 Still time to row, row, row (or pedal!) your boat
Although the summer holidays are coming to an end, the boat hire service at Dinton Pastures Country Park will continue in the first week of September (1 to 4 September), and on every weekend of the month after that.
A range of boats are available for hire including pedalos, paddleboards, canoes, single and double kayaks. Boat hire is open to everyone aged two or over, though children aged under eight must be accompanied by an adult.
A standard boat hire slot lasts 30 minutes. You can book back-to-back pedalo slots every day, while for paddleboards and single kayaks, back-to-back slots are allowed on weekends only.
Your safety is our priority, so our staff at the Dinton Activity Centre will ensure that your safety equipment is fitted correctly and that you understand the rules for being on the lake before you head out on the water.
 If a quick dip is more your thing...
Our paddling pool at California Country Park, which opened for the summer on 16 July, is still taking bookings until Sunday, 11 September.
It's open seven days a week for advance online booking only, and the first 1 hour 45 minute session opens at 10am with the pool closing at 5.45pm.
Two ticket options are available: £2.60 for anyone of any age entering the water, or £1 for adults who need to supervise children but not enter the pool.
All children must be supervised by an adult and anyone entering the water must wear a swimsuit. Please ensure that babies wear waterproof swim nappies.
There are toilets on site next to Jackson's café, which underwent extensive refurbishment earlier this year, but please be aware there aren't changing rooms.
Don't forget that California Country Park also boasts an award-winning play area offering fun for all ages, including a trail through the trees for older children, and a stunning buggy-friendly lake to stroll around.
 Nature parks taking root across the borough...
We're getting ready to take on management of our nature parks at Parklands (pictured), which opened off Basingstoke Road in Three Mile Cross earlier this year, and Buckhurst Meadows in South Wokingham.
The former has new trees and hedges alongside existing hedgerows, footpaths with bridges and two drainage ponds which form a wet grassland area. It's a haven for species like bats, birds, stag beetles, hedgehogs, reptiles and amphibians.
It was built by developers building new homes in the area, which was required as a condition of their planning permission for the housing, and is ready for adoption now that new planting is fully grown.
Buckhurst Meadows opened some years ago to serve new homes in the Montague Park area. It has a community orchard, a network of footpaths winding through fields and a metal sculpture of a butterfly, one of three on the estate.
 ...and more green space to follow
On top of all this, we're working with developer Crest Nicholson to provide a new nature park near West Court, on the Hoglands Farm area at Arborfield.
This will be built north-east of the existing one at Finchwood Park (pictured), built by Cala Homes, and both will be linked by footpaths to provide a continuous green space. We'll take over managing the two when it's completed.
There'll be a small car park but visitors should walk or cycle if they can to reduce their impact on the environment. Another nature park is set to follow at Ashridge Farm in North Wokingham, complementing others already built in that area.
Across the borough there are many local nature reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), and other natural greenspaces like woodlands, heathlands, lakes and meadows. Many consist of a mixture of natural wildlife areas and features to welcome visitors like footpaths and car parks.
Find out more about our nature parks on our new Countryside Service website.
 Fun at Dinton is accessible to all
Our £2.4 million Dinton Activity Centre at Dinton Pastures Country Park, which we opened in September last year, is a welcoming place for all residents regardless of age or ability level.
For less mobile visitors, there are accessible toilets and changing rooms which are open around the clock via radar key. Those with walking difficulties can hire a free mobility scooter although an induction is needed and slots must be booked in advance.
The centre offers all kinds of activities, both on the water and on land, which are inclusive to all. These include the Sailability sessions on our sailing lake for those with sensory issues or special educational needs.
Our staff are experienced in coaching people of all backgrounds and the session times can also be extended to suit different requirements. More information about Dinton Pastures’ accessible facilities and inclusive activities can be found online.
 Looking back, one year on
We can't believe the centre's already nearing its first birthday, but we're delighted to be celebrating this milestone.
Officially opened on 22 September 2021, it's our first net-zero carbon building with eco-friendly materials and features to support our goal of helping the borough address the climate emergency. It was partly built off-site and assembled to reduce disruption to existing users and the environmental impact.
The two-storey building, clad in Siberian larch, includes a fun climbing wall with modern locking mechanisms allowing people to climb without a partner. Its green additions include solar panels and windcatchers on the roof, LED lighting and air source heat pumps - all of which reduce energy usage and running costs.
It's also home to the Coffee Deck, a coffee shop on the upper-floor terrace with stunning views over the lake. Why not pop in for a hot drink and a snack?
We're very proud that the project, completed in partnership with modular construction experts Reds10 and HLM Architects, recently played a key role in our winning a top industry award for how we carry out big building projects.
 Rescue crews test new kit at Dinton
The Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue service recently used the lake at Dinton Pastures Country Park to try out a new piece of equipment.
The crews were testing an underwater camera, an essential aid in search and rescue operations, which was donated to them by Maidenhead Rugby Club.
The organisation is made up of highly trained volunteers and is Thames Valley Police's main resource when searching for high-risk vulnerable missing people.
We were pleased to help them carry out this important work.
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