You will be aware from media reports of the COP 28 conference held in Dubai recently, that the conference ended with an agreement that signals the “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era. In that vein, it seems fitting that the Council updates our community on our progress in addressing the Climate Change Emergency by highlighting our recently published Environment Strategy Annual Progress Report.
The West Berkshire Council report shows our progress towards our goal of becoming net zero by 2030. This year we’ve reduced our emissions by 15% which is positive, but we know there’s still a lot of work to be done!
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As a Council, we’ve worked on a wide variety of projects from introducing weekly food collections and launching the Sustainable Business Directory, to ‘Wild West Berkshire’ which helped children get outside and learn about nature and sustainability.
The report also highlights some of the brilliant work that’s taken place across the district involving schools and community groups. These include Spring planting, clothing swap shops, green weekends and beehive sponsorship!
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please get in touch: environment@westberks.gov.uk
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Kennet facing a new pollution threat
Action for the River Kennet (ARK) is supporting the call to ban disposable vapes, having identified them as a concerning threat to the River Kennet.
At the charity’s recent annual Big Litter Pick volunteers waded the Kennet removing 424 items from the river in just a half day included 20 vapes, with most being found on the riverbed. More than two thirds of the items removed were plastics.
Senior Project Officer Anna Forbes said: “Disposable vapes are adding to the plastic pollution crisis in our rivers, additionally they contain heavy metals and toxic chemicals. Our volunteers are regularly finding carelessly disposed of vapes at the bottom of the river, with a notable increase at stretches of river that are public. The plastic casings of vapes will blight our rivers for many years before eventually breaking down into micro-plastics, that pollute our rivers posing yet another threat to water quality and the health of aquatic wildlife.”
The River Kennet is one of only 260 chalk streams on the planet, and home to many critically endangered species. Most of the river is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), but the river is already suffering from a multitude of pressures, including sewage pollution, agricultural runoff pollution, road surface runoff pollution, abstraction and climate change.
The issues of Vape pollution looks set to get worse due to the exponential rise in vaping, and disposable vapes becoming the most popular choice.
The number of disposable vapes thrown away in the UK has soared from 1.3 million to nearly five million per week – with use amongst children and young people seeing the most dramatic rises.
Find out more and ways to help reduce vape pollution here: Vapes Polluting Our Rivers - ARK River Kennet
 On December 9, Greenham community joined forces to plant a diverse orchard at Pigeon’s Farm Road.
Spearheaded by Councillor Billy Drummond and supported by the Greener Greenham Group, apple, pear, quince, and cherry trees now stand as symbols of the community's dedication to biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Greenham Scouts, Parish Councillors, and Friends of the Earth provided great assistance on the day.
Planting orchards is one of the ways we can combat the impacts of the climate and ecological crisis whilst keeping the land in production and encouraging a more active and healthier lifestyle. The Council’s Environment Strategy and Delivery Plan explains more about our plans to become net zero and improve our biodiversity.
Councillor Billy Drummond said ‘It was good to see so many willing volunteers help plant all the bulbs and fruit trees. I am looking forward to the spring to see them all blossom and fruit in years to come.’
For more on Countryside Community Involvement, visit West Berkshire Council.
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 Your bin collection dates will have changed over the Christmas period.
In addition, garden waste will not be collected from Monday 25 December 2023 until Monday 8 January 2024. Garden waste collections will resume as planned on Tuesday 9 January 2024.
If you are a subscriber to the garden waste collection service you can get your real Christmas tree collected. Please put it out with your garden waste bin for collection between Tuesday 9 January 2024 until Friday 2 February 2024. Trees over 4ft must be cut in half. Please remove all lights, decorations and pots.
If you do not subscribe you can take your Christmas tree to one of our household waste recycling centres. Please make sure to book an appointment before you visit: www.westberks.gov.uk/clickandtip.
For more information and tips about recycling, please visit: www.westberks.gov.uk/christmaswaste.
On 15 January 2024, an exciting new on-demand bus service will start. Called West Berkshire Community Connect it will connect the Northwest Downlands area with Newbury and is more flexible than a traditional, timetabled bus service.
Choose where you'd like to go and when, and we'll plan a journey to suit you! Trips need to be pre-booked via the passenger App, by telephone, or by email. As well as the bookable service, which will replace the current timetabled service 5/5a/5c operated in-house, we also run two timetabled services between Brightwalton and Newbury. On schooldays, these include a service to Newbury College, St Barts and Park House.
This exciting new service been made possible by funding from HM Government, given to West Berkshire Council after submission of a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in October 2021. Further information will be made available in the coming weeks.
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After the success in 2023, the Newbury Show will be returning in 2024, over the weekend of 21 and 22 September. The feedback from the show this year was very positive with attendees remarking that the Show was a more ‘local show - as it used to be’.
In 2024 the NADAS Charity (Newbury & District Agricultural Society) will be introducing a new area dedicated to the environment and sustainability, along with the popular 'Local Producers' stands. All trade stands, including 'Local Producers' are now on sale with Early Bird offers. The Show will also be offering various sustainable travel options and are looking into new initiatives such as how they can ensure food from the produce tent is offered to local charities.
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On the agricultural side, their plan is to plant around 10 acres of wheat in the 44-acre field adjacent to the main Showground. Over the course of the Show weekend this will be harvested, the straw baled, ground prepared and the next year’s crop planted. They are hoping to offer tractor / trailer rides from the main showground across to the working demos, which will provide visitors with a better awareness and understanding of the farming process.
For sponsorship opportunities or advice please contact claire.jones@nadas.co.uk.
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On Monday 27 November Sustrans began works to improve a 380m length of National Cycle Network Route 4 (NCN 4) between Burghfield and Theale in West Berkshire.
The stretch of traffic-free path between the River Kennet and Mill Road, Burghfield, is being upgraded following the granting of planning consent by West Berkshire Council. This will include improvements and resurfacing to address the existing muddy stretch of path.
The upgrades will make this section of the active travel route safer and more enjoyable to use, whether on foot, bike, or when using a wheelchair or mobility scooter. It will become a more viable route for a variety of active travel journeys all year round.
The upgrades are being delivered sensitively to ensure as little impact as possible on the surrounding environment. The works are expected to take up to ten weeks to complete and this section of the route will be closed throughout with a signed diversion in place.
The project is funded by the Department for Transport and forms part of Sustrans’ Paths for everyone programme, making the National Cycle Network safer and more accessible for everyone.
Through further joint working with Sustrans and other local and national partners, we aspire to further improvements along NCN 4 as resources allow.
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Home Energy: Have you installed a heat pump over the last couple of years? We would like to offer some advice for anyone starting out on this journey. If you have some experience that you are happy to share, please contact HEAT. If you would like to know a bit more about heat pumps have a look at this West Berkshire Council article written by a HEAT member.
Thermal Imaging Camera: When thinking about how to improve the energy efficiency of your home, a good place to start is to see where the heat is currently being lost. HEAT has a thermal imaging camera that is easy to use and available for loan.
Lockdown Wood Maintenance: If you would appreciate some worthwhile outdoor exercise after the festive season, why not come and help with the maintenance of the Lockdown Wood in Hungerford.
Repair Café: 20 January Croft Hall Hungerford 10 am - 12:30 The Hungerford Repair Café is a really popular event. Please bring your items for repair for the volunteers to fix. Donations are welcome.
Date of next HEAT meeting: Wednesday, 31 January 2024 at 7pm at The Hungerford Library/Hub. All are welcome.
For information on any HEAT events please email: heat_hungerford@yahoo.com
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You could help shape the plans for protecting and improving natural habitats across Berkshire by taking part in the Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) Survey which remains open until 2 January.
Berkshire’s six councils, led by the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, are keen to work with residents, landowners, NGOs, developers, community groups and others to create a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for the county.
Funded by DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) as part of a wider national nature recovery project, the result for Berkshire will be a nature map of opportunities, as well as a list of biodiversity priorities.
This will prioritise where time and investment are most needed to improve, protect, or enlarge habitats, or to create new habitats on land or around watercourses. It will also help to inform and support funding bids for specific projects.
The Local Authorities across Berkshire want Berkshire’s LNRS to be a genuinely collaborative, inclusive and a locally-led process. This approach will help to support joint working around nature recovery and focus the work, decisions, expertise and investment of many individuals and partner organisations for years to come - so please take part in the survey!
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