Soil Conditioner Giveaway Success

Thank you to all 534 residents who came to grab some locally produced soil conditioner last month!

We gave away 52 tonnes of free soil conditioner that is created here in West Berkshire using the food and garden waste we collect from households across the district.  We hope this has enhanced your gardens and allotments whilst contributing to sustainability!

Buses are a relatively cheap and environmentally friendly way to travel around. As the weather improves you may wish to get out and about, so why not try the bus - you may be surprised by where you can go. There have been a series of improvements made to local buses recently, including the following service enhancements:

• From May 2024 the service between Newbury and Basingstoke operated by Stagecoach will be enhanced with a Sunday service and run later in the evening Monday to Saturday.
• A new late evening service, operated by Newbury & District, between Newbury and Thatcham on Fridays and Saturdays called the 1e.
• Reading Buses Lime 2a has been extended to serve Mortimer every 2 hours on Sundays.
• Thames Travel’s X34 service now operates between Newbury and Harwell Campus/Didcot providing a link to employment and retail opportunities. Change at Harwell Campus, Becquerel Avenue, for Thames Travel’s bus service for Oxford City Centre.
• West Berkshire Community Connect on-demand bus service connecting Northwest Downlands with Newbury, providing links to jobs, retail and opportunities.

These service enhancements have been made possible by funding from HM Government, given to us after submission of a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in October 2021.

In addition to these improvements, the following has also been introduced:

• Wiltshire Connect, an on-demand and timetabled bus network operating between Marlborough and Hungerford.
• An early bird concessionary fare ticket has been introduced, allowing those with a valid concessionary bus pass to travel for discounted rates before 9:30am Monday to Friday.
• A Connect Group Day ticket is available allowing unlimited use for up to 4 people on valid routes.

Help us to document the wildlife of Berkshire this April.

The challenge is to go out and identify species - from birds to bees, flowers to fungi and everything in between - right across West Berkshire and record these species along with a photograph and then add them onto the INaturalist app or on the TVERC website. The aim is too gather mass species data and compete internationally with other areas in how much data can be collected in three days 

84% of freshwater species have been lost since the 1970's (source: The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust) and around 40% of the Worlds Wildlife relies on freshwater wetlands (source: The Wildlife Trusts).

The Town and Manor of Hungerford have submitted plans for their 40 Acre Kennet Valley Freshwater Wetland Reserve.

After extensive research, initial proposals were prepared and made public throughout the Kennet Valley via a wide-ranging public consultation process. Undertaking street surveys, presentations to local groups and institutions, and visits to schools, feedback has shown a high level of engagement and excitement for the proposed development. Based on those surveyed, there is 100% support for the wetland with over 300 offers from people to become volunteers the project. These volunteers formed part of the local consultation and helped inform the final plans.

In a world where people are increasingly concerned about the environment, communities are coming together to make a positive impact. One such group leading the charge is Eco Friends (West Berkshire), a volunteer-run organisation with a laser focus on reducing single-use plastics.  Eco Friends is making waves by supporting initiatives aimed at achieving Plastic Free Community status.

The impact of this initiative is already being felt across West Berkshire, with over 100 businesses, community groups and schools onboard. Including esteemed establishments such as The Corn Exchange, Thatcham Refillable, The Watermill, and Rivar Sand and Gravel, amongst others.

Both Newbury and Thatcham Town Councils have thrown their weight behind this movement, actively participate in Eco Friends' steering committee and collaborate on Climate Emergency working groups, demonstrating a commitment to meaningful action.

For small businesses, community organisations, and schools with sustainability at their core, Eco Friends offers an opportunity for recognition and reward as Plastic Free Champions and Allies.

Reducing the food you waste is not only good for the planet it can save you lots of money too. Did you know, 33% of all food produced globally is lost or wasted every year, below are some of our top tips to reduce food waste:

• Plan your meals and only buy what you need
• Use your food in date order
• Get creative with using up leftovers – soups and smoothies are great for leftovers
• Make the most of your freezer and label items

For more information please visit: https://www.stopfoodwasteday.com

Newbury Show Launch New Sustainability Initiatives

Over 32,000 members of the public last year attended the Newbury Show and organisers were overwhelmed by the feedback which reinforced that it is a popular West Berkshire local County Show.  On 21 and 22 September 2024 NADAS (Newbury & District Agricultural Society) want to build on the awareness of nature, sustainability, biodiversity and education provided by local organisations and local projects involved in sustainability and climate change initiatives across West Berkshire.  As part of the NADAS education programme, they also want to promote sustainability in schools. These 2 new initiatives require sponsors to go ahead:

• The ‘West Berkshire Community Sustainability and Biodiversity Area’ initiative aims to provide free space to 20 small local West Berkshire community voluntary projects/groups who are working to address issues of climate change, biodiversity and sustainability, with a stand and tickets to promote their vital work and share their knowledge. 
• The ‘West Berkshire Schools Sustainability Competition’ will invite schools in West Berkshire to design a sustainable community and present it in the Education Tent at the Show.   The schools’ display for the sustainability competition will be judged on Saturday at the Show and the winning schools will get a financial prize and a book signed by Sir David Attenborough.

For more information about sponsoring. or supporting these new initiatives. or if you have any sustainable suggestions, please contact Claire Jones on: nadas@nadas.co.uk or: claire.jones@nadas.co.uk.  

Thatcham has been awarded Plastic Free Community Status by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), a marine conservation charity, in recognition of the work it has done to reduce the impact of single-use plastic.

The EcoFriends (West Berkshire) team pulled together key organisations and businesses to put in place a five-point plan:

• Local council commitment
• Working with local businesses, organisations and community groups
• Setting up a community-led steering group
• Spread the word
• Reduce single-use plastic

Tuesdays are Learning Countryside Skills day

The aim of the Countryside Society is to promote an understanding, appreciation and conservation of the West Berkshire countryside. 

Although the Society has 250+ members, they are looking to increase their membership especially amongst young people, who have a growing concern for the environment and may like to learn new skills and gain experiences in countryside skills.

Volunteer work parties operate on Tuesdays throughout the year. The tasks can include woodland and common management, coppicing, hedge-laying and hedge/tree planting, no experience necessary!  There's also a Barn Owl Group installing barn owl boxes throughout West Berkshire and is licensed by the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) to carry out survey work to monitor them.

Membership is £15pa. Enquiries: membership@westberkscountryside.org.uk

Thank you to all the community groups and residents that took part in the Great British Spring Clean in March.

We were proud to support and join Keep Britain Tidy in marking their 70^th birthday by taking part in the Spring Clean Campaign.  Officers from West Berkshire Council also went out litter picking across Newbury. In addition throughout March we lent out 270 litter pickers, high viz jackets and gloves and arranged disposal of the rubbish collected from local volunteer groups.

You don’t need to wear a cape to be a #litterhero! With gloves and a litter picker it’s easy to get started and love where you live this Spring.

The fourth North Wessex Downs Walking Festival takes place this year 31 May – 9 June with 29 walks on offer.

The Festival is a celebration of the stunning landscapes, glorious scenery and top-class walking country that this National Landscape has to offer.

There are opportunities for you to seek out wildlife, uncover history, picnic with the family or simply soak up the views from the top of the downs.  And this year there are even more farm walks on offer where you can hear directly from the farmers or land managers about their work.  Walks in Berkshire include a family-friendly Sunday afternoon farm walk near Stanford Dingley starting at Rushall Farm, an opportunity to explore Bucklebury Common in the company of a local ecologist, and a “Sunday Saunter” from Hampstead Norreys.

Many walks are free but all events must be booked in advance.  To learn more and to book visit: www.northwessexdowns.org.uk/walkingfestival

Wellbeing Walks across West Berkshire

There are 18 Wellbeing Walks to choose from and are an hours walk, set at a pace that can be managed whatever your ability, the walks are inclusive and all are welcome.

We have recently started the Lambourn Wellbeing Walk, this runs every second and fourth Monday in the month, from the St Micheal and all Angels Church in the heart of Lambourn meeting at 11.30 AM. 

Explore some heritage whilst walking in May

West Berkshire has a rich historic environment from the prehistoric period to the present day and many of our heritage assets can be seen and enjoyed whilst walking around the district. Six local walks featuring a range of different sites have been developed by West Berkshire Heritage, a collaboration between West Berkshire Council’s Archaeology, Museum and Shaw House teams, and are available here: www.westberkshireheritage.org/local-heritage/heritage-walks.

Four of the walks are available as PDFs.

• Hungerford: A walk around the historic market town, including many of its important historic buildings, and exploring some of its archaeological past, including its well preserved medieval street pattern and sites dating from the prehistoric and Roman periods.
• Inkpen: A walk around the historic village of Inkpen, first mentioned in a Saxon charter of 935 AD as ‘Ingepenne’ (enclosure on the hill), but also featuring evidence of human activity stretching back to the Bronze Age.
• Kintbury: A walk around the historic village and its surrounding landscape, including the Kennet and Avon Canal, some Second World War sites, the site of a Roman villa and some of Kintbury’s historic buildings.
• Pangbourne: A walk around this historic town, including many of its historic buildings and exploring its past as a centre of boat building in the 19th century, as well as a military training area in the Second World War. 

Two of the walks are available via the PocketSights website and optional app.

• Second World War Newbury: Created in partnership with Greenham Common Control Tower to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day in 2020, this walk is a memory trail of people, events and locations around Newbury town.
• Shaw House and St Mary’s Church Conservation Area: A walk around the historic estate of Shaw House starting in its grounds and exploring the evidence of over 500 years of evolution in the surrounding landscape.

Newbury Nature Corridor

Guided Walk and Grand Opening on Saturday 4 May

Join the local Friends of the Earth group for a walk with a purpose.  They will be walking the 2.5 mile route of the Newbury Nature Corridor, talking about what we can do to provide more living spaces for wildlife in our gardens, verges, schools and open spaces in this part of town.  The aim is to develop a string of beautiful nature-friendly habitats, so our wildlife can travel freely along it to find food, safety and mates.  Visit two schools with projects to restore wildlife ponds.  Maybe frogs could travel all the way between Barn Crescent and Goldwell Park! 

Meeting at 10 am Barn Crescent field (off Elizabeth Avenue, RG14 6HD) with an Introduction by local ecologist Justine Whitehead.

At 12.30 pm in Goldwell Park there will be a ceremony by Newbury Town Council Leader, Gary Norman to cut a (green!) ribbon to declare the Nature Corridor officially open. 

Claim your free packet of wildflower seeds on the walk, which you can join and leave at any point. 

Newbury Friends of the Earth FB group for more
details, or contact: info@newburyfoe.co.uk

The three Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) wardens - Martha, Patrick, and Zoë - have been chatting to visitors of Greenham and Snelsmore Commons about how they can enjoy the commons while also helping to protect ground-nesting birds by keeping to the main paths and the Roam Zone (Greenham) or the Green Dog Route (Snelsmore).  

The nesting season is now well underway and ground-nesting bird species, such as Dartford warbler, woodlark and meadow pipit, have been busy establishing territories on Greenham Common despite the very wet and windy weather we have been having.  Lets stay on the right path!

Wheatear, a summer visitor to the UK, have also been spotted on Greenham Common.

Please keep dogs on leads on the main common during the bird nesting season (1 March - 31 July)

The wardens are also running a number of wildlife walks and other events throughout the season. For more information, join the ‘Greenham Common Grapevine’ Facebook group or keep an eye on the BBOWT events page or Living Landscape Page.

Nature Discovery Centre Thatcham

Due to the success of our monthly Birds and Brew event we have set up an additional talk’s series called Birds on the Balcony.  This is a fantastic way to learn about the world of birds from the comfort of our Lakeside room. This event is perfect for anyone interested in birds, especially those with mobility issues.

Our first event on 3 May will equip you with handy hints and tips to identify garden birds. A short presentation will be given followed by a session on the balcony to try out your new knowledge.

We also have exciting events for children during the May Half Term. Head on over to our events page and check out our Bee themed trail on Tuesday 28 May and and the Brilliant Birds Day Camp on Wednesday 29 May.

• Monday 20 to Friday 24 May, why not take part in Walk to School Week