 Take part in Earth Hour
It's Earth Hour at 8.30pm on Saturday 25 March where millions of people across the world will turn off their lights to show they care about the future of our planet.
By switching the lights off for one hour, it is a reminder that small actions can make a big difference to reducing our carbon footprint whilst helping to save the planet.
There are plenty of ideas on what to do during the one hour switch off including:
We will be taking part in Earth Hour by switching off the lights at our Shute End office in Wokingham and we would encourage others to get involved.
Wokingham Town Council will also be joining us in switching off for Earth Hour. They will be turning off the exterior decorative lights on Wokingham Town Hall on Saturday 25 March, through to the morning of Monday 27.
Let us know if you are taking part in Earth Hour by sending the Climate Emergency Team an email.
 Turn your food waste into nutrient-rich compost
Today (13 March) is the start of National Compost Week. The week celebrates the benefits of composting and encourages people to start turning their food waste into nutrient-rich compost.
We're encouraging people to continue composting throughout the year as compost is good for the environment and our planet. You can start composting by using fruit and vegetable scraps that you would normally put inside your food waste caddy.
What is compost?
Compost is made up of decomposing plants, food waste and manure. It can be used as a plant fertiliser and can improve the soil’s physical, chemical and biological properties by providing vital nutrients and carbon.
Why is it good for the planet?
Using compost is an effective way to sequester carbon by storing it in the soil instead of releasing it into the air. It also reduces flood risk as it absorbs up to four times its weight in water.
Composting is an easy and environmentally-friendly way to transform your food waste into nutrient-rich food for your garden.
How do I start composting?
If you have a compost bin already, you can start composting today by adding the below items to your bin.
If you don’t have a compost bin, you can create a wooden slatted frame or buy one from the Get Composting website. The website also sells water butts, helping you to collect rainwater to water your plants, and other accessories.
What can I put in my compost bin?
Nitrogen-rich items you can add to your compost include:
- Grass clippings
- Plant cuttings
- Fruit and vegetable scraps from your food waste caddy
- Coffee grounds
Carbon-rich items you can add to your compost include:
- Leaves
- Shredded paper, newspapers and cardboard
- Wood shavings and sawdust
- Manure
How long does composting take?
Composting is a natural process and can take anywhere between four weeks to 12 months to decompose. Planet Natural recommends the key to quick composting is to have a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 25:1.
Once decomposed, compost should look like topsoil and should be dark and crumbly. At this stage, your compost is ready to fill your plant pots or top up your existing soil levels in the garden. Happy composting!
 See if you qualify for free insulation
You could qualify for funded cavity wall and/or loft insulation through the Energy Company Obligation Flex Scheme (ECO) if you:
- Have a joint household income below £31, 000
- Live in a privately owned property with an EPC of D, E, F or G
For more information, visit our website or email matthew.johnston@wokingham.gov.uk.
To begin an application, you must contact one of the below installers:
- Insta Group Ltd: (0118) 979 3056
- JJ Crump & Sons Ltd: 0800 567 7474
 Contractor appointed for new solar farm
We’ve appointed Bouygues Energies and Services as the contractor for the new solar farm on land between Barkham and Finchampstead.
Planning permission for the 29 mega watts (MWp) capacity solar farm was granted in September 2021. This means that on a good day, the solar farm could generate 29 mega watts of energy - equivalent to the power needed for 8,500 homes.
The solar farm is just one of the many ways we're helping the environment by generating sustainable power within the borough. It also has financial benefits for the public purse.
Alongside the solar panels, thousands of new trees will be planted as part of our tree project, and a new greenway route aimed at better connecting Arborfield, Barkham and Finchampstead to the existing network of rights of way to the north will be installed.
To ensure we appointed the best contractor, we placed a greater emphasis on the quality and social value inclusions of the tender returns. We wanted to ensure that any company we worked with, as far as reasonable, would ensure that all construction material and equipment would be ethically sourced and not rely on forced labour.
Work will now start on designing the solar farm, with initial survey work starting in the coming weeks meaning residents will start to see more activity in and around the site. It is intended that construction work to install the solar panels will start towards the end of the year. Find out more about the solar farm by visiting our website.
 Funding boost for subsidised buses
We are striving to protect buses and recognise their importance as a healthy, affordable way of getting to school, work or social commitments, especially given the cost of living crisis.
Subsidised buses in Wokingham Borough have received a funding boost to keep them going until we can agree new long-term contracts with operators.
We've extended our support, which was due to expire on 31 March, until 31 August to help services facing reduced passenger numbers and high running costs.
The contracted routes, currently run by Reading Buses and Thames Valley Buses, serve Wokingham town centre and its surroundings, villages south of the M4, the A327 corridor and the number 19 routes from Lower Earley to Reading.
The extended funding and new contracts will be partly funded by payments that developers must make towards local services or infrastructure.
We're committed to addressing the climate emergency while reducing air pollution and traffic congestion. Encouraging more public transport usage is key to this, alongside enabling walking and cycling where possible, helping you you to live healthily and affordably.
Take part in all things climate
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Email us if you have a climate question or want to know how we are delivering the Climate Emergency Action Plan
- Share the action(s) you and your family will take this year to tackle the climate emergency by taking part in our Planet Pledge campaign
- We are looking to hear from residents who have installed energy efficient technology to feature in our next newsletter to inspire other residents. Email us if you would like to be featured
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