 Big Community Switch running for second time
We are delighted to share that the second round of the Big Community Switch in Wokingham Borough will open on Monday 17 February.
It follows the success of last year's scheme, which saw 77 people make the switch to a renewable source of energy, saving 54 tonnes of carbon emissions in the first year, the equivalent to 54 return flights to New York.
The Big Community Switch uses the bargaining power of a large group to help secure lower prices and you will receive a personal offer after you register, which is free and there is no obligation to go ahead.
The initiative is run by iChoosr and all energy suppliers have been vetted before being allowed to participate.
Making the switch to renewable energy helps us to make progress towards our ambition of working towards a carbon neutral Wokingham Borough.
The latest round of the Big Community Switch will run until Thursday 1 May. To find out more, visit the Wokingham Borough page on the Big Community Switch website.
 Guidance on heat pumps for heating your home
Winter is here and it's getting chilly, so many of us are turning our attention to how we heat our homes.
Did you know that around 85 per cent of us have boilers that burn natural gas? This makes heating one of the home's largest carbon contributors to carbon emissions.
If you are thinking of installing a heat pump in your home, the Energy Saving Trust offer guidance and answers to some common questions.
This includes:
- Are heat pumps noisy?
- Do they cost more to run than a gas boiler?
- Will they work in below freezing temperatures?
- Do I have to have new radiators?
- Can it keep my house warm all year?
If you are interested in finding out whether a heat pump is right for your home, you can also use the free online assessment tool on their website.
 Improving wildlife conditions with planting projects
We will soon start two major planting projects, which will see around 11 hectares of our land in Barkham and Ashridge become more wildlife friendly.
These projects will involve planting thousands of trees, including bell heather, elder, European blueberry, common alder, aspen and many more, at both locations before the end of this planting season in March.
Last year’s planting season saw us plant more than 6,200 trees across the borough, including at schools, community spaces and our own land.
More than 40 per cent of these trees were part of our Biodiversity Net Gain project at Ashenbury Park in Woodley, a pilot scheme to enrich the site's natural habitats and make it more welcoming to wildlife.
We planted a diverse range of native species, such as beech, silver birch, blackthorn, dog rose, hazel, spindleberry, wild cherry and more.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to The Woodland Trust for their support through the Emergency Tree Fund, as well as to Freely Fruity, Swallowfield Parish Council, Twyford Parish Council, and many schools across the borough for their collaboration in making this happen.
 Successful first planting of 2025 for Freely Fruity
The team at Freely Fruity have brightened up Langley Mead car park in Shinfield by planting 13 fruit trees.
It was their first planting job of the year and saw them plant a selection of trees, including apple, cherry, pear and quince.
This will allow people using the area for recreation and local residents to access free fruit for many years to come.
Following a successful 2024, which saw the charity receive the King's Award for Voluntary Service, we are very excited to see what they achieve this year and look forward to being a part of it.
 Reusable nappies can help you and the environment
Using reusable nappies saves money for both parents and our communities.
According to the environmental action charity WRAP, by the time a baby is toilet trained, the baby could use 4,000 to 6,000 disposable nappies. In comparison, a baby only needs around 20 to 30 reusable nappies.
Parents could save between £200 and £500 in two and a half years for their first baby, with even greater savings if re-used for siblings. Also, families using reusable nappies can, on average, halve the amount of their household waste, reducing our costs to dispose of the waste.
Lastly, reusable nappies are mostly made from natural fabrics, which are comfortable and gentle on skin.
 Making a strategy that works for people and wildlife
The Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy is your chance to shape priorities that will help protect and restore nature.
The aim is to create a map of areas with particular importance for biodiversity and develop a strategy, working with partners, landowners and businesses.
The latest round of engagement is a public consultation, with a draft map and documents, including a list of priorities and measures for the county. You can have your say on what you think before the strategy is finalised.
A survey will be live from Monday 17 February to Monday 24 March. As part of this phase, you are encouraged to contribute to an online map of biodiversity sites and opportunities for nature recovery.
 Calling young artists to show us your school run
All primary and secondary schoolchildren in the borough are invited to design a poster showing how they walk, cycle or scoot to school.
We want as many pupils as possible to travel actively, because it's healthier and much better for the environment.
The winning posters at primary and secondary level will have their posters printed and displayed in school to encourage others to get into the habit.
There are also prizes at both levels in the following categories:
- 1st Place - £50 Decathlon voucher
- 2nd Place - £25 Decathlon voucher
- 3rd Place - £15 Decathlon voucher
You have got until Monday 24 February to enter, so send your designs to the My Journey Wokingham team and get involved.
 Show your love for the planet as well as others
There are lots of ways to make simple swaps while showing fondness for someone special.
Here are some tips for how to have an eco-friendly Valentine's Day:
- Roses are often grown in hotter climates, or under artificial heat, meaning they come with a high carbon footprint, so you could try different flowers that are grown and sourced locally and air dried flowers or a plant would also make a lovely gift
- If you are planning a special meal, look into sustainable and ethical restaurant options. If you decide to cook at home, opt for seasonal vegetables and support local businesses where possible
- If you want to give a gift other than flowers, try to shop local. Consider brands that prioritise sustainability and use recycled materials. Chocolates are another popular choice and there are lots of eco-friendly brands out there
Love may be in the air this Valentine's Day, but we can all do our bit to reduce the carbon emissions in the air.
 New sustainability workshops helping nature
The Eco Skills Learning Centre at Pudding Lane Nursery in Arborfield opened on Tuesday 4 February, providing a vibrant new space for hands-on activities that promote the repair ethos.
This new centre builds on the success of the Build Your Own Birdbox workshops offered by the Repair Café at Lambs Lane Primary School.
At these workshops, children aged seven to 14 learned to build birdboxes using donated wood offcuts. So far, 20 workshops have been held with nearly 500 birdboxes built.
Thanks to the offer of the Old Barn at the nursery, the repair café volunteers now have a dedicated space to run the birdbox workshops. Wood is delivered and stored on site, allowing workshops to be conducted from a single location.
In addition to birdboxes, the Eco Skills Learning Centre is expanding its offer to include workshops for creating bug hotels, bat boxes, hedgehog homes and owl boxes.
The workshops are free, but a small donation is welcome to help cover running costs. The team also welcomes donations of wood offcuts.
Email Billie, the repair café organiser, if you are interested in having these workshops for your school or youth group.
 Recycle your old tubs and help a good cause
Have you got a leftover plastic sweet or biscuit tub from Christmas?
Apart from recycling them in your green bags, you can now drop them off at any Greene King pub, restaurant or hotel to help raise funds for the national charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
Greene King, the UK pub and brewing company, is running a Tub2Pub recycling campaign to collect clean and empty plastic tubs nationwide.
All collected tubs will be sent to a specialist recycling facility, processed and then sold to manufacturers to create new products. The proceeds from the sale of Tub2Pub plastics will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.
You have until Sunday 16 February to support this campaign. Last year, more than 150,000 tubs were collected, raising £12,600 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
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