StoryLab hopes to inspire youngsters to read six or more books during the school holidays, receiving bronze, silver and gold stickers as they progress and a certificate and medal for those who complete the challenge.
The challenge is just one of many exciting schemes public libraries across the borough are developing to help children aged between five and 11 foster a love for reading, build confidence and learn new skills.
This year’s StoryLab themefeatures the characters Lex, Rani, Will and Evie. They are joined by Aesop, the ginger lab cat, to help Professor Cortex collect and share stories to inspire thousands of young imaginations.
There is also an interactive StoryLabwebsite – www.story-lab.org.uk – encouraging children to talk about their favourite books and reading experiences with top authors and illustrators.
StoryLab is an official project in the Cultural Olympiad’s London 2012 Festival. Set up by independent charity The Reading Agency, the challenge is now in its 14th year and reaches some 750,000 children every year via the UK library network.
For more information and a full list of events call (0118) 978 1368 or visit: www.wokingham.gov.uk/libraries/events/summerchallenge
July 8, 2012 | editor
Three acclaimed authors are sharing their work and writing tips at Wokingham Library.
Best-selling author Patrick Gale will be talking about his writing career and reading from his new book ‘A Perfectly Good Man’ on Thursday July 5 at 8pm.
Patrick, who takes the inspiration for most of his writing from the Cornish landscape, has written a number of highly acclaimed novels including ‘Notes from an Exhibition,’ ‘A Sweet Obscurity,’ and ‘Rough Music’. Tickets for the event cost £5, and the evening includes a book-signing and refreshments.
Find out what it would have been like to experience the excitement of the Olympics in 388 BC. Archaeologist and historian Neil Faulkner will be talking about his new book ‘A Visitor’s Guide to the Ancient Olympics’ on July 9 at 6.30pm.
Neil is a research fellow of the University of Bristol, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and director of several field projects. Tickets cost £3.
A re-scheduled talk by popular novelist Lesley Pearse is now taking place on Thursday July 26 at 8pm. Lesley is one of the UK’s best-loved novelists with fans across the globe and sales of her books to date of more than seven million copies.
A true storyteller and a master of gripping storylines that keeps the reader hooked from beginning to end. Whether crime as in ‘Till We Meet Again’, historical adventure like ‘Never Look Back’, or the passionately emotive ‘Trust Me’, based on the true-life scandal of British child migrants sent to Australia in the post war period, she engages the reader completely. Lesley will be discussing her work and new book ‘The Promise’. The event includes a book signing and refreshments. Tickets cost £3.
To book you place on one of more of the talks, call the library on (0118) 9781368.
July 7, 2012 | editor
A special Olympic inspired event is being held at Cantley Park in Wokingham on July 7, 10am to 3pm. The event is organised by the sports & development unit at Wokingham Borough Council.
Football, water sports, basketball, cricket, tennis and hockey are just some of the many sports being represented at the event.
Refreshments and food are available to purchase throughout the day. A raffle is being held in aid of two local charities – The Link Visiting Scheme and Friends of Bridges – and the national Help for Heroes. Tickets cost £1 per strip.
July 5, 2012 | editor
The works will start on Saturday July 21 for a period of three weeks with a full road closure. The closure will be between Edwards Road and Weavers Way. The road closure will be removed on Friday August 10 at 4pm.
The works aim to strengthen and refurbish the Old River South Bridge; and to refurbish the White Bridge. Routine maintenance/repairs to two additional flood arch bridges along Old Bath Road will also be carried out whilst the road is closed. Pedestrian and cyclist access will be provided across both bridges during the works.
For more information contact Wokingham Direct on (0118) 974 6000.
July 4, 2012 | editor
After a public consultation into the Wokingham Station Link Road between February 1 and April 6. 62 per cent of Wokingham residents taking part in a consultation are backing proposals to improve the road network around Wokingham railway station and the Barkham Road level crossing, backed the proposals.
The consultation included direct leaflets and feedback forms to more than 2500 homes and businesses near the proposed scheme, extensive web-based plans and information sheets, plus dedicated email contact address and online feedback forms.
There were also press releases, postings and interactions on Twitter and Facebook, individual meetings, and a three-day exhibition located within a vacant shop in the town centre which attracted more than 500 people.
The proposals were also on display at the council’s Shute End offices during the whole consultation period.
Overall, 599 questionnaires were returned and164 respondents completed the online survey. The overall response rate, based on the total number of leaflets and forms issued, gave a 19% public response rate.
“This response rate is very encouraging for a consultation of this nature and compares favourably with previous Wokingham Borough Council consultations,” said Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for planning and highways.
“It shows just how keen people were to take part in this important consultation.”
Only 27 per cent of residents taking part in the consultation said they were against the proposals.
June 29, 2012 | editor
Trading Standards are targeting rogue traders this summeron behalf of Wokingham Borough Council and West Berkshire, hoping to tackle the problem in a number of ways. These include:
40-minute awareness presentations to groups and societies with a high proportion of older people. Unfortunately statistics show this age group is more susceptible to rogue traders
Trading Standards hopes this work will not only educate people to recognise and avoid rogue traders, but also develop existing good partnerships with police, housing associations, community and home settings wardens, as well as colleagues and charities working with older people.
Trading Standards has 11 presentations to public groups booked during the next few months, but is keen to run extra ones if more groups are interested.
June 29, 2012 | editor
The Garden Room Gallery at Dinton Pastures presents an exhibition of paintings by Richard Conway-Jones. Deep in the Afternoon, on view Until August 31st. Open
8.30am-4pm daily.
Image: Richard Conway-Jones, Deep In The Afternoon
Dinton Pastures Country Park covers just over 335 acres. The park is open daily. It has 7 lakes, 2 rivers, 3 public bird hides, and meadows. A free Dinton Walks leaflet is available at the cafe.
Garden Room Gallery, Dragonfly Cafe, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, Berkshire RG10 0TH
For more information on the artist vist: sites.google.com/site/englandsgreatestlivingartist.
June 25, 2012 | editor
A ‘Power of Pilates’ is being held on Monday 25th June 19:00-20:00 at the Acorn Community Centre, Woosehill.
This Pilates Class offers the chance to improve your body’s muscles and flexibility. The course is normally done in 7 week blocks.
The event costs £7.50 for an induction session, for more information call 0118 9262 3826.
June 25, 2012 | editor
Twelve schools across Wokingham Borough are taking part in the borough council’s Active First scheme. The scheme is part of the council’s wider package of measures aimed at getting residents to change travel behaviours and give greater consideration to the way that we travel, especially for short journeys.
The scheme will run for five weeks and is aimed mainly at children in years 4 and 5 (ages eight to 10). Children taking part in Active First are given a map and each day that they walk or cycle to school, they receive a stamp on their map and a collector’s card. To tie in with the Olympics, the theme for 2012 is Olympic athletes. Each card has a picture and some information about an athlete who will represent the UK at the Olympics this summer. There are 25 cards to collect.
Children who collect all 25 cards will also be put into a special prize draw with prizes kindly donated by local sports organisations. Children could win a football party at Goals Soccer Centre, a family climbing session at Reading Climbing Centre, a free tennis coaching session, or a family deal at Wokingham Superbowl. There will be one winner for each participating school.
The scheme is one of the first schemes to be funded by the council’s recently secured Local Sustainable Transport Fund programme, and will be expanded to more primary schools in the borough as the programme is rolled out.
June 22, 2012 | editor
The Loddon Bridge Park and Ride re-opened Monday 18 June 2012, reports Wokingham Borough Council after being closed due to flooding.
After prolonged periods of very heavy rain there is a danger of flooding at this site. At these times recorded messages are available on 0118 989 2891 or listen to BBC Radio Berkshire 104.1FM, or Heart on 97.0FM and 102.9FM for up to date information. Between 7am and 10pm call Traveline on 0871 200 2233. Calls provided by BT will be charged at 10p per minute plus 6p set up fee. Mobile, business and other providers’ charges may vary.
The Loddon Bridge Park and Ride Park is signposted from the A329M and A329 and is next to Showcase Cinema. Park and Ride buses go into central Reading, every 15 minutes each way all day on Mondays to Saturdays.
For real time next bus information from Loddon Bridge Park and Ride stop 1 (entrance) call 0118 9511 412. At the prompt, key: 1. You will be asked for a 4 digit code. Key: 9997 to hear the times of the next buses from this stop. For the real time bus information from Central Reading – Minster Street MQ, key: 3289 and for the real time bus information from Central Reading, Blagrave Street, key: 2452. Normal call charges apply.
June 20, 2012 | editor
