surface. It is made of PVC which has a significantly lower carbon footprint than aluminium, has a life expectancy of over 100 years, and will not be targeted by metal thieves.
Feedback from the installers, residents, public and highways maintenance will be gathered and analysed. Updates will be available on the WBC On-Street EV Charge Point webpage over the coming months.
|
 |
Wrapping paper - gifts can be wrapped in newspaper or in cardboard boxes that you may already have. These can also then be recycled after use.
Top Tip! Christmas cards and wrapping paper can be recycled as long as they do not contain glitter, foil or other embellishments.
Christmas Jumpers - many Christmas jumpers are only worn once a year so see if you can swap with friends of family instead of having to buy a new one.
Food – to reduce food waste make sure to write a shopping list before you go shopping, eat food in date order and freeze anything you are unable to eat in time. Don't place food waste in the black bin, food waste should be recycled using your food waste caddy or purple wheelie bin, which is collected weekly.
Batteries (and vapes) placed into bins are a fire hazard. Please make sure batteries are recycled in the right place. Many retailers that sell batteries also have collection points for them too.
For more information about waste and recycling over Christmas please visit www.westberks.gov.uk/christmaswaste
The towpath has been upgraded by the Canal & River Trust along the historic Kennet & Avon Canal at Aldermaston Wharf. A1½ mile stretch from the Wharf, heading eastwards to Sulhamstead at Ufton Lane and the canal bank have been improved, making it easier for boats to moor and improving access and safety for walkers, cyclists and those with wheelchairs or buggies.
The £1.2 million project was funded by the Department for Transport as part of Sustrans', Paths for Everyone programme.
Mark Evans, Canal & River Trust Regional Director, said: "Improving the canal for both people and wildlife is so important. These improvements have made it easier for us all to explore this section of the canal and enjoy the benefits that being by water can bring.
It also increases the resilience of such an old canal against extreme weather events that are becoming more commonplace and is part of the mammoth effort of our volunteers, partners and supporters to help keep canals alive.”
Click here for the work of the Canal & River Trust & how to support them
The Barn Owl is an iconic native bird which has inspired many environmentalists, artists, photographers and authors down the centuries. The West Berkshire Countryside Society (WBCS) has been building barn owl boxes and erecting them in suitable locations. A team of volunteers survey the boxes annually to record the number of breeding birds and chicks that fledge. This work is carried out under licence from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).
A partnership has developed with Men’s Sheds, another group of volunteers, who have a workshop at Fairclose Day Centre in Newbury. These volunteers have carpentry skills and have built new boxes. A total of nearly 200 boxes are now being monitored by the WBCS owl group.
A collaboration of this kind between two different groups of volunteers is a shining example of what can be achieved through partnership. Please email for info on joining the Owl Group: enquiries@westberkscountryside.org.uk
WBCS volunteer work parties operate on Tuesdays throughout the year. The tasks include woodland and common management, coppicing, hedge-laying and hedge/tree planting.
|
The Sheepdrove Eco Show is a fortnightly half hour podcast that covers local West Berkshire environmental projects including green initiatives at Sheepdrove Organic Farm on the Lambourn Downs.
|
This Christmas why not try something a little different and explore ‘Rainforests from Space!’ As part of the UK Space Agency’s ‘Our World from Space Project’, the Living Rainforest invites visitors to learn more about how satellites are helping to protect our planet!
Activities will be running from 21 December 2023 to 7 January 2024. Christmas Gift Vouchers are available.
With a series of interactive games, activities, quizzes and displays suitable for all ages, visitors are encouraged to explore the concept of space research as it relates to our everyday lives, as well as the world’s rainforests and other ecosystems.
Learn more about how we can observe human impacts such as deforestation, track endangered species (and Santa!) and monitor climate change, as well as how satellite data can be used by scientists and policy makers to help reverse the damage being caused to our precious planet.
|
Making use of preloved fashion and accessories looks to be a sustainable trend that is on the up this Christmas! Whether you want to ‘stun’ at the Christmas party for a fraction of the price, or provide a thoughtful sustainable gift for friends or family, there is plenty on offer across West Berkshire. As well as the amazing finds you could come across in shops supporting a variety of charities, there are lots of options on hand to add character to your wardrobe while reducing your fashion's environmental footprint. Embrace the joy of sustainable style - shop preloved today at some of these places:
- The Clothing Warehouse at Hambridge Farm, Newbury, was founded in 1995. Their barn houses a huge variety of fashionable, well-priced men’s, ladies’ and children’s vintage clothing and retro dresses, as well as weird and wonderful fancy-dress options!
- A much more recent venture is the introduction of La La Vintage on Bartholomew Street in the centre of Newbury. The store sells a mix of preloved clothing offering shoppers a sustainable fashion style across the ages.
- If you venture online for a retail experience you can access locally based Frankie & Ruby where you will find beautiful second hand clothes at a fraction of their original high street cost. There is a lot more on offer as well including fashion hints and tips through their newsletter and blog.
Continuing the spirit of re-using, look out for La La Vintage’s Pop Up Toy Shop in aid of Daisy's Dream on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 December when they will be selling toys by Matell, Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher Price. 100% goes towards Daisy's Dream.
 |
|
This year’s National Tree Week is extra special as it marks the 50th anniversary of the famous ‘Plant a Tree in 73’ campaign – from which National Tree Week (and The Tree Council) was born! The Tree Council are encouraging everyone to have a Tree Party and they've produced loads of free downloads to help get the Party started - invitations, party decorations, games and advice. They've even created a Spotify dance playlist! |
 |
|
Thank you to all of our subscribers for your support to date - this is our 35th monthly edition!
If any local community groups, friends or family may like to hear more about environment initiatives across West Berkshire, please forward this link to our sign-up page.
|
You can also keep up to date with what is happening in your local area from us via our Green Hub.
Click on the button below to access useful information focused on helping you to make more sustainable choices and assist us collectively on our journey to Net Zero.
|
