Bracknell

A warm welcome was given to Cllr Bob Edger, ward councillor for College Town, as he became the new Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest at the Annual Meeting of the Council on Wednesday 21 May.

Cllr Bob Edger was elected Bracknell Mayor during the mayor making part of the meeting and will now take over as first citizen of Bracknell Forest from Cllr Mrs Gill Birch.

Cllr Mrs Gill Birch was Mayor of the Bracknell borough for a year, during which time she supported the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help as her chosen mayoral charity, raising over £10,000.

Throughout the year Cllr Mrs Gill Birch attended many functions and events as the borough's representative and met many of Bracknell Forest's residents, volunteers and business people.

Cllr Mrs Gill Birch added: "My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed my year in office and meeting people from across the borough and beyond. Even though I have lived in the Borough for 26 years it has been a voyage of discovery as I have found out so much more about all the wonderful activities that go on.

"I am so amazed at the variety of voluntary organisations and how many people are so generous with their time to help others.

"I would like to thank everyone who made the last year so special. It is a privilege and an honour being Borough Mayor and I hope Cllr Edger enjoys his year as much as I have."

Cllr Edger was Deputy Mayor for Cllr Birch, and during the mayor making ceremony he introduced the new Deputy Mayor as Cllr Bob Wade, ward councillor for Crowthorne.

"I have had a wonderful year as Deputy Mayor and I’m sure I’ll have an even more enjoyable year as Mayor of the borough, being an ambassador for Bracknell Forest. I look forward to the year ahead and meeting residents.” said Cllr Edger.

Cllr Edger’s Mayoress for the year will be his wife Mrs Sigrid Edger.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Bracknell Children turned sound detectives on a morning walk through Lily Hill Park during Walk to School Week.

Pupils from Holly Spring Junior School were accompanied by Richard Scrivener, Bracknell Council’s Lily Hill Park Officer, who pointed out noises of interest during their morning "park and stride".

Walk to School Week aims to encourage Bracknell parents and children to leave the car behind and take a healthy walk to school; this year's theme asked children to listen to all the different sounds they can hear on the way.

Other schools held events to encourage children to walk to school and ran themed assemblies.

As well as getting some exercise, fewer cars outside school make it a safer place for children to be. Walking also teaches children to be more safety-aware pedestrians.

More than 30 schools in the Bracknell borough have now implemented travel plans which encourage sustainable travel to school on a regular basis. The five schools which implemented plans last year have seen an average increase in walking levels of five per cent.

Cllr Mrs Mary Ballin, Executive Member for Planning and Transportation, said: "Walk to School Week supports the Council's work to provide safe routes to school, improve road safety and promote school travel plans.

"Children at the borough’s schools understand the effect we all have on the environment - locally through traffic congestion and globally through air pollution. Congratulations to everyone who took part and walked to school."

For more information visit www.walktoschool.org.uk or www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/env-travel-plans

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Bracknell Forest Borough Council is to take further steps to cut its carbon footprint and reduce energy bills.

The Bracknell Council is signing up to a Carbon Trust scheme alongside more than 70 other local authorities. The trust hopes that nationally it will see carbon footprints cut by 518,000 tonnes and save £50 million in energy costs.

Bracknell Council is now looking at all the different ways it can cut its carbon footprint; it is already working at making the new civic hub and refurbished Time Square offices energy efficient with a combined heat and power system with low carbon emissions. The Council also signed the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change last year, committing it to develop plans to address the causes and impacts of climate change according to local priorities.

The Carbon Trust is now in the sixth phase of its Local Authorities Carbon Management programme, which has now involved 215 of the country’s 468 councils. It helps to devise strategies so councils can drastically reduce their carbon footprints over a five to 10 year period.

Tom Cumberlege, the Carbon Trust’s Public Sector Manager, said: The good news is that energy is one of the largest controllable overheads for councils and implementing good carbon management can lead to significant cash savings on bills.

As well as releasing funds which can be better spent on resources and services for local residents, this will also enable councils to cut carbon emissions and improve their reputation in the community.”

Cllr Mrs Dorothy Hayes, Executive Member for the Bracknell Environment, said: The impact of climate change affects us all, and I think Bracknell Forest Borough Council should do all it can to minimise our carbon footprint, especially if it means more money can be spent on essential services.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Bracknell Residents can now give their views on a new community at Amen Corner which could contain around 725 new homes and 40,000m sq of employment space.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council is consulting from Friday, May 30 until Friday, July 11, on a draft area action plan for the site between Binfield and Wokingham.

The action plan also says there should be a new primary school and community facilities; a protection plan for Riggs Copse – a wildlife heritage site; recreational areas and green space to make a natural buffer between the new community and Wokingham town.

The Bracknell action plan was developed with input form local residents, statutory bodies, and various landowners. It was approved by the Council's Executive on Tuesday, May 20.

The consultation will gain views on the options so the Council can develop a final plan for the site, which will then be submitted to government for consideration in early 2009.

Amen Corner was earmarked as an area for future development in the council’s core strategy - a crucial part of the Local Development Framework (LDF). This is a wide-ranging set of planning documents which covers development issues in Bracknell Forest until 2026 and will replace the local plan.

Bracknell Cllr Mrs Mary Ballin, Executive Member for Planning and Transportation, said: "The action plan for Amen Corner will ensure a high quality, sustainable and appropriately-sized community."

The consultation information will be on the Council’s website at www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/amencorner. For more details call 01344 352000.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

The author of the Spy Dog series will be making two special visits for children at two of Bracknell Forest’s libraries this half term.

Andrew Cope will be at the sessions for six to 11-year-olds on Friday, May 30, at 10am at Ascot Heath library and at 2pm at Harmans Water library. Tickets cost 50p and are available in advance from the libraries.

His books are about Lara, a highly trained dog who was bred by the British secret service for special missions across the world. However, she must go undercover as a normal family dog to hide from an evil drugs baron.

Andrew, a teacher and writer, will talk about his dog – also called Lara – and his inspiration behind the books.

Cllr Alan Kendall, Executive Member for Bracknell Education and Libraries, said: "I am pleased to be welcoming Andrew Cope to two of our libraries during half term week.

"Libraries are great places to visit for children as they also have book clubs, storytelling, a wide range of books and dedicated computers so children can research on the internet."

For more details about Bracknell Forest's nine libraries, visit www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/libraries or call 01344 350000.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Bracknell Residents are advised that the Longshot Lane civic amenity site will be closed between 9am and 10am on Saturday, May 31.

The temporary closure is necessary so the site can receive waste and recycling picked up that morning by the refuse collectors. Normally there is no collection service on a Saturday but the crews will still be catching up due to the bank holiday.

Residents are reminded that all households in Bracknell Forest will have their refuse or recycling collected a day late following the bank holiday on Monday, May 26, and the households who normally have a collection on Friday will receive it on Saturday.

Longshot Lane is normally open to residents from 5pm to 8pm on weekdays and at weekends and bank holidays from 8am to 6pm in the winter and until 8pm in the summer.

Cllr Dorothy Hayes, Executive Member for the Bracknell Environment, said: "I would like to thank site users for their patience while Longshot Lane was temporarily closed for an hour following the bank holiday in early May. The impact on the site was kept to a minimum, and ensured domestic refuse and recycling collection arrangements could continue.

"We work with the site operators re3 to minimise disruption, but there may be times when the site will have to be closed at short notice and therefore I urge all residents to always check before making their journey to the site."

The latest opening times and any short term closures are available at www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk or www.re3.org.uk or freephone 0800 9883023.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Firstly, I’m pleased to report that we have a new member of the Bracknell Birch Hill and Hanworth neighbourhood policing team. Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Hilary Hyslop is currently going through her final stages of training and will be out on patrol at the end of May.

Her arrival increases the amount of visible Bracknell policing in Birch Hill and Hanworth. Hilary joins me and PCSO Michelle Noone, helping us to provide an even better service to the community. We are always willing to listen to those who need our help.

Looking further ahead, Saturday 12 July is the Big Day Out Festival at South Hill Park, Birch Hill, Bracknell. This musical event attracts large numbers of people, and I have patrolled it myself for the last two years. The festival is a great community event and thoroughly enjoyable, and as it is free entry anyone can attend. There have never been any problems from a policing point of view, and I hope this year will be the same.

I would urge you to be careful where you park and not end up abandoning your car on the Bracknell roads. Leave plenty of time to get a suitable parking space. If the car park at South Hill is full, please try the car park at Birch Hill shops and the adjoining car park in Leppington, rather than using nearby streets, which is likely to annoy the residents.

Continuing on the parking theme, we are still finding Bracknell drivers parking their cars in an obstructive manner - mainly blocking footpaths - and we have been issuing parking tickets. We will continue to check the roads where this is happening and will keep fining drivers until the message gets across. Despite some people’s view that there aren’t enough parking spaces, there are plenty, but it will mean people having to walk further. I do not accept that parking on footpaths is the only option.

We are continuing to monitor parking at school pick-up times and have noticed some improvements in terms of fewer cars parking illegally (such as parking on double-yellow lines or disabled bays without disabled badges). However on some occasions drivers have used abusive language to the PCSOs. This is behaviour I will not tolerate and it could lead to prosecutions against those individuals. PCSOs are there to help the community and if that means pointing out an error to a driver, then that driver should not turn around and be abusive but instead understand their error and not repeat it.

All members of the Birch Hill and Hanworth neighbourhood Bracknell policing team can be contacted via the non-emergency phone number 0845 8 505 505.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

Insp Mark Harling has been appointed as Community Safety Inspector and Deputy Commander of Bracknell Forest Local Police Area (LPA).

In his Bracknell Community Safety role, Mark heads a team that covers crime reduction advice, Neighbourhood Watch, anti-social behaviour, licensing and the Safer Schools Partnership. He is also the key point of contact between Bracknell Forest LPA and its partner agencies, in particular Bracknell Forest Borough Council.

Mark is already familiar with the Bracknell area. He joined Thames Valley Police in 1988 as a shift officer for Bracknell, Crowthorne and Wokingham, which were part of the same police area at that time. He then transferred to Reading and later spent five years as a trainer at the National Police Training School in Coventry.

In 2004, Mark moved to Windsor as a sergeant. Before taking up his new post in Bracknell in April, Mark was an inspector in the neighbourhood team, responsible for overseeing the roll-out of neighbourhood policing in Windsor and Maidenhead between 2006 and 2008.

He said: “I have happy memories of Bracknell and I’m very pleased to be back here. There are still some faces I recognise from years ago, and their long experience has proved invaluable in the ongoing fight against crime.

“My first few weeks have been spent getting to know my new colleagues and looking at ways in which we can continue to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. Bracknell Forest is a safe place to live and work, with relatively low levels of crime. In the past year, we have seen a reduction in the most common types of offence, such as burglary, criminal damage and theft from cars, of more than 20 per cent.

“This is a significant achievement, to which the police, the local authorities, community organisations, businesses and residents have all made an important contribution.

“However, despite these efforts, there are still people who leave their front doors unlocked and keep their house and car keys within easy reach, motorists who leave valuables on display in parked cars, underage drinkers who cause crime and disorder, and parents who don’t know where their children are at night.

“I find this very frustrating. Together with our partners, we will of course continue our work in preventing and solving crime, but people must play their part by taking responsibility for their children, their property and themselves.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

Ensuring the right start for your Bracknell baby is crucial and next week National Breastfeeding Awareness Week will promote that "every day makes a difference to your baby".

From Sunday (May 11) until Saturday (May 17), the Bracknell week aims to highlight that breastfeeding is the healthiest feeding option for babies and mothers. Research has shown it reduces risk against infection, enhances vaccine response, protects against allergies such as asthma and eczema and enhances the development and intelligence of the baby. Long term benefits include protection against diabetes, childhood cancer and high blood pressure.

Breastfeeding is also good for mum - it promotes post partum weight loss and reduces the risks of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers. Breastfeeding also strengthens the bond between baby and mum.

The campaign focuses on encouraging women to access the support that will help them to breastfeed for longer, and the strapline - "Breastfeeding: every day makes a difference to your baby" - reflects the message that each day a women continues to breastfeed is another day the child receives important health benefits from its mother's milk.

Cath Lowther, Bracknell Rowans Children's Centre manager, said: "Breastfeeding is a skill that is learned and needs practise. It isn't instinctive and takes a little time and effort, but help is out there. The children's centres run by Bracknell Forest Borough Council offers support to new and expecting mums."

The Rowans in Easthampstead runs a breastfeeding café each Monday between 10.30am and 12pm. The Oaks in Great Hollands also runs a breastfeeding café on Mondays between 2pm and 4pm. Both cafés offer support from health professionals and trained breastfeeding counsellors. The Rowans also offers antenatal breastfeeding workshops throughout the year to make sure mums are ready when baby is born and know where to get any support they may need. The next workshop will take place on Monday, May 19, from 3pm until 5pm.

Sam Marshall, is a Bracknell mum who has been breastfeeding her son since he was born in October last year.

She said: "Going to the breastfeeding café has been a real help. It's good to meet other mums who are breastfeeding because we all have similar problems and we can have a good chat about them. It is also comforting to know that there's a professional available if we need one."

Cllr Dr Gareth Barnard, Executive Member for Bracknell Children's Services, said: "This national campaign highlights the many health benefits of breastfeeding for both baby and mum.

"The Rowans and The Oaks are excellent facilities which brings together health professionals and counsellors so that families can get any help or support they need.

"I encourage all families to come to our children's centres and see what services they can offer you."

For more information on the breastfeeding cafés, call The Rowans on 01344 312800 or The Oaks on 01344 317020.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

In April two new Bracknell officers joined the Crown Wood and Forest Park neighbourhood policing team: PC Lucy Chimerek and police community support officer (PCSO) Debbie Preedy. Their arrival means there are now five Bracknell officers dedicated to the area: Sgt Noel Thackaberry, myself and PCSO Matt Wright, as well as Lucy and Debbie. We also have PC Rob Newton with us for a few weeks on attachment as part of his training before he joins a reactive shift team.

In response to Bracknell residents’ concerns about people hanging around in public places, the team have been carrying out high visibility patrols around the shops off Opladen Way and Horndean Road to prevent anti-social behaviour. We’ve also had officers in uniform and plain clothes patrolling the local parks to deter under-age drinking and any associated disorder.

It’s important to engage with Bracknell youngsters rather than just moving them on: the great majority are not troublemakers and we want to establish a positive relationship with them. We make a point of dropping by the youth cafés at Crown Wood School and Forest Park community centre to say hello and have a chat.

Another of the neighbourhood priorities is theft from motor vehicles. While on our routine patrols of the area in the past few weeks, we’ve come across a number of parked cars with sat navs left on the dashboard in full view. We knocked on the owners’ doors and explained to them the importance of removing all valuable items from their vehicles. Hopefully this combination of visible police patrols and preventive action by car owners will help to reduce further incidents of theft in our neighbourhood.

Still on the subject of cars, we carried out a speed enforcement operation in Opladen Way recently, and will repeat the exercise if the need arises.

If you have any concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour in Crown Wood and Forest Park, I and my colleagues can be contacted on 0845 8 505 505.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

Bracknell's much loved South Hill Park is set to receive a multi-million pound renovation following a successful National Lottery grant bid by Bracknell Forest Borough Council.

The Bracknell Council’s parks and countryside service has been awarded £209,000 design and development funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund’s national Parks for People programme following a successful bid.

Following on from previous consultations, Bracknell Council will work with residents and park users to finalise proposals to greatly improve this popular park before making a detailed bid for further funding to the lottery funds. The project’s total cost is expected to be £4.4million and would include three years of works on site and then 10 years of ongoing maintenance.

Major work is expected to include restoring the terrace garden including disabled access improvements; de-silting the southern lake; and conserving and enhancing woodland areas.
New paths and access points are proposed and a more welcoming park entrance from the main car park will be created. Information for visitors around the park will also be improved.

There are also several smaller projects being planned including wildlife improvements, better facilities for Bracknell young people, improving the landscaped features and restoring the amphitheatre. A project manager will oversee the work and will also help set up a friends group for the park.

This is Bracknell's second major heritage grant success following on from the 10-year, £2million restoration of Lily Hill Park. The second phase was officially opened last year.

Michelle Davies, on behalf of HLF and the Big Lottery Fund, said: Lottery money has already played a vital role in the renaissance of our historic parks, but there is so much more to be done.

"South Hill Park plays an important role in the community and this additional investment will transform it into a place people can be really proud of.”

Bob Angell, Chair of the South Hill Park Arts Centre Trust, said: "We are proud of our position in South Hill Park in the heart of Bracknell Forest life, and are really pleased with this grant.

"We are looking forward to working with the Council to further enhance South Hill Park for future generations."

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Bracknell Leisure, Corporate Services and Public Protection, said: This is a tremendous achievement coming hard on the heels of the Lily Hill Park funding and significantly the only successful bid in the south east of England.

"All credit to our parks and countryside team for securing this funding for the borough. I am looking forward to working with residents and seeing South Hill Park develop and improve over the coming years.

”We now have a wonderful resource in Lily Hill Park, and I have no doubt that we can achieve the same results in South Hill Park.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Bracknell Forest Borough Council this month will launch a campaign to attract local people into fostering.

On Wednesday, May 14, the Bracknell Forest Family Placement Team will be holding an information session at the Bandstand in the town centre where foster carers and members of the team will be on hand answering questions about fostering. The team will also be available on Tuesday, May 20, in front of Charles Square water fountain. Both days the team will be in the town centre from 9.30am until 3.30pm.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council has joined the UK-wide campaign Foster Care Fortnight as the Council needs to recruit foster carers who can provide short break, short-term, or long-term care for children and young people.

Foster Care Fortnight (May 12-May 25), co-ordinated by fostering charity Fostering Network, raises awareness of fostering and highlights the shortage of foster carers across the UK - Bracknell Forest is currently experiencing a shortage of foster carers able to take in teenagers.

Penny Reuter, Chief Officer: Children's Social Care, said: "We need to recruit at least five new fostering households this year, and we particularly need carers for teenagers.

"We have a number of teenagers currently in need of a placement.

"Teenagers can move out of their homes for any number of reasons. Sometimes they may just need a break outside the family before returning home. Sometimes, they need to stay in foster care longer term. But whatever their individual circumstances, we really need people who can offer a stable and supportive environment for teenagers."

Jock and Nina are currently foster carers and have cared for a number of teenagers. Jock believes the young people have a huge difference to their lives.

He said: "Nina and I have fostered for eight years and the word I often associate with fostering is 'rewarding' - to see young people safe, achieve academically, participate in sports and most importantly, return to or have contact with their own family.

"Sometimes young people need time in a different environment for many different reasons. To be able to offer this for young people is the most rewarding thing we know."

Bracknell Forest Borough Council offers a comprehensive package for foster carers which includes:
* excellent support throughout the training and assessment process and beyond;
* paid respite;
* financial allowances, with extra allowance for training and NVQs gained;
* a local carers' support group;
* out of hours and emergency support; and
* a dedicated social worker for each carer.

The Bracknell Forest Family Placement Team are also holding a open evening on Wednesday, July 16, at the Bracknell Family Centre, Warfield Road, 7-9 pm. The evening will be an informal meeting where interested residents meet others interested in fostering, as well as members of the Council's fostering team.

Gareth Barnard, Executive Member for Children's Services said: "Anyone over 21 can apply to foster - gender, marital status, disability, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, employment status or home ownership don't matter.

"If people have even considered fostering, they shouldn't hesitate in calling the family placement team. It could be one of the most important phone calls they ever make and could change a child or young persons life forever."

For more information and a pack about fostering, call 01344 351582.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Officers investigating a snatch theft in Bracknell are appealing for a key witness to come forward.

At around 11.45am on Monday 28 April a woman in her eighties was driving her mobility scooter near Jubilee Court in Hazell Hill, Bracknell when she had her handbag snatched from her lap.

Police are particularly keen to trace a white woman in her late twenties or early thirties who witnessed the incident and spoke to the victim shortly afterwards.

Anyone with information is urged to contact PC Neil Slocombe of the Priority Crime Team in Bracknell via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police or leave your name, please call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

A drab Bracknell mini roundabout by the entrance to Sainsbury’s in Birch Hill has been given a sustainable face lift thanks to Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s landscape services team.

The landscape team took the decision to replace the traditional shrub planting with cutting edge sedum matting as part of this year's annual Bracknell Flowers campaign.

Sedums are tiny succulent plants that require virtually no water but flower throughout most of the year providing habitat for insects and butterflies. These little plants are much more diverse than short mown grass and won’t require frequent mowing. The original shrubs were very old and needed constant pruning to maintain the sightlines across the roundabout. This new planting is very low growing so this is no longer a problem.

This is one of many projects that the Bracknell Flowers team are hoping will impress the Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom judges during their visit to the borough in July.

Steve McKenna, Landscape Manager, said This first area of sedum matting is a trial and if it is successful we will look at other sites around the borough which could benefit from similar treatment. So far I am very pleased with the result”.

Helen Barnet Marketing Manager for BRP, which works alongside the Council on Bracknell Flowers, said We all need to look for more sustainable solutions to everyday problems and this is a great example of innovation, lets hope the judges are impressed.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Harmans Water Primary School, Bracknell respects the rights of others, according to a UNICEF initiative.

The Bracknell Forest school has achieved the UNICEF Level 1 award as a “Rights Respecting School”. The award, an initiative by UNICEF, is based on children having an awareness of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Having learnt about their rights, the pupils at Harmans Water Primary have come to understand that rights bring responsibilities. For example, the right for children to receive a good education gives all children the responsibility to listen, to take part and to do their best.

To this end, all classes have discussed and devised their own 'class charter', where they have all agreed a set of rules and the responsibilities that come with them.

Michael Harris, Harmans Water Primary School headteacher, said: "We have found that respect for each other and general behaviour around our school has improved dramatically. Our pupils have become aware that their actions have an immediate impact on others. It has given our children a voice.

"It has improved their self-esteem and their belief that their school cares about them. It has broadened their global knowledge and made them question political issues happening around the world.”

Governors, parents, dinner staff and teaching staff have worked hard to drive this whole school initiative.

Anne Smith, co-ordinator of the project at the Bracknell school, said: “This is not just a certificate, trophy or a plaque for our wall, it’s a working document - an ethos. With everyone on board, we all can benefit from the Rights Respecting Initiative."

Harmans Water Primary School is now working towards the Level 2 award. This not only reinforces the Level 1 bench marks, but raises the profile of global issues affecting children’s rights and makes valuable links with the local community.

Mrs Smith said: "The children should emerge from our school as well informed, responsible and caring young people."

The Bracknell primary school recently hosted a training day for more than 140 colleagues from local schools, all of whom are interested in, or are already working towards their own UNICEF “Rights Respecting School” awards. With presentations by school children and with guest speakers including the Head of Education for UNICEF Edward Waller, the day was deemed a great success by all.

Cllr Alan Kendall, Executive Member for Education, said: “Congratulations to Michael and his team for being the first primary school to reach Level 1: Rights Respecting School.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Warfield C of E Primary School Summer Fete
Saturday 7th June
12.00—3.00pm

Pre-Auditioned (pupils only) Talent Show 3.00pm
Organised by Warfield C of E Primary School PTA

Our annual PTA fete, to include - Bouncy Castle, Bouncy Slide, Bungee Run, Go-Karts, Lucky Dip, Jam-Jar Ping Pong, Panda Pops, Hoopla, Crossbow Inflatable, Penalty Shootout, Tombola, Alcohol Tombola, Silent Auction, Teddy Tombola, Coconut Shy, Mini Train, Scalextric Challenge, Football Table Challenge, Duck Pond, Second Hand DVD, Computer Games and CD's Pony Rides, Raffle, Cake Stall, Guess the Weight of the Cake and Guess the Number of Sweets in the Jar, BBQ, Popcorn, Beer Tent, Ice Cream Van, followed by Warfield Primary School Talent Show (pupils only- pre-auditioned) to be Judged by: Quentin Jones who plays Roger Kiddle in Hollyoaks.

Quentin will be with us to open the fete, and staying all afternoon to sign autographs etc, and then will be judging the Talent Show at the end of the fete. Come along and meet a real live TV/Film Star!

Warfield CofE Primary School, All Saints Rise, Warfield, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG42 3SS.

Bracknell Businesses Against Crime (B:BAC), a partnership initiative designed to make Bracknell a safe place to shop, has appointed a new co-ordinator.

Katie Simmons works closely with the Bracknell Town Centre neighbourhood policing team and is based in their office at Bracknell police station. Since taking up her new post in February, she has been getting to know the existing members of B:BAC, as well as encouraging more businesses to join.

“B:BAC currently has 35 members, including three who joined this month,” said Katie. “It is chaired by Clare Rebbeck, the manager of Millets, who is very proactive. Membership of B:BAC includes local retailers and businesses, the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, Bracknell Forest Borough Council, the Town Ranger and security officers.

“The group has bi-monthly meetings, at which we review the latest CCTV figures for incidents in the town centre and discuss any concerns about crime and disorder. There is a list of people, mainly prolific shoplifters, who are banned from the premises of all B:BAC members for one year. Members vote on whether to include target individuals or remove them from the list.”

B:BAC members exchange information about the activities and whereabouts of known Bracknell criminals, ensuring that everyone is alerted to any potential threat. Having signed up to strict data protection protocols, members are issued with descriptions and pictures of any possible suspects in the area. The scheme works on the basis of members holding town link radios and sharing information with town centre CCTV and the police.

“Our aim is to help B:BAC members to help themselves,” said Katie. “For example, the police provide crime reduction tips so that retail staff can join in the fight against crime. If staff see a shopper whose purse is visible in an open bag, they will advise her to put it away safely and thus prevent a potential crime.

“By working as a team, we make it very difficult for people to commit crime in Bracknell town centre.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

New bird boxes to encourage Bracknell biodiversity at Clinton's Hill

A series of bird boxes have been installed at Clinton’s Hill in Bullbrook, Bracknell, to encourage more of our feathered friends to nest in the woodland.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s tree service put the bird boxes up for the Bracknell Natural History Society, who have received a Breathing Places grant from the National Lottery to improve biodiversity and help residents learn more about local wildlife.

There will soon be new picnic benches and an information boards at the bottom of the hill, near the children’s playground; and children from Holly Spring Infants School have helped plant wild daffodils and wood anemone to supplement the natural bluebells.

Volunteers have cleared scrub to allow planting of hawthorn and field maple, created beetle loggeries, built dead-hedging, improved paths and removed litter.

Another litter pick is being held on Sunday, June 8 - all help will be welcome.

Gillian Martin, from Bracknell Natural History Society, said: We have been working hard at Clinton’s Hill to improve it for the wildlife and people living near it.

”I hope the new bird boxes will lead to greater biodiversity, and mean there is even more for residents to see.”

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Leisure, Corporate Services and Public Protection, said: "When Gill Cheetham approached me as one of the ward councillors for Bullbrook to sponsor her bid I was happy to do so and I am delighted our tree officers were able to help the natural history society with this worthwhile project.

”I’m looking forward to seeing even more wildlife flourish at Clinton’s Hill thanks to the hard work of these volunteers.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s learning disabilities team has won the regional heat for the Dignity in Care category of the Health and Social Care Awards, 2008.

The Bracknell learning disabilities team, based at the Council’s Time Square offices, impressed the judges with the way they have changed their way of working during the last 18 months. People are now supported to have the same opportunity as all residents in the borough, rather than having to use traditional services.

The Bracknell team picked up their accolade at an award ceremony held at Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium, last Wednesday (April 23). There were over 90 submissions for the awards and the team will now compete against other regional award winners to be shortlisted for the national finals which take place in London in July.

Glyn Jones, Chief Officer: Adult Social Care, said: This award is a credit to the hard work of our team during the last 18 months or so and it is a privilege to be recognised for this.

We will certainly be keeping up the work we are doing within the learning disabilities team and keep our fingers crossed that we may receive a national award.”

The award was also in recognition of new services provided by the learning disabilities team, like the Green Machine, which is a social enterprise aimed at employing people with disabilities and which will offer quality gardening and maintenance services to residents in the Bracknell borough. It also recognised other initiatives including the council teaming up with national employment agency A4E to help people with learning disabilities find jobs and to support their families.

Cllr Dale Birch, Executive Member for Bracknell Adult Services, Health and Housing, said: Our learning disabilities team are driving forward our agenda for modernisation and change and have introduced an ethos of empowerment for our learning disability residents which now allows them to live a much fuller and more active life in the community, if they choose.

I think it is fantastic that the team has been recognised in this way and I congratulate them on receiving this award. They are making such a difference and are genuinely changing people’s lives for the better. Congratulations to them and I wish them the very best for the national finals.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council