 Start half-term in the Forest of Imagination
Wokingham Borough’s Forest of Imagination is here and is perfect start to half-term, with a free events all weekend at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst.
There’s activities, workshops and events happening from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Just turn up and get involved on the day, as well as seeing the art installations, interactive session and digital experiences.If you want a feel for what you'll find, check our Facebook and Instagram galleries.
A full schedule of the weekend’s events, free for everyone to take part in, can be found of the Forest of Imagination Wokingham Borough website.
This project has been supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Travel by bus, bike, foot or scooter
In line with the event’s ethos, residents are being encouraged to use cleaner, greener or more active ways to travel to Dinton Pastures this weekend.
The My Journey Wokingham website can help you to walk, scoot, cycle or use public transport to get anywhere in the borough.
Try out the quick journey planner to plan your route to Dinton from your home.
 Get married and win a wedding at Dinton Pastures
Happy couples can now say ‘I do’ at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst as it has been approved to be a licensed wedding venue. Dinton is now taking bookings and has its first lakeside wedding booked later this year.
To book a tour of the wedding venues available, contact the Events Team on (0118) 237 8095 or send an email.
Visit the Dinton website to see the wedding packages available. For more information on marriages and civil partnership ceremonies, visit our website.
Win a wedding
Dinton Pastures is running a competition for one happy couple to hold their wedding reception at the country park’s conservatory and gardens, now it has its licence.
The package is based on 50 guests and includes hire of The Coffee House from 4pm to 11pm.
You'll also win an on-site team assisting on the day, glass of prosecco on arrival, a two-course set menu or BBQ, half a bottle of wine per person, tables and chairs, tablecloths, crockery, cutlery and glassware, table centrepieces and complimentary free car parking. Terms and conditions apply.
Enter the win a wedding competition on the Dinton Pastures website. Entries close this Sunday (25 May).
If you’re due a waste collection on Monday remember to put your bins out the night before as collections start earlier at 5.30am due to the bank holiday. You can check your waste collection day on our website.
 New faces on Executive of council announced
The council’s new executive was announced at the Annual Council meeting last night.
There will now be 10 executive members:
- Cllr Stephen Conway - Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Housing, Partnerships and the Local Plan
- Cllr Prue Bray – Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Children’s Services
- Cllr Mark Ashwell - Executive Member for Economic Development, Sport, Leisure and the Arts
- Cllr Adrian Betteridge - Executive Member for Active Travel, Transport and Highways
- Cllr David Hare - Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing
- Cllr Katrin Harding - Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency
- Cllr Imogen Shepherd-DuBey - Executive Member for Finance and Governance
- Cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth - Executive member for Resident Services, Inclusion and Fighting Poverty
- Cllr Martin Adler – Executive Member for Planning and Enforcement
- Cllr Lou Timlin - Executive Member for Community Safety and Public Protection
The borough’s new mayor, Cllr Caroll Jewell was voted in at the same meeting. Her deputy will be Cllr Rob Comber.
Cllr Jewell announced that her chosen charity will be Building for the Future.
 Remember your photo ID to vote in by-election
Ahead of the upcoming by-elections on Thursday 5 June, remember to have your photo ID ready to take to the polling station.
In addition to the vacant seat on the borough council for Maiden Erlegh & Whitegates Ward, there is also a seat to fill on Earley Town Council in Redhatch Ward.
Some residents will be able to vote in both elections, but others may only be eligible to vote in one or the other. It is important to read your poll card carefully, as it will tell you which elections you are eligible to vote in.
The deadline to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Wednesday 28 May.
A full list of accepted forms of ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website. You must remember to bring valid ID when you vote and you will not be issued a ballot paper without it.
 Enhanced bus service launches
An enhanced Leopard 3 bus service for Shinfield, Arborfield, Finchampstead and Barkham started on Monday (19 May).
Reading Buses is now running the service up to every 30 minutes on this section between 6.30am and 7pm, and on Saturdays between 8am and 6pm.
The Sunday timetable has also been improved, with buses now running directly to Wokingham hourly between 8.30am and 8pm.
Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield will now be served by buses that run to and from Wokingham on Monday to Fridays, providing a new direct link.
There'll still be buses up to every 15 minutes between Reading and Shinfield, via Royal Berkshire Hospital, with minor changes to allow for the route extensions.
What you might have missed
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