 Reed beds take root at Charvil Country Park
During the last six months, our countryside team has been enhancing habitats at Charvil Country Park, focusing on Canberra Lake and the Heronry.
Thanks to full developer funding, we’ve removed excess trees and scrub, regraded the banks to create shallower edges, and planted 5,000 reed plants in newly created shallows. Protective fencing has also been installed to shield young reeds from grazing waterfowl.
Although the reeds are newly planted, in just a few years these areas will become rich wetland habitats.
They’ll offer shelter for fish fry and invertebrates, nesting spots for warblers and waterfowl, and feeding grounds for herons, kingfishers and even bitterns.
Once fully established, the fencing will be removed, leaving behind a thriving natural space that supports biodiversity and improves the park’s ecological value.
Visit Charvil Country Park to see the transformation in progress.
 Help keep bottle banks buzz-free
Have you noticed more wasps around the bottle banks? So have we!
Sweet leftovers - like juice, jam and alcohol, are a magnet for wasps.
These insects are drawn to sugary scents and, once they find a source, they tend to stick around. Unwashed bottles and jars can attract them in larger numbers.
Please give your bottles and jars a quick rinse before recycling. You can check your local bottle banks on the re3 website.
It helps keep the area clean, safe, and buzz-free for everyone.
 Last chance to join Solar Together
There are now fewer than two weeks left to register for this round of Solar Together.
More than 500 Wokingham borough residents have already signed up to generate their own renewable energy and cut their energy bills.
Solar Together is a group-buying scheme that gives homeowners and businesses access to solar panels and battery storage at competitive prices from trusted, pre-vetted suppliers.
The more people who register, the better the price becomes for everyone.
This is a great opportunity to save money and support our goal of becoming a carbon-neutral borough.
Registration closes on Friday 8 August. Sign up now to receive your personalised, no-obligation offer.
 Discover the magic of Longmoor Bog
Yesterday was International Bog Day… and yes, we’re talking about bogs!
But not just any bog, Longmoor Bog in California Country Park is a local treasure that’s more than 8,000 years old.
This ancient peatland is bursting with rare wildlife, fascinating science and wild beauty.
Follow the boardwalk to explore safely, spot the orange stream coloured by iron-rich water, and keep an eye out for the bog bush cricket and silver-studded blue butterfly.
Peatlands like Longmoor may only cover three per cent of the Earth, but they store nearly 30 per cent of the world’s soil carbon, making them vital climate heroes.
So this summer, ditch the usual and discover something truly unique right on our doorstep.
Click to watch the behind-the-scenes video
WATCH: How we're encouraging swifts at Dinton
Swifts have a striking new home at Dinton Pastures Country Park. The newly installed Swift Tower on Black Swan Island stands eight metres tall and is designed to attract these amazing migratory birds to nest.
Dinton is already a favourite feeding ground for swifts, which swoop over the lake for insects.
With numbers down by 62 per cent since 1995, this tower helps support their return and boost local colonies.
It even includes a built-in birdsong player to help draw them in.
Created by artist Will Nash and funded through developer contributions, the tower is a stunning mix of sculpture and conservation.
Installing it was no small feat, with materials ferried across the lake and raised without a crane.
Take a look behind the scenes and see how it all came together.
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