 Get support to keep your home warm this winter
Citizens Advice and the Energy Saving Trust have teamed up for the return of Energy Savers Week (20 to 26 January).
The focus of the week is to share a winter heating checklist, which will help keep you warm and spend less.
Through Citizens Advice, you can get help if you are behind paying your energy bill, need extra support from your energy supplier, want to switch supplier and much more.
Our website has a dedicated section on staying warm in the winter and how to be prepared in instances of flooding and severe weather.
Reducing heat loss in your home can help to save you money on your energy bills and reduces the carbon emissions that is produced from non-renewable sources of energy.
You can also find out more about reducing heat loss from your home and ways to make your home more energy efficient on the Energy Saving Trust website.
Advice sessions
Citizens Advice is offering free drop-in sessions as part of the Big Energy Saving Fortnight (13 to 24 January). These are running on:
- Tuesday 14 January - Woodley Library (10am to 2pm), Tesco, Wokingham (9.30am to 12noon), Morrisons, Woosehill (1pm to 3.30pm)
- Wednesday 15 January - Asda, Lower Earley (9.30am to 3.30pm)
- Thursday 16 January - Wokingham Library (10am to 2pm), Swallowfield Parish Hall (10am to 1pm), School Green Centre, Shinfield (1.30pm to 3.30pm)
- Saturday 18 January - Asda, Lower Earley (9.30am to 3pm)
- Tuesday 21 January - Woodley Library (10am to 2pm), Woodley Foodbank (9.30am to 12noon), Waitrose, Twyford (1pm to 3.30pm)
- Wednesday 22 January - Woodley Precinct (9.30am to 3pm)
- Thursday 23 January - Wokingham Library (10am to 2pm), Arborfield Community Centre (10m to 1pm), SHARE at Arborfield British Legion (2pm to 4pm)
You can get help with energy efficiency ideas, tariffs and meters, Winter Fuel and Cold Weather Payments and more. You can also book an appointment with the Energy Advice Team by email or by calling 0808 278 7958.
 Entrance works start at Barkham Solar Farm
Work to create a site entrance at our new solar farm in Barkham started today (Monday 13 January).
The new entrance off Barkham Ride will offer improved access to the site, allowing vehicles to get onto the site when preparatory works start later this year. This will help to minimise the traffic on surrounding roads.
There will be two-way traffic lights in place to allow the site entrance work to be carried out safely. The new entrance is expected to be complete by the beginning of February.
The solar farm will contribute towards our Climate Emergency Action Plan, with the solar farm expected to generate a carbon saving of more than 6,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. That is the equivalent of 29 million KWh of energy used, or the average annual energy consumption of more than 7,000 local homes each year.
 Visit our hub for advice on living a greener 2025
Our Climate Emergency Hub is full of tips and information to help you make simple changes and reduce your carbon footprint.
We have a dedicated section for residents, which features a leaflet of our top ten tips. These are designed to help the planet, but in many cases will also save you time and money.
If you have made a New Year's resolution to be more conscious, here are our tips to help get you started:
- Wash your clothes at 30°C to save energy and money
- Switch off devices when not in use or on standby
- Turn your heating down by 1°C and use timers
- Avoid unnecessary purchases that contribute to landfill
- Try to donate, repair or upcycle an item before throwing it away
- Make sure to recycle items correctly
- Shop second-hand where possible and donate unwanted items
- Walk or ride a bike instead of driving, especially for short journeys
- Use your caddy to ensure food waste is disposed of properly
- Try swapping some of your meals for meat-free options
If you want to find out more about how you can help, our libraries are well stocked with helpful books on climate change and ways to lower your carbon footprint. See what we have available on our library website, or visit your nearest branch.
 Hundreds of pre-loved items fixed in first year
Woodley Repair Café just celebrated its first birthday on Sunday 5 January!
Over the past 12 months, the friendly team of volunteers has looked at more than 500 broken or faulty items. They saved nearly a tonne of waste from ending up in landfill or being burnt for energy - that's about 6,500 kg of carbon emissions. The most commonly repaired items included hoovers, toasters and clothing.
The team wholeheartedly thanks the residents for their support and hopes to see even more people bring in their items.
Cllr Carol Jewell, founder of the Woodley Repair Café and Deputy Borough Mayor, said: "What a first year we've had! The skill and commitment of our fixers and volunteers never ceases to amaze me!"
Looking ahead, Woodley Repair Café hopes to run workshops and, if possible, engage young people in practical skills to foster a culture of repair.
We congratulate the repair café on its success and thank the volunteers for their great effort in reducing waste and helping the environment.
 Help to keep track of bird species in your area
Join the world's largest garden wildlife survey and take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 January.
Run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), hundreds of thousands of people help to build a picture of how garden birds are faring every year.
It is simple to get involved:
- Get your free guide
- Spend an hour watching and record the birds that land
- Report your findings to the RSPB
You can register to take part this year and get a free digital or printed Birdwatch guide.
If you want to get more involved locally, the Wokingham and Bracknell branch of the RSPB hold a monthly event. Join them for 'A Date With Nature' walk at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst, with the next event happening on Saturday 1 February at 9am.
If you are unable to make the next session, these are held at the same time on the first Saturday of the month.
 Information for communities at risk of flooding
Recent weather has again caused flooding in parts of the borough, causing disruption on the roads and in some cases forcing businesses to temporarily close.
We have a section on our website dedicated to flooding and drainage issues, which can help you navigate these difficult times.
There may be a local flood warden or a flood group in your area who supports communities at risk of flooding. Check with your town or parish council for more information.
You can sign up to receive flood warnings and check if you live in a flood-risk area on the Government website.
To see the latest incidents in your area, visit the Environment Agency's local flooding map.
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