 Above: A diagram showing the location of the new nature parks in relation to the new road (click/tap to enlarge)
New places to explore as nature parks take shape
Nature parks are a key part of the plans for the wider South Wokingham development.
Across four sites, these will provide around 40 hectares of natural green space, creating places where residents can walk, relax, exercise and enjoy nature on their doorstep.
These are being created alongside the South Wokingham Distributor Road project, but will be handed over to housing developers to be finalised.
 Already open since the summer of 2020 is Buckhurst Meadows (pictured above), which was provided as part of the Montague Park development.
One of the new parks will be immediately adjacent to Buckhurst Meadows, near St Anne's Manor.
Two more are also coming at Chapel Green and Holme Park. At the top of this newsletter, you can see their location in relation to the distributor road.
 Above: A recent drone image above the area where Holme Park will be
The latest on South Wokingham's new green spaces
Holme Park, the largest of the four nature parks, is expected to finish the construction phase in about a month's time.
After this, it will be handed over to developers to complete.
The nature parks are being provided as part of the wider South Wokingham development, with funding provided through developer contributions and associated infrastructure projects.
We then take charge of them once they are finished to a suitable standard.
Chapel Green and St Anne's will be created alongside future housing developments.
We're continuing to work with Bracknell Forest Council to finalise plans for our work at Peacock Lane, where the existing junction with Waterloo Road and Old Wokingham Road is to be replaced with a roundabout. Key dates and phases will be confirmed soon and explained via this newsletter, so share the link to sign up with anyone you think may be interested.
 Enhancing and protecting biodiversity
The network of nature parks will be connected by green corridors that allow both people and wildlife to move between them.
Designed to support biodiversity as well as recreation, the parks will feature habitats such as wildflower meadows, ponds, wetlands and new tree planting.
They will also include accessible paths linking to surrounding neighbourhoods and existing rights of way, helping people make more local journeys on foot or by bike while enjoying the countryside on their doorstep.
The South Wokingham Distributor Road project is designed and required to deliver more wildlife habitats than before.
This includes tree retention, new planting and sustainable drainage features helping to achieve at least a 10 per cent net gain in biodiversity, which must be maintained.
 Above: Floreat Montague Park Primary School opened in 2016 and another school will follow in this area
More than just new homes coming to the area
Nature parks are just one of many benefits that come from the development in South Wokingham.
There are also new schools, community facilities, improvements to walking and cycling routes and new places to play and connect.
The South Wokingham major development will have two new primary schools. Floreat Montague Park Primary School, off William Heelas Way, opened in 2016 and another primary school is planned to accompany the new housing south of the railway line.
There is a neighbourhood centre with a Co-Op food store in Montague Park, which also has room for a small community building. To the south of the railway line, there will be a second, larger neighbourhood centre, which will include retail and community facilities.
 Preparing for Tesco access switchover
In the coming weeks, you may notice a minor reduction in car parking spaces at Tesco in Wokingham, off Finchampstead Road.
We are gearing up to change the current access road to the new one, which will be from the bottom end of the car park, as you can see from the photo above.
The new roundabout joins up to the South Wokingham Distributor Road and the current access road will be pedestrianised.
Our initial phases of work will not have any material impact on how you access the store.
However, we currently expect access to switch to the new road and roundabout in early to mid-October. We will provide a specific date for this closer to the time.
Helpful links
You can see all disruption across the borough using our live roadworks map.
If you have any questions or want to report a problem related to this project, please email Balfour Beatty or call 0800 121 4444 during business hours.
Before getting in touch, please check that we haven’t already answered your question on our FAQs about how we’re building the road or how the finished layout will work.
Other helpful links include:
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