Wokingham Borough Connect
 Smoother school run thanks to new traffic-free path
The latest of our greenways, a network of mostly traffic-free routes linking major destinations in the borough, has been officially opened to the public.
It crosses Woosehill Meadows, between Reading Road and Heron Road in Wokingham town, as part of a new link between Cantley Park and Arborfield Cross. This is one of several planned connections, with funding largely provided by the developers..
It’s proving popular with residents, including pupils of the nearby Windmill, Hawthorns and St Paul’s primary schools, who use it to get to school. Both are designated “air quality schools” which work with our My Journey Wokingham team to monitor air pollution and reduce it by changing how they travel.
The new greenway has a hard, permeable surface to make it accessible in all weathers, particularly for users of wheelchairs, buggies and more, and will blend in with its surroundings as the grass on either side grows back. The area around Kingfisher Bridge to the south has also been tidied up.
One resident told us: “I wanted to say how brilliant it is to have a proper path in the fields… it will make such a huge difference in the winter not having to struggle through thick mud”. The next stage will be a section along Coombes Lane and Coles Lane near Barkham, with work set to start in early to mid-October.
 Promoting a greener school run and more
Cycle to School Week
Do you want to save money, get healthier and protect the environment? As well as have lots of fun on the journey to school?
Then get involved with Cycle to School Week! The annual event, previously known as Bike to School Week, is back for 2022. This year, the Bikeability Trust are taking the handlebars, supported by Sustrans.
From Monday 3 to Friday 7 October we want as many people as possible to make a pledge for Cycle to School Week. In total, the journeys to school pledged during Bike to School Week in 2021 saved over £20,000 of fuel. How much can we save this year?
If you cycle to and from school during Cycle to School Week you can also earn 500 bonus ValleyCoins per day if you are signed up to Innovation Valley Rewards. Please note users of the app must be aged 13+.
Four schools recognised for active travel plans
Congratulations to four Wokingham borough schools which have successfully received their Modeshift STARS accreditations for creating and monitoring travel plans. They are:
- The Hawthorns Primary School, Wokingham (silver accreditation)
- Wescott Infants School, Wokingham (gold accreditation)
- Nine Mile Ride Primary School, Finchampstead (green accreditation)
- Windmill Primary School, Wokingham (green accreditation)
Car Free Day
Many of our air quality schools participated in International Car Free Day on Thursday 22 September. There are lots of benefits to walking, scooting or cycling to school – here are just six:
- Skip the traffic
- Reduce air pollution
- Get fit and healthy
- Improve your mental health
- Save money
- Help the environment
If you are interested in becoming an air quality school please contact us.
Tree competition winners awarded medals
My Journey ran a summer holiday competition to identify native species of trees and has now announced the lucky winners!
Trees help us to reduce air pollution and planted in the right places can help improve air quality by forming a barrier between people and pollutants. They also absorb pollutant gases (nitrogen dioxide, ammonia, sulphur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark.
The winning entry was Olivia (aged 5) from Radstock Primary School, Lower Earley who won a £25 Decathlon voucher. The runners-up were Esha (aged 8) from Crosfields School, Shinfield and Josh (aged 8) from Westende Junior School, Wokingham who both received My Journey goody bags including a biodegradable medal containing wildflower seeds to plant in their gardens. For each medal that Earth Runs sell a tree is planted - they certainly are the greenest medals in town.
Active Travel Poetry Competition
We're running an active travel poetry competition and the winner's school will win a visit by James Carter a poet!
To take part you need to write a short poem about walking, cycling or scooting; write in any style you like, as long as it is poetry, not prose. What do you like about walking, cycling or scooting? How do you feel when you travel this way?
For full details and some useful tips from James please visit our website.
 Reading Cycle Festival
The My Journey team supported Reading Cycle Festival on Sunday 25 September, which took place on a nice, dry afternoon at Christchurch Meadows in Reading. Lots of people flocked to the event while over 30 stalls entertained and informed families, including a bike stunt team and a penny farthing available for rides.
The team handed out our active travel information including cycle maps and water bottles and explained what’s on offer for Wokingham residents. The star of the show was our smoothie bike, Pedalicious, with hundreds of people queueing to make a healthy pedal-powered fruit smoothie and receive a sticker for their efforts. Another trip was needed to replace fruit supplies and by the end there were no eco cups or water bottles left, so a successful time was had by all!!
National Fitness Day
The My Journey team also supported the council's National Fitness Day event at Cantley Park on 21 September, offering free Dr Bike checks, active travel information and another chance to make a smoothie on Pedalicious. Dr Bike was kept busy, checking and fixing seven bikes.
We also ran two short rides to encourage people to return to cycling if they had not cycled for a while and to show them some new off-road cycleways in the area. Two ladies enjoyed the rides, cycling into town and then to Dinton Pastures Country Park – each cycling a total of 8.5 miles. They are now ready to try cycling a bit further!
Balance Bike Challenge
Last Thursday, seven children took part in our Balance Bike Challenge at the track at the FBC centre at Finchampstead, which was organised jointly by My Journey and our community engagement team. The youngsters had to ride around the track, negotiating various obstacles and posting a letter in the postbox after each lap. The three winners, Tom, Rook and Barnaby, each completed seven laps and were awarded medals and goody bags kindly donated by Tesco, Wokingham. All participants received a My Journey water bottle and a biodegradable medal containing wildflower seeds to plant in their gardens.
 Regular cycle training and activities
- Bikeability Learn to Ride sessions (£6) at FBC in Finchampstead on Wednesdays and Woodford Park Leisure Centre in Woodley on Thursdays
- FREE Balance Bike Clubs both at FBC on Wednesdays and Woodford Park Leisure Centre on Thursdays
- Woky Wheels 4 All at FBC in Finchampstead on Thursdays
- Adult Cycle Training for Beginners/Improvers (£6) at Woodford Park Leisure Centre on Saturday mornings
- Nature Walk with Thames Basins Heath Partnership, My Journey and FREE Dr Bike checks at Rooks Nest Wood Country Park on Saturday, 8 October
- Twyford Fun Run - My Journey and Dr Bike on Sunday, 9 October
- Animal trail at Sambourne Playground, Montague Park, Wokingham from 2-30 October
- Animal trail at Fullbrook Playground, Croft Gardens, Shinfield from 2-30 October
- My Journey and Dr Bike at Calver Close, Winnersh on 17 October
- My Journey and Dr Bike at Arborfield Community Centre, Arborfield on 25 October
- My Journey and Dr Bike at Finchwood Park Sales Office Car Park, Finchampstead on 27 October
Further information and how to book can all be found on our website here.
Help wanted
We’re looking for a volunteer assistant to help us with our Balance Bike Club at FBC, Finchampstead on a Wednesday afternoon. This role would be suitable for students aged 18 or over or retired people looking to help in the community.
We’re also looking for a Learn to Ride Assistant to help us with our Learn to Ride sessions on Thursday afternoons at Woodford Park Leisure Centre, Woodley. The pay is £15 per hour. Please email us if you are interested in either role.
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