 Join the Eco Open Afternoon in Woodley
You are invited to the Eco Open Afternoon at St James Church in Woodley, on Saturday 18 October, from 2pm to 4.30pm.
There will be cakes and refreshments, eco stalls, family activities, recycling corner, workshops and more.
The Climate Emergency and My Journey Wokingham teams will also be there with a market stall. Visit us to find out about:
- top tips to reduce your carbon footprint
- ways to lower energy bills at home
- thermal imaging camera demonstrations
- the Big Community Switch
- sustainable and active travel options
It's free to attend and everyone is welcome at the church in Kingfisher Drive (RG5 3LH). Come along to learn, take part, and enjoy an afternoon focused on practical ways to live more sustainably.
 Let’s make food waste recycling second nature
Using your food waste caddy is one of the simplest ways to reduce your environmental impact. It’s collected weekly, keeps your main bin cleaner and helps prevent food from ending up in landfill.
Instead of breaking down and releasing harmful emissions, your food waste is turned into energy and fertiliser, helping power homes and capture carbon.
Many residents already use their caddies regularly, and we appreciate that. In some areas we’ve seen fewer food bins being put out, so we’re focusing our efforts there to understand what’s getting in the way and offer support.
Over the coming weeks, our teams will be visiting these neighbourhoods to raise awareness, understand any barriers and support residents in recycling more.
This work ties in with Recycle Week this week. If you’re unsure what goes in your caddy or need a replacement, visit our website for helpful tips and resources.
Together, we can make a real difference, one peel, crust and leftover at a time.
 Take control of your energy bills
Energy costs continue to rise, and finding a better tariff can be confusing and time-consuming. That’s why we're supporting the Big Community Switch, a free and simple way for residents to explore competitive energy deals.
By joining forces as a community, we can unlock exclusive offers from trusted suppliers, including options for 100 per cent renewable energy. More than 2,000 residents have already registered, helping to secure better prices for everyone.
How it works:
Whether you're looking to save money or switch to greener energy, the Big Community Switch makes it easy.
 Find out what happens to your recycling
Have you ever wondered what happens to your recycling after it’s collected in your green bags?
You can now sign up for a virtual tour of re3's Material Recycling Facility (MRF) to see exactly how your recycling is sorted and processed.
This is a chance to look behind the scenes and learn how your efforts help reduce waste and support the environment.
The session is free to attend and open to all residents.
You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and find out more about what you can do to recycle effectively.
Date: Friday 26 September
Time: 1pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
WATCH: What to expect at Wokingham Repair Café
Give new life to items in Wokingham
Through repairing, donating and re-using we can give new life to items.
Repairing - fix first, don’t toss
Before throwing away a broken item, consider whether it can be repaired. Across Wokingham Borough, Repair Cafés offer free help from skilled volunteers who can fix small appliances, clothing, furniture and more. These sessions help reduce waste and save money.
Local Repair Cafés in the borough include:
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Wokingham Repair Café, All Saints Church, RG40 1TN
Second Saturday of the month, 10am to 12.30pm
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Woodley Repair Café, Christ Church, RG5 3LA
First Sunday of the month, 2pm to 4pm
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Spencers Wood Repair Café, Lambs Lane Primary School, RG7 1YG
Third Sunday of the month, 10am to 1pm
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Spencers Wood Village Hall Repair Café, RG7 1AP
First Sunday of the month (except Jan and Dec), 10am to 1pm
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Earley Repair Café, Centrepoint Community Centre, RG6 5HZ
Second Sunday of the month, 10am to 1pm
Bring your broken items and learn how they can be brought back to life.
Donating - pass it on
If you have items you no longer need, donating them is a great way to help others and reduce waste. Clothes banks across the borough accept clean, wearable clothing. First Days charity also collects and redistributes schoolwear and essentials to families who need them. You can drop off items, and pick up what you need, helping others while reducing waste.
Donating keeps useful items in circulation and reduces the environmental impact of producing new ones. It’s a simple way to support your community and make a difference.
Before you throw something away, ask: could someone else use this?
Re-using - second-hand, first Choice
Choosing second-hand items is one of the easiest ways to reduce your environmental footprint. Whether it’s furniture, clothing, toys or tools, reusing what already exists helps cut down on waste and the demand for new materials.
You can find second-hand treasures at charity shops, online marketplaces and community reuse schemes. Re3 also accepts donations of reusable items at their recycling centres, helping extend the life of everyday goods.
Reusing isn’t just practical, it’s creative, cost-effective and better for the planet. Every item reused is one less item in landfill and you can find out more information.
Above: Old Forest Meadows, to the west of where two new green spaces are coming soon
More green spaces in the pipeline for 2026
Developers are putting the finishing touches to two new green spaces in North Wokingham, which we're planning to adopt once they're finished.
The first is a riverside park off Queen's Road, to the north of St Cecilia's Primary School and south of the Toutley East site.
Also nearing the end of construction is the last of five planned nature parks serving this major development, at Ashridge Farm to the north of Dalley Road.
Behind this will be a larger public green space connecting the nature park to its existing neighbours at Ashridge Meadow and Kentwood Meadow.
North Wokingham is also served by Old Forest Meadows, which includes the Berkshire Arboretum Woodland, and Keephatch Meadows.
Before adopting nature parks to manage ourselves, we inspect them to ensure the developers have built them to the right standard.
Both sites should be open by early 2026 and we'll share more news soon.
Plan your next visit by discovering the borough's green spaces.
 Join the Arborfield Community Clean Up
Help keep Arborfield and Arborfield Green tidy. Join the community clean up on Sunday 5 October, 10am to 1pm.
Meet at Arborfield Park (Swallowfield Road, RG2 9JR) or Arborfield Green Community Centre (Sheerlands Road, RG2 9NP) to collect equipment.
Organised by Arborfield & Newland Parish Council and supported by Barkham Parish Council.
 Work begins on Shinfield sustainable research centre
Construction has started on the Natural History Museum’s new research and collections centre at Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield.
The facility is designed to be net-zero in operation and will support global efforts to address the climate crisis.
You can see more photos online or take a guided video tour.
The centre, which is expected to be up and running by 2031, will include advanced laboratories and storage for 28 million specimens, enabling research into biodiversity, climate change, food security and disease prevention.
It will also feature energy-efficient systems, water-saving technologies and landscaping to support local wildlife, including birds, bats and pollinators.
This aligns with our climate emergency declaration and planning policies, which require new developments to aim for net-zero carbon and contribute to biodiversity.
The project is being delivered in partnership with the University of Reading and forms part of a wider infrastructure package supporting new housing in Shinfield parish.
The centre will play a key role in advancing environmental science and will help position the borough as a leader in sustainable development and climate action.
Sign-up to our new Community Matters newsletter, launching to celebrate the community spirit of Wokingham Borough and those that make a difference. Starting from 17 September, click here to get it straight to your inbox fortnightly.
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