 Ditch the car on Clear Air Day
This Thursday is Clean Air Day 2022, and we want you to join us in ditching the car on 16 June in favour of active travel.
Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to our health, no matter who you are or where you live. Air pollution can harm every organ in your body and can shorten our lives, contribute towards chronic illness and put us more at risk from respiratory illnesses such as Covid-19, as well as causing up to 36,000 deaths in the UK each year.
What can you do?
- Learn about air quality & air pollution and how you contribute to it
- Choose to walk, cycle or scoot for short journeys and commute for work/school as well as your daily exercise
- Ask your employer if they are taking part in the Cycle to Work Scheme
- Consider swapping your existing car for a low emissions vehicle, electric or petrol and maintain it with regular services and checking tyre pressure – this can save money and fuel too
- When waiting in a queue, at a light or pulled up waiting for someone, switch your engine off and encourage others to do the same
- Look into car sharing schemes:
 Free SHINE open day - 23 June
We're hosting a free open day at Cantley Park in Wokingham for people who have not yet tried our over-55s SHINE activities.
The aim of the day, which will run on Thursday 23 June from 9.30am to 6.30pm, is to introduce people to SHINE and encourage them to sign up after trying out a variety of exercise classes. The event is for those over-55 who are not currently SHINE members.
There will be plenty of indoor and outdoor options throughout the day, including Zumba, seated exercise, yoga, tennis, Pilates and Nordic walking. The open day timetable is as follows:
- 9.30am - seated exercise; Yoga; Nordic walking
- 10.30am - Zumba
- 11.30am - AG Yoga; Pilates; tennis
- 1.30pm - Circuits; Pilates; Nordic walking
- 2.30pm - Zumba
- 3.30pm - Circuits; Yoga
- 5.30pm - Zumba
Pre-booking is required, but you can sign up for as many classes as you wish. Email shine@wokingham.gov.uk or call (0118) 974 3728 and let us know which classes you would like to join.
Due to the open day, all member classes scheduled for 23 June will be suspended and resume the following day.
 Report vandalism at Cantley Park
We have seen several cases of vandalism to our new play area at Cantley Park and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Most recently, the football wall has been repeatedly damaged and even the safety fencing we put up is being targeted. We have no choice but to close it off as a precaution. Repairs are being arranged which is expected to take a few weeks to complete. Until then, our anti-social behaviour team is stepping up patrolling in the park.
We are deeply disappointed by these mindless actions, which we have reported to the police. If you see anything suspicious happening in the park, please call police on 101.
Thank you for your co-operation and apologies for any inconvenience while we work to put this right as quickly as possible.
 Enjoy a fun-filled summer at Dinton Pastures
This summer couldn’t be more fun with a whole host of events and activities taking place at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst.
The activity courses on offer at this popular beauty spot are designed to suit all ages and levels of experience or ability.
Sailing weeks and clubs help youngsters progress through the Royal Yachting Association scheme or keep up their existing skills. Wild Days Holiday Club provides all kinds of adventure like climbing, archery, fencing and more. Meanwhile, adults can enjoy different kinds of water sports such as dinghy sailing, open water swimming and stand-up paddleboard yoga.
There are also inclusive activities for those with disabilities or special educational needs, as well as "doggy paddle" sessions for four-legged friends to enjoy together with you.
This summer also sees the return of some exciting events at Dinton Pastures, including Gocinema’s outdoor film screenings, Barnes Fitness Dinton Summer Series running events and the much-loved Marvellous Festival featuring 14 top tribute bands.
Visit Dinton Pastures’ website to find out more and reserve a place before they are sold out.
 Wheely great day as pupils catch up on missed bike training
Pupils from Year 7 at the Piggott secondary school in Wargrave took part in a bike skills training workshop to make up for an opportunity they missed during Covid-19 restrictions.
The 52 boys and girls enjoyed a Level 2 Bikeability course on quiet roads, taught by Avanti Cycling with funding from us, after not being able to do so at their primary schools last year.
They'd usually have done this before the end of Year 6 but this wasn't possible because of rules in place across the country at the time to limit the spread of Covid-19.
Our My Journey Wokingham active travel team and Avanti worked closely with the school to work out how to fit the session around its regular timetable, and we're thankful to staff for their support.
Now, if they like, the pupils can tackle the final stage - Bikeability Level 3 - in which they can learn to tackle more challenging situations like complex junctions and roundabouts.
 Cantley Park Pavilion temporary closure
The pavilion at Cantley Park in Wokingham will be closed on Monday 27 June and Tuesday 28 June while maintenance is carried out to the toilets and changing rooms.
The temporary closure applies to the café and Ashridge Room and there will be no toilet facilities available in the pavilion for play area users.
There will be no classes or programmes running on these days.
Normal opening hours for the café are 10am to 4.30pm on weekdays, 8am to 4pm on Saturdays and 9am to 3pm on Sundays. Hours are seasonal and subject to change.
What you might have missed
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