Twyford

A Twyford garden centre is joining forces with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust next month (June 2009) to raise awareness of the area’s declining bee populations and how important they are to gardeners and crop production.

Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre, which is located on Floral Mile, Twyford is inviting people to get involved with its free Insect Weekend on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21.

During the event the garden centre will be hosting displays, handing out complimentary children’s activity sheets and offering free advice about attracting, not just bees, but all friendly insects to gardens.

Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre’s Manager, Martin Lines said: “We’re supporting the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and helping raise awareness of its work because bees are the gardener’s best friend.

“Bees fly from flower to flower collecting nectar, thus pollinating plants, which is essential for crop production, not just on a small scale in gardens or allotments where people are growing their own fruit and vegetables, but also on a larger scale at farms growing food to feed the nation.

“We are keen to raise awareness of their plight, their urgent need for flower-rich habitat and how gardeners can help save them. Bees love lavenders, teasels, comfrey and other beautiful perennials, so even if you don’t have a large garden you can plant up pots and tubs on patios or balconies, or have a windowbox or hanging basket full of bee-friendly plants.”

There will be free information and advice leaflets on insect-friendly products and bee-friendly plants available at the Twyford garden centre for people to take home, while stocks last.

Dr. Ben Darvill, Director of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, said: “We’re delighted the garden centre, which will be creating a display of bee-friendly products and plants during the Insect Weekend, is supporting us.

“Bumblebees are beautiful, hard working and incredibly important pollinators. The UK currently has 24 species, but sadly in the past 70 years two species have become extinct and many others have declined dramatically. They are essential for the pollination of vital crops and therefore the food on our plates. Our colourful wild flowers also need pollinators, and without them many could disappear.

“Wild solitary bees, butterflies, hoverflies and more besides also have an important role to play which deserves wider recognition. Many pollinator groups have declined in recent years, with bumblebees among those struggling.

“At a time when disease is decimating managed honeybee populations it is more important than ever that we look after our wild pollinators. To halt the recent dramatic declines, we urgently need to improve habitats. Everyone can play their part – gardeners, farmers, land managers, councils and governments can all help.

“To encourage people to help bees in their gardens, we are giving away FREE copies of our book Gardening for Bumblebees to all new BBCT members throughout June. To join, visit the website or write to BBCT, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA.”

The Twyford garden centre hopes people will support the area’s bee populations by planting bee-friendly plants this summer.

Martin explained: “Bees are not the only important insects we need to attract and retain in our gardens.

“Most ladybirds are predators, eating aphids, scale insects and other sap-sucking insects, which is why they are also so popular with gardeners. To help encourage ladybirds to visit your garden you can use a ladybird tower and attractant.”

The garden centre is also backing the BBC Gardener’s World bee survey, which is being conducted with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to help find out more about bumblebees visiting urban gardens.

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

The much-loved Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst could become an even better leisure facility for all residents and visitors if the council’s decision-making executive agrees an improvement project later this month.

The council’s executive will be asked to support a plan to improve the Hurst park’s facilities including the kitchen and seating at the Dragonfly Café, parking facilities and the park’s toilets, when it meets next Thursday (May 28).

The executive will also be asked to extend the current catering company’s contract at the Dragonfly Café for a further two years, as the Hurst partnership has been a success and the food and drink offered has been popular with visitors. Baking Waves was originally given a two year contract in 2008 with a possible two year extension. If Baking Waves is offered the extension a new contract would be put out to tender in 2012.

The Hurst country park hosts a wide range of activities for all ages, from walking to fishing, golf and water sports. It also runs a variety of educational and community activities which benefit many groups across the borough and has a popular café on site.

Currently the café is in need of some modernisation, plus the toilets and car parking facilities also need improving to make the park even more welcoming. The executive will be asked to support an improvement plan for the Dragonfly Café, in two phases.

If it agrees to the upgrade the Hurst park, the first phase would see a new wood-frame barn extension created, with extra seating and enhanced kitchens at the Dragonfly Café, upgraded toilet facilities and additional car parking. The improved café could also provide better facilities for the cultural activities offered under the countryside services events programme.

Phase two could see a larger wood-frame barn extension, which would be able to accommodate up to 200 people, and could be used as a café, exhibition space and restaurant. The executive will be ask to support immediate work on phase one – with work on phase two to follow when funding becomes available.

The improvements have been outlined as the Hurst country park reaches its 30th anniversary and have been put forward in place of the 2008 Dinton Pastures Vision – which is unlikely to be supported financially given the current economic climate. If given the go ahead it will provide an improved hub for all visitors ranging from ramblers, dog-walkers, golfers, parents and children, elderly people and people with disabilities. It will also give the countryside service the opportunity to arrange more activities including junior golf days, wildlife events and sporting activities.

Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for Hurst environment, said: “Dinton Pastures is an extremely popular country park that attracts 500,000 visitors a year and has been a much-loved leisure facility for the past 30 years.

“It is loved for its open spaces and leisure facilities – but the facilities at the park are in need of modernisation and so on the eve of its 30th anniversary the council is looking to explore ways to make it an even better place for all visitors. Unfortunately, given the current economic climate there is little hope of achieving all the aspirations set out in the previous Dinton Vision, but we are committed to improving facilities for all and so the executive will be looking at alternative ways to achieve this aim next week.”

Other options available to the executive include not improving the café, toilet, car park facilities but instead using money available to rebuild a storage barn that was burned down last year. Alternatively it could opt to do nothing at all on the site – putting funding for the project in to the council’s capital development fund to support other priorities.

Wokingham Borough Council ~ Hurst

Children will be able to learn all about nature through a series of Hurst events including Mr Magpie’s Treasure Trail, a cobweb maze and flower planting session as part of the Bugs and Grub sessions at Dinton Pastures later this month.

The Hurst after-school event will feature a countryside ranger led nature session followed by a delicious children’s meal in the Dragonfly Café garden.

The next Hurst Bugs and Grubs event will be on Thursday (May 21) where children will be able to make biodegradable plant pots, sow some seeds, take the planters home and watch the flowers grow in their garden or on their windowsill.

On Tuesday May 26 children will get the chance to try their hand at the Big Nature Games event, taking part in the wildlife games of luck and skill, where unlucky participants could end up stuck in the tricky tangle of the cobweb maze.

The final Hurst Bugs and Grub event will be held on Thursday May 28 when children will race to fill their nest with shiny tokens in the super scavenger hunt.

Lynn Yardley, Hurst countryside ranger, said: “Bugs and Grubs is a fun-filled way of getting youngsters interested in nature as well as learning new skills and enjoying the outdoors. Plus after the craft or nature activity all children who have taken part will be able to tuck in to some tasty dinner from the Dragonfly Café. Why not come along and join us – we’d love to see you!”

All the events start at 5pm at the Dragonfly Café in Dinton Pastures. All children need to be accompanied by an adult. The cost of the session is £5 per child, which includes the activities, craft materials, a children’s meal and drink, plus a beverage for the accompanying adult.

Wokingham Borough Council ~ Hurst

Happy Hours Pre-School Summer Fete - Saturday 13th June 2009 from 2 - 4pm.

We're celebrating our 40th Birthday and would love you to join us for some family fun.

The Fete will include a Bouncy Castle, Merry Go Round, Face Painting, various fun games, a chance to leave your handprint on our new school sign, a huge cake, ice creams and pizza.

Come and join us from 2 - 4 pm at Polehampton Infant School, Twyford. Entrance free!

70's Fancy Dress Disco - Saturday 13th June 2009 from 8 - 11pm.

Dust off your platforms and come down to Twyford Scout Hut for a fun night of dancing and fun from 8pm to 11pm.

Tickets are available from Happy Hours Pre-School or Sebastian's in Twyford. £5.50 per ticket or £10 for 2 tickets. Your ticket includes a free drink and the bar will be open from 8. There's even a prize for the best fancy dress!

Happy Hours Pre-School, Twyford

A Wargrave picnic to raise awareness about autism promises to be a real family affair on Saturday May 23. And if the range of activities on offer isn’t enough to tempt families to come along, how about a piece of cake provided by the cake shop owned by the president of the National Autistic Society Jane Asher.

Families from across the Wokingham Borough will be able to enjoy the local countryside at Camp Mohawk in Wargrave at a special family picnic and play session taking place between 10am and 4pm. There will be lots on offer at this free event, and all families need to do is to bring along their own picnic. Hot drinks will be available at a small charge. Families can also enjoy swimming, outdoor games in dedicated play areas, puppet show and clown and youngsters can also make use of the sensory room, light and dark rooms.

Jane Asher, president of the National Autistic Society, said: “What could be better on a spring afternoon than a delicious picnic? This is such a lovely way to raise funds and awareness of autism in the Wokingham Borough and I'm delighted to be able to send a cake to add to the celebration.
“The picnic, of course, will be rounding off the inspiring and important week of autism events, and it's great to see parents, voluntary agencies and statutory groups all working together in the successful Autism Partnership. I'm sure many people locally will have been helped to understand more about the effects and difficulties of this complex and distressing condition.”

Pamela Breslin, co-ordinator at Wokingham Autism Partnership at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Jane Asher has provided a cake for our family picnic at Camp Mohawk. I am sure lots of children and their families will be tucking into a slice after building up an appetite following all the activities they have taken part in.

“We want to bring home to people from all walks of life what autism is all about. We are asking people to think differently about autism. By provide a range of activities at the picnic, it will encourage families to spend more time and have fun together.

“Autism is a lifelong disability affecting how someone sees the world, communicates and socialises. One percent of the UK population has a condition in the autistic spectrum. It can cause great difficulties every day in relationships and independent living and it affects people in many different ways.”

To book a place at the family picnic and play session at Camp Mohawk, please telephone Pamela Breslin on (0118) 974 6882 or Lucy Skye on (0118) 974 3750.

If the Wargrave over 16s have any energy left, they can also put on their dancing shoes and join the disco and Caribbean barbecue which is running from 6.30pm until late. Music will be provided by Club Marmalade, and there will be singing around the camp fire! There is no charge for entry, but donations will be accepted. However, you do need to book by calling Wokingham Mencap on (0118) 979 8539 or Jodie on (0118) 979 2031.

The Wokingham Autism Partnership is hosting a number of events, between Monday May 18 and Saturday May 23, across the borough in its bid to raise awareness about autism.

Wokingham Borough Council ~ Wargrave

We would like to invite you to an inspirational and unforgettable fundraising event at the Reading Rugby Club on 20th-21st June 2009; the first Reading Relay for Life 2009.

This fantastic event celebrates the lives of those touched by cancer and raises money to support the life saving work of Cancer Research UK.

This non-athletic event sees teams of colleagues,friends family,and neighbours walk around a track for 24 hours. Each team tries to keep at least one member on the track at all times, whilst all around them the party is in full swing with camping throughout the night.

Throughout the day and into the evening a wide variety of entertainment will be provided including: cheerleaders, dove releases, Fireman's band, Berkshire Youth Orchestra, Rosemary Connelly fitness club, bands, singers, BBQs, balloon races, fancy dress, magician, stall holders, DJs and birds of prey demonstrations and much more to be confirmed!!

It is never too late to ENTER NOW!!

But, if you can't do this then please come down to Reading Rugby Club from 12 noon Saturday 20th June to 12 noon Sunday 21st June 2009 to lend some support to this community event. With lots to entertain people of all ages there will be something for everyone!

On a serious note, Cancer Research UK relies heavily on fundraising activities such as these to keep up its vital work for everyone in the community. However small the donation it will go towards helping Cancer Research UK to allow the important work to continue.

Reading Rugby Club