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Collection teams will be heading out earlier on bank holidays
May bank holiday bin collections
There are two bank holidays in May, and bin collections will still take place on both days as usual on Monday 4 May (Early May Bank Holiday) and Monday 25 May (Spring Bank Holiday).
On both days, collection teams will be starting earlier than normal, from 5.30am, so please make sure your bins are put out the night before or placed at the kerbside by 5.30am at the latest.
If you normally put your bins out in the morning, please be aware of the earlier start times to avoid missed collections.
You can check your usual bin collection day at any time on our website. Putting bins out on time helps crews complete collections efficiently across the borough.
Path progression shown at the start of April 2026
Accessible paths to the Covid Memorial Woodland
Work is under way to create accessible paths linking California Country Park to the Covid Memorial Woodland to the north of the park, helping make the site easier to reach, navigate and explore ahead of its official opening this summer.
The paths will connect the memorial woodland with existing routes in the park, supporting visitors of all abilities and creating clear, welcoming access.
The work is being carried out carefully and sensitively, with disruption to the woodland environment kept to a minimum.
Over the past year, volunteers, school pupils and local groups have helped bring the Covid Memorial Woodland to life by planting thousands of young trees and sowing wildflower seed. The site is now beginning to take shape as a peaceful place for reflection and remembrance.
As the ground dries after a wet winter, path construction is continuing. We will share a further update when plans for the official opening are confirmed.
 What happens to your food waste
Ever wondered what actually happens to your food waste once it leaves your kitchen?
We went behind the scenes to follow the journey from caddy to energy and fertiliser.
One common misconception is that you need special compostable or biodegradable bags for your food waste caddy. You do not. You can use any bag you have to hand, such as a bread bag, carrier bag or bin bag. At the anaerobic digestion plant, machinery separates packaging from the food waste before it enters the process.
The food waste is then broken down by billions of microbes, producing biogas that is used to generate electricity for the national grid. What remains becomes a nutrient‑rich liquid fertiliser, which is used by farmers.
All that from a banana skin.
You can watch the full journey in our short video on YouTube, filmed with our recycling officers and partners at re3 and hosted by Severn Trent Green Power in Wallinford.
Find out about putting food waste in your caddy, it really does make a difference.
 Energywise Wokingham - free help with energy bills
If you are struggling with high energy bills, fuel debt or keeping your home warm, Energywise Wokingham is a new free support service delivered by Citizens Advice Wokingham.
The service offers personalised energy advice to help you understand your energy use and identify practical ways to make your home warmer, more energy efficient and cheaper to run.
You can also get help exploring grants, discounts and financial support you may be entitled to, including support with fuel debt and prepayment meters.
You can choose either a phone appointment or a face‑to‑face session at a local Citizens Advice office.
To get support, you can visit the Citizens Advice Wokingham website or email energyadvice@cawokingham.org.uk or call 0808 278 7958.
 Summer opening hours at recycling centres
Summer opening hours are now in place at re3 recycling centres, giving residents more time each day to clear out unwanted items and recycle.
Centres are open from 8am to 8pm every day, making visits quicker and easier during the longer daylight hours.
Whether you are recycling bulky items or reusing what you can, planning ahead can help your visit go smoothly.
Before you travel, you can book a slot and check what you can bring. This helps reduce queuing and keeps sites running efficiently for everyone.
Photography credit: Wokingham Aerial Photography
Reminder - join the community energy switch
If you missed it in March, we are working with Switch Together to help you take part in a collective energy switching scheme, while reducing your carbon footprint.
The scheme offers access to 100 per cent renewable electricity, with fixed tariffs designed to give more control over energy costs. Registration is quick, free and has no obligation to switch. You receive a personalised offer and can decide whether it is right for you.
If you are reviewing your energy tariff, it may also be helpful to understand how the energy price cap works and what it does (and does not) limit. The Energy Saving Trust has a clear, independent explainer on this, which can help you compare tariffs with confidence.
By bringing households together through collective purchasing, the scheme aims to secure competitive tariffs across the region. You are encouraged to take part while registration is still open.
Previous rounds of the scheme, delivered by iChoosr, have helped save around 370 tonnes of carbon dioxide while supporting households to reduce their energy bills.
Registration closes on Friday 15 May. Find out more and sign up online to take part.
 Passing on traditional hedge laying skills
This winter, our Countryside Service Rangers have been teaching traditional hedge laying at Hazebrouck Meadows in Arborfield, working alongside volunteers, students and placement learners.
Using hand tools, coppiced stakes and woven binders sourced from conservation work across Wokingham Borough, the group reshaped an overgrown line of trees into a strong, well‑structured hedge. This South of England style of hedge laying creates tidy, dense hedges that support wildlife movement, nesting and long‑term biodiversity.
Seventeen volunteers took part alongside students from St Crispin’s School, Wokingham, and Berkshire College of Agriculture, gaining practical skills and confidence while helping care for local green spaces.
Work at Hazebrouck Meadows has now paused for bird nesting season and will resume in November when the trees are dormant again.
 Reminder - free energy‑saving home upgrades
If you missed it in March, residents in Wokingham Borough may still be able to access free energy‑saving home improvements through the Warm Homes: Local Grant.
The scheme funds upgrades such as loft and wall insulation, solar panels, air source heat pumps and new heating controls. These can help reduce heat loss, lower energy bills and keep homes comfortable throughout the year.
The grant is available to eligible households across the region. Wokingham Borough residents are encouraged to check their eligibility as soon as possible.
You may qualify if your household income is £36,000 or less, if you receive a means‑tested benefit or if your home has an EPC rating of D, E, F or G.
Homeowners, private renters and some landlords can apply, and homes with gas boilers are included.
Find out more and check your eligibility online or call 0800 038 5737.
Photo: Arborfield & Newland Parish Council
Recycling clothes locally
If you are making space in your wardrobe, there are several ways to recycle clothes while supporting good causes and reuse.
Clothing recycling banks are available across the area, including banks that support Thames Valley Air Ambulance and The Salvation Army. Please only donate when banks are not full and avoid leaving items beside them.
Local charity shops also welcome clothing donations. As space can be limited, it is best to check shop websites first to see which items they are currently accepting.
The easiest way to find clothing recycling options near you is the Scrapp App, which shows nearby clothing banks, charity shops and other reuse options. Clothing can also be donated at re3 household waste recycling centres, where clothes recycling banks are available.
If you need a more convenient option, you can also arrange a doorstep collection with Anglo Doorstep Collections. Recycling clothes helps reduce waste and supports reuse in the community.
A carpet of bluebells at Aldermoors, Woodley
Bluebells in our woodlands
Spring is bluebell season and a great time to visit Wokingham Borough’s woodlands.
Native bluebells are one of the clearest signs of ancient woodland, as they spread slowly and are usually found where woodland has existed for centuries.
At Aldermoors Country Park in Woodley, native English bluebells grow alongside Spanish bluebells, which were introduced through gardens and are now widespread.
We manage several sites where native bluebells thrive, including Aldermoors, Pearman’s Copse, Nores Hill Woods, Highwood Nature Reserve and Hatch Farm.
Residents are also sharing favourite bluebell spots in the comments on our Facebook post, with ideas for places to visit across the borough.
Bluebells only flower for a short time and are protected species, so please stick to paths to look after them.
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