Twyford

Tomato ‘lovers’ from Twyford, Berkshire are being invited to a weekend dedicated to the pommes d’amour or ‘love apple’ at a garden centre in the county this May (2009).

Staff at Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre, which is located on Floral Mile, Twyford, will be hosting a Tomato Growing Weekend on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17 to link in with the start of British Tomato Week on May 18.

Martin Lines, Manager of the Twyford garden centre, said: “The French were convinced tomatoes had aphrodisiac properties and called them pommes d’amour or love apples but in this country they are simply one of our favourite salad items and they are relatively easy to grow too.

“We hope as many people as possible join us for our Tomato Growing Weekend, which ties in with British Tomato Week. We will have displays of tomato plants and the products and equipment you might need to grow them.

“We will also be hosting free planting demonstrations at selected times during the weekend and visitors interested in these should give us a call at the garden centre to find out more. The demonstrations will include how to plant up tomatoes in hanging baskets and growbags.”

Tomatoes originate from the Andes in South America where they grow wild. They were first cultivated by the Aztecs and Incas as early as 700 AD.

They were originally grown in Britain and the rest of Europe as ornamental climbers and were cultivated for their decorative leaves and fruit. The first known British tomato grower was Patrick Bellow in 1554.

Martin added: “Staff will be on hand throughout the weekend to give visitors top tips on selecting, planting and growing their own tomatoes. Customers will be able to take home a free advice leaflet while stocks last.”

For further information about the event, please call Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre, which is located on Floral Mile, Hare Hatch, Twyford, on 01189 403 933

Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre, Twyford

It will be tee-time for all lucky Hurst putters next month when a fun golf competition is held for everyone regardless of age or ability – with all proceeds going to charity.

Teams and individuals are still able to sign up for the event, which will be held at Hurst Golf Course in Sandford Lane on Sunday May 10.

The Hurst family-fun event is open to people of all ages and no handicap is required. It doesn’t matter if you are not a regular golfer as the day is all about fun and trying your hand at something different. Family groups are welcome and participants can even borrow a set of clubs from the organisers to take part in the competition. Plus, everyone taking part will be treated to a bacon roll and hot drink before teeing off.

As well as the nine-hole challenge there will also be a fun putting competition – both contests will offer the victors some prizes and goodies. The event is being run by Daryl Scott who is set to become Hurst Golf Club’s golf professional later next month.

Cllr Chris Bowring, deputy executive member for the Hurst environment, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for golfers of all abilities to enjoy the course; the green is in good condition and will offer a chance for everyone of all abilities to enjoy a sociable and fun competition.”

Daryl Scott added: “I am looking forward to meeting our regular golfers and those that perhaps haven’t played here before. It’s a fantastic little course which is good for beginners and experts alike. There is a really welcoming atmosphere already amongst the players and, with the rest of the country park to enjoy, it will be a great day out for the whole family.”

The cost is £60 per team of four. Individuals are welcome to register for £15 – the organiser will allocate them to a team. Proceeds from the competition will be donated to charity. For golfers not wanting to join in with the competition but enjoy a round of golf then green fees start for as little as £4.00, just call the Dragonfly Café on (0118) 934 4355 to book your tee time. The practice area can also be used for as little as £3 for those wanting to brush up on their skills before a round.

Entry forms and payment envelopes for cheques can be picked up from the Dragonfly Café at Dinton Pastures, Hurst. Anyone wanting to pay by credit/ debit card should call Daryl Scott on (01491) 680 902.

Wokingham Borough Council ~ Hurst

Twyford Gardeners who would like to grow their own strawberries in 2009 can go along to a free weekend dedicated to the fruit at a Berkshire garden centre in May (2009).

Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre, Twyford which is located on Floral Mile, will be offering complimentary advice on growing the soft fruit during its first ever Strawberry Growing Weekend on Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10.

Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre’s Manager, Martin Lines, said: “We hope as many people as possible join us for our Strawberry Growing Weekend. We will have displays of strawberry plants and the products and equipment you might need to grow them.

“During the event we’ll be offering visitors to the garden centre free advice on how to successfully grow their own strawberries in hanging baskets, containers and in the garden this year. A free growing your own strawberries information leaflet will also be available for people to take home while stocks last.

“Strawberries take up hardly any room so can be grown on patios and even balconies. They produce attractive, delicate, white flowers and delicious fruit, and are easy to maintain. They are the perfect plant for novice gardeners who would like to grow their own fruit and vegetables for the first time this year.”

The Twyford garden centre will also be hosting free strawberry planting demonstrations at selected times during the weekend.

Martin added: “Visitors interested in coming along to one of our demonstrations, which will include free information on how to plant up strawberries in hanging baskets and containers, should check with us for further details.”

To find out more, please call Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre, which is located on Floral Mile, Hare Hatch, Twyford, on 01189 403 933

Tots in Twyford will be able to have great fun this summer once play equipment for younger children is installed at an existing junior play park in Waltham Chase.

Equipment that is suitable for Twyford children aged up to six years will be added to the junior play area over the next few months and will be in full working order just in time for the summer holidays.

The equipment was removed last month from a toddler park at Waltham Chase and will be installed in to the nearby junior play park, which is approximately 175 meters away from the old site and is also in Waltham Chase, over the next few months. This means that children of all ages in the local area will have a safe and convenient park to play in over the warmer months and throughout the school holidays.

The former toddler park in Waltham Chase was grassed over last month to provide a family-friendly green area for parents, children and the community to enjoy.

Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for children’s services, said: “People in Twyford made it very clear that they wanted some form of toddler park or toddler play equipment available because there are a lot of small children and young families in the area. Therefore new play equipment will be installed to the junior play area. This will cater for children of all age groups and abilities play together and be supervised safely.”

Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for Twyford environment, added: “Throughout the play area review the council promised to re-use play equipment and parts where possible throughout the borough to upgrade the existing play parks.”

Wokingham Borough Council ~ Twyford

Hurst Chocolate detectives will be on the hunt for Easter eggs on Wednesday (April 8) as they solve a range of clues around Dinton Pastures in a bid to nab the bounty.

The annual Easter egg hunt will take place at the popular country park in Hurst this week offering families the chance to solve clues together to track down the chocolate goodies.

Lynn Yardley, countryside ranger, said: “The Easter trail is always a popular event – last year we had hundreds of children turn up to take part in activities around the park to earn their chocolate treat and I’m sure that just as many youngsters will turn up this year. It really is a good fun event for all the family!”

As well as clues to solve there will be a variety of activities to take part in – which are suitable for all children, although they must be accompanied by an adult.

Maps for the Hurst Easter trail will be available from 1pm to 3pm from the Dragonfly Café garden. There is a £2 fee per child for the trail.

More information on the Easter trail and other events run by Wokingham Borough Council’s countryside service is available at www.wokingham.gov.uk/countryside or by emailing countryside@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham Borough Council ~ Hurst

A Twyford garden centre is inviting the county’s green-fingered folk to trade in their old and broken gardening tools for new ones this month (April 2009) to help school children and community groups with their gardening projects.

Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre, which on Floral Mile, Twyford is asking gardeners to assist with its ‘Garden Tool Amnesty’ running from Monday, April 20 until Sunday, May 3, 2009, which is in aid of The Conservation Foundation’s ‘Tools for Schools’ programme known as ‘Tools Shed’.

Twyford Garden centre Manager, Errol Austin said: “It’s the second year we have run an appeal like this and last year we supported the international charity, Feed the Children. We will give anyone who brings in their old gardening tools during the two weeks a 20% off voucher to redeem against any new gardening tools from our Wilkinson Sword, Yeoman or Joseph Bentley ranges.

“The initiative applies to tools such as trowels, spades, hand and garden forks, hoes, good old-fashioned garden rakes and lawn rakes, but not power tools, which are those powered by electricity or are petrol-driven. The event will run between April 20 and May 3 and the 20% off vouchers must be redeemed between these dates. The old tools will be donated to The Conservation Foundation’s ‘Tools Shed’ initiative.”

The Foundation has been piloting a garden tool recycling project with Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Wandsworth also in London during the past year. The tools repaired so far were given to children from more than 30 London schools at the first Tools Shed distribution day last autumn (2008).

Any Twyford donated tools will be delivered to the prison and refurbished by prisoners nearing the end of their sentences, contributing to their re-training and rehabilitation. The revamped tools are then offered to primary schools and community groups for use in their gardens.

The Conservation Foundation’s Director, David Shreeve explained: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to link up with Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre for our 2009 Tools Shed initiative. Schools tell us how difficult it is to get the equipment they need for their gardens and a recycling project that helps equip the next generation of gardeners, reduces waste and provides practical skills for prisoners, seems the ideal solution.

“With more and more schools ‘growing their own’ there is great demand for garden tools and rarely any budget. With Tools Shed successfully launched at HMP Wandsworth, there is interest in thea next stage from potential partners including other prisons, local authorities and schools organisations and we are planning to start working in other parts of the country later this year.”

In 2009 the Foundation hopes to work with HMP Moorland near Doncaster and interest has been expressed by HMP Edinburgh and HMP Glen Parva near Leicester too.

David added: “The main barrier to expanding the project has been getting a steady supply of tools and this Tool Amnesty with Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre presents us with a great opportunity to take Tools Shed to other parts of the country.”

To find out more about the Tool Amnesty at Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre, please call the garden centre, which is located on Floral Mile, Hare Hatch, Twyford, on 01189 403 933.

For more information on how to give and receive tools, please call 020 7591 3111.

Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre, Twyford