Twyford

Sat 1 & Sun 2 Willow Sculptures Course Dinton Pastures, 10am - 4pm
A relaxing, friendly weekend creating 3D models out of willow. To book please ring Christine 0118 966 2250. Cost £70 includes all materials          
           
Sat 1 Aren’t Birds Brilliant RSPB Walk
Morning stroll around Dinton Pastures, meet main car park at 9am. £1

Sun 2 Highwood Work Party 10am-1pm
Practical conservation morning, meet Kingfisher Drive, Woodley    
           
Sat 8 Junior Rangers Wildlife Watch Group - Bird Feeders
Trip to look at birds at Lavell’s Lake then chance to make bird feeders

Sun 9 Friends of Lavell’s Lake Bird Walk
Morning stroll around Lavell’s, meet Sandford Lane car park at 9am. £1

Sat 15 Keephatch Work Party
Ranger-led practical talk in the mature woodland. Meet by the pond on Willowherb Close, Keephatch. 10am to 1pm

Sun !6 Heathlake Work Party
Practical conservation task, meet in the main car park off Nine Mile Ride, 10am – 1pm.

Sat 22 Star Gazing Beginners Talk Dinton Pastures
7pm in Loddon Room, Contact Gerry Bond 0118 986 4032 for more info

Sun 23 Friends of Lavell’s Lake Work Party
Practical conservation, meet Sandford Lane car park at 10am
                       
Sun 30 Willow Christmas Decorations  Dinton Pastures
Make you own stars, chains, angles and wreaths. For more information call Christine on 0118 966 2250.

For more information please contact: Countryside Service 0118 934 2016

It was tasty tucker all round when children at Robert Piggott CE Infant School, Wargrave were dished up some delicious lunch by Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for corporate services on Wednesday, as part of a special ceremony to mark the opening of the school’s new kitchen.

Cllr Rob Stanton donned his apron and cook’s hat to serve up veggies to children at the school in Wargrave as part of the lunchtime celebration to mark the official opening of the kitchen – which underwent a full refurbishment this summer.

Staff, children and representatives from Edwards & Ward – the Wargrave school’s catering contractor – all tucked in to a healthy lunch after Cllr Stanton cut the ribbon to open the kitchen. The new facility has been opened just in time for national School Meals Week, which will be encouraging children up and down the country to leave their lunchboxes behind in favour of a nutritious hot school meal from October 13 to 17.

More than 65 per cent of children at Wargrave Robert Piggott Infant School have a meal every day and now that a £60,000 kitchen refurbishment has just been completed, the dinners are set to get even more popular.

The new kitchen boasts top of the range catering equipment and has new appliances to help the school cooks ensure all the meals are healthy and nutritious but yummy at the same time.

Improvements to the kitchen include a new combination oven to replace the old fryer, a new ventilation system, a new dishwasher and increased refrigeration and work surfaces. The kitchen has also been fully redecorated.

Children at the Wargrave school, who have been dished up tasty lunches from the kitchen since September, have praised the new system.

Isabella, who attends Robert Piggott Infants, said: “I like the new kitchen because you can put your tray on the tray rack like in a café.”

While classmate Henry said: “"I like the new shutter because when it goes up you get a nice surprise about what dinner it is going to be."

But it’s the Yorkshire puddings that get Lucy’s vote on the delicious school meals, she said: "The Yorkshire puddings are really nice I have written to the cook to tell her that.”

Cllr Stanton, said: “I was really pleased to be able to officially open the new school kitchen at Robert Piggott Infants on Wednesday, as it is a great facility for the school. The school dinners are very popular with the children, and after having a taster myself I can see why so many are queuing up to be first in line for lunch!

“I’m also pleased to see that Edwards & Ward are already exceeding the new nutritional standards set out by the government in September, and that above all our schoolchildren are enjoying healthy and nutritious lunches. I also had lunch with the headteacher and very nice it was too, we both enjoyed it very much.”

Caroline Lyons, contracts manager for Edwards & Ward, added: “The improvement has created a wonderful working environment for the catering team. The team have worked together for a number of years and I am sure that the remarkable improvement to the surroundings will make their jobs a lot easier with all the new up-to-date equipment”.

Wokingham Borough Council ~ Wargrave

Wargrave Teen Challange will be running on Tueday 28th October - Friday 31st October 2008. The four day event will be running from 10am - 4pm each day, except Friday when it is a Halloween Disco, the evening will end 10pm. The cost is £55.00 per child.

This Wargrave event has been running for over 3 years now and over 45 young people get together to do team building and group activites, we have wall climing, orinteering, lazer pulser, cooking, Art projects, woodland skills + lots more.

This year if you are based in Berkshire and you do the four days of Teen Challange you can qualify for The Berkshire Award for young people, a recognized course which credits individual skills group works skills and work in the community

If you would like to book a place for your child please email me as soon as possible. Suitable for teens 12 year upwards.

Dawn Dingwall
Camp Mohawk, Highfield Lane, Crazies Hill, Wargrave, Berkshire, RG10 8PU
01628 783107 thirdeye1@compuserve.com

Twyford Police are appealing for witnesses to a serious assault that occurred on Sunday (5/10) in the car park of the Wagon and Horses pub, in the High Street, Twyford.

At around midnight a 28-year-old man was sat in a car, when he was approached by a group of people. They then proceeded to kick and punch him and drag him out of the car before fleeing the scene in another vehicle.

During the Twyford attack, the man sustained a puncture wound to the back of his neck caused by an unknown object, as well as bruising to the head. He was taken to Wexham Park Hospital but was later released.

Twyford Det Insp Rodger Cartwright, said: “The victim has been left with some nasty injuries as a result of this attack. Our investigation is at an early stage and we are in the process of following a number of lines of enquiry.

“I would like to hear from anyone that may have been in the car park at the time or who has any information that may assist us with out investigation.”

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Loddon Valley CID via Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police or don’t want to leave your name contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

• Two women (a 27-year-old and a 21-year-old) were arrested as part of the investigation. They have been released on bail until Friday 24 October.

Thames Valley Police ~ Twyford

Make a date to celebrate the start of the festive season in the centre of Twyford Village. Once again this will be the venue for the Christmas Street Fayre. Over the years we have tried to make it bigger and better each time and this year we hope to continue in the same vein with more stalls to visit and the opportunity to pop into some of the village shops.

Street entertainers and the Maidenhead Band will enliven the evening as well as the local schoolchildren and church choir who will bring the spirit of Christmas alive with the singing of carols. Free face painting will also be on offer for the early part of the evening.

Bringing the community together is what it is all about so come and join us and have some fun as well as supporting charities and traders of the region.

If you are lucky you might even bump into Father Christmas!

To book a stall (subject to availability) please contact
Lorna Minton: 0118 9345783
Tricia Miller: 0118 9016511

The date………………. Friday 5th December
The time……………………6pm until 9pm.

See you there!

Organised by the Twyford Village Partnership (TVP) Special Events Committee

Despite repeated attempts to make the club house at Hurst Golf Course economically viable over the past few years it has unfortunately continued to make a significant financial loss, and so the council has no choice but to close the facility in order for it to stop draining taxpayers’ money.

As the council has a duty to all its residents to ensure services offered provide good value for money, it will stop running services from the Hurst club house from October 31 and divert them to the Dragonfly Café – where a central hub for golfers and country park users will be created.

Renewed attempts at encouraging more people to use the club house, including making it more community based so residents and park lovers as well as golf club members use it, have proved ineffective at offsetting the spiralling cost of running the building.

The council is grateful to all the support Hurst Golf Club members have shown the club house over the years, and while it cannot afford to run the club house it has offered the golf club alternatives so that they can still meet at the site.

The course will continue to meet EGU golfing regulations so that tournaments can be played, plus there will be an improved putting green and better access to the practise area, once the changes come into force.

A dedicated golf course reception will be set up at the front of the Hurst Dragonfly Café. Food, snacks and beverages will continue to be served at the café – although no alcoholic drinks will be severed. Group events will also continue to be available at the site – this includes golf tournaments as well as community and sporting events.

Mark Moon, general manager Hurst place and neighbourhood services, said: “Unfortunately despite renewed attempts at making the club house a widely used facility by the community it has continued to make a significant financial loss – which is being supported by the taxpayer.

“It simply is not fair to allow the taxpayer to prop up a leisure facility that is only being used by a minority, which is why we have taken this difficult decision. We have explained the situation to Hurst Golf Club and have offered club members an alternative so they can continue to meet at the site, and we are still in discussion with them about this.

“The standard of the course will continue to provide the same EGU golf standards and will offer food, drink and facilities appropriate to both golfers and country park users.”

Wokingham Borough Council ~ Hurst

Young Twyford people will be learning how to look after children of all ages when a 10-week babysitting course begins on Thursday October 9, at Twyford Youth Centre. Topics covered during the programme will include safety in the home, first aid, appropriate toys for appropriate ages and how to advertise yourself as a babysitter.

At the end of the Twyford 10-week course, the young people taking part will be able to take their virtual babies home for an overnight stay to help simulate a real-life situation.

The Red Cross course is run by Debbie Coleman, youth worker for Twyford, who said: "The Youth Service runs babysitting courses for young people as part of its programme of informal education. It’s a way of helping young people to achieve employment opportunities. It also enables young people to increase their confidence and knowledge when looking after children of all ages and helps them develop safe practices when babysitting, as well as it just being good fun."

The popular has been running for a number of years at various sites around the borough. It has taught young people taking part a number of different skills, including how to cope in emergency situations.

Wokingham Borough Council ~ Twyford

More than 65 per cent of children at Robert Piggott Infant School, Wargrave tuck into a delicious school meal every day and now that a £60,000 kitchen refurbishment has just been completed, the dinners are set to get even more popular!

The new Wargrave kitchen, which was installed over the summer holidays, boasts top of the range catering equipment and has new appliances in place to help the school cooks ensure all the meals are healthy and nutritious but yummy at the same time.

Improvements to the Wargrave kitchen include a new dishwasher, a new combination oven to replace the old fryer, a new ventilation system and increased refrigeration and work surfaces. The kitchen has also been fully redecorated.

Youngsters have been sampling culinary delights, prepared by catering contractors Edwards & Ward, from the new kitchen since term started in September, but an official opening by Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for corporate services, will take place on Wednesday October 8.

Cllr Stanton, said: “The school dinners at Robert Piggott Infant School have been a very popular choice with children and their parents for some time now, thanks to the delicious, yet healthy, meals that Edwards & Ward serve up each day.

“We are very pleased that Edwards &Ward are already exceeding the new nutritional standards set out by the government in September and that our schoolchildren are enjoying their lunches.

“This combined with the new kitchen and catering equipment means that school dinners truly are some of the best at Robert Piggott Infant School and I look forward to trying them out when I officially open the new kitchen next week!”

Caroline Lyons, contracts manager for Edwards & Ward, added: “The improvement has created a wonderful working environment for the catering team. The team have worked together for a number of years and I am sure that the remarkable improvement to the surroundings will make their jobs a lot easier with all the new up to date equipment”.

Wokingham Borough Council ~ Wargrave

Sat 4  Aren’t Birds Brilliant RSPB Walk
Morning stroll around Dinton Pastures, meet main car park at 9am. £1

Sat 11 Junior Rangers Wildlife Watch Group     at California Country Park
Outdoor Art, £2 per child. Please book in advance.

Sun 12 California Speedway and Hi-de-Hi History Day 11am-4pm
A chance to see some of the original bikes which used to race on the speedway    track. Plus guided walks to explain more about the site’s holiday camp history.
                 
Sun 12 Friends of Lavell’s Lake Bird Walk
Walk around Lavell’s, meet at Sandford Lane car park at 9am, £1 fee.
                       
Wed 15 Highwood Work Party                                                 
Practical task. Meet at Kingfisher Drive, Woodley, 10am.

Wed 15 PDSA Free Health Check for Dogs, California Country Park 10am-5pm
Free Pet Check for dogs and advice on caring for other pets

Thurs 16 and Fri 17 PDSA Free Health Check for Dogs, Dinton Pastures Country Park 10am-5pm
Free Pet Check for dogs and advice on caring for other pets
           
Sat 21 Heathlake Work Party                                           
Practical task. Meet at main car park off Nine Mile Ride at 10am.
           
Sun 26 Fungus Foray
Fascinating facts about fungi at the Coombes wood, Barkham, Please book place.
         
Sat 25 Star Gazing Beginners Talk at Dinton Pastures
7pm in Loddon Room, Contact Gerry Bond 0118 986 4032 for more info.

Sun 26 Lavell’s Lake Work Party
Practical task by the Friends of Lavell’s, meet at Sandford Lane car park at 10am.

Fri 3  Halloween Fright Night, California Country Park 4pm-7pm
Ready to get spooked? Come to the park for a host of scary experiences. Call the    California Dreaming Café for more details 0118 973 5519.

        For full details and bookings
        contact the Countryside Service (0118) 934 2016

 

Lynn Yardley
Countryside Ranger (Education and Interpretation)
Wokingham Borough Council Countryside Service, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, Berkshire RG10 0TH
Tel: 0118 9342016, Fax 0118 9341987
Taking Care of Your Countryside

Walkers, ramblers and general nature lovers that regularly use a footbridge over the River Loddon into Hurst Dinton Pastures Country Park will need to use an alternative route from next month, while essential emergency repair work takes place.

Wokingham Borough Council has recently commissioned a condition survey of the bridge and the results show that immediate structural work to decaying hand rails needs to be carried out so the footbridge does not become unsafe in the near future.

The bridge, which links Mortimer Meadow with the rest of the county park in Hurst, will be closed for construction and repair work from Wednesday October 1. It will be closed for seven days, however work to the bridge could last for longer if the work unearths other problems with the bridge.

As there is no main alternative route, pedestrians will need to enter the park from the Sandford Lane entrance instead while the work is carried out.

Chris Buggy, team leader countryside management, said: “I’d like to apologise for any inconvenience caused while the bridge is closed but the bridge must shut for these urgent repair works in the interest of keeping all pedestrians and ramblers safe.

“Unfortunately there is no immediate alternative route so we are urging pedestrians to use the Sandford Lane entrance – which will be open as normal throughout the repair works.”

Wokingham Borough Council