Category: Articles

Caversham Globe’s Annual Report for the year 2009 has been published today and can now be found on the Downloads-Reports page.

As part of its planting programme this winter, Caversham Globe will be planting two new autumn flowering cherry trees by the footpath in Picton Way, Caversham. The trees have been funded by Globe and are being planted with the support of the local residents and Reading Borough Council. We will also be replacing two of the saplings along Peppard Road and Buckingham Drive, these were originally planted as part of our contribution to the millennium Trees For Our Future project. Caversham Globe has a number of small trees in our allotment which are available for planting around Caversham and Emmer Green and suggestions are always welcome for new planting locations to help improve the local environment.

UPDATE: Here are some of the great people that help plant the trees in picton way:

UPDATE: You should now take your batteries to the RE3 recycling centre (Smallmead Household Waste Recycling Centre, Island Road, Reading, RG2 0RP)

Caversham GLOBE has now added a fifth location – AW Cycles in Henley Road – where used batteries can be taken for recycling.  The Battery Collection scheme is having great success, with more than 40
kilos of household batteries deposited by local residents in the first two months since it was set up. We are grateful to both residents and the retailers for supporting the scheme.

The full list of outlets is now:

* AW Cycles, 110 Henley Rd, Caversham
* Caversham Cobbler and Key Smith, 12 Bridge Street (Caversham Bridge).
* V & I Hardware, Emmer Green (Cavendish Rd – top of Milestone Way)
* True Food Co-op, Grove Road, Emmer Green
* Caversham Library, Church Street, Caversham

 

Caversham GLOBE has arranged with three local retailers to operate a used battery collection scheme. This will encourage residents to recycle household batteries, classified as hazardous waste, as well as reduce risks to landfill sites. Caversham GLOBE has provided containers and posters for the three sites at:

* Caversham Cobbler and Key Smith, 12 Bridge Street (Caversham Bridge).
* V & I Hardware, Emmer Green (Cavendish Rd – top of Milestone Way)
* Woodcote Way Post Office & Stores, Caversham Heights.

A volunteer from GLOBE will periodically empty the containers and take the batteries to Council recycling facilities. Residents are urged to use these new facilities. New sites are being sought.

Melanie Orros, a student at the University of Reading is researching why hedgehogs are declining in the UK.

As part of this survey, people living in and around Reading are asked to report sightings of any hedgehogs that they see dead on the roads.

Please visit the website at www.reading.ac.uk/hedgehogs for more details of the scheme and for a map of the area from which reports are needed.

At our AGM on 2nd July, a new Constitution was approved – this has now been added to the Downloads page.

Our latest Annual Report has now been been published and can be found on the Downloads page.

Elected Key Members for 2009 are: Dave Kenny (Treasurer), Jennifer Millest, Isobel Ballsdon, Judith Barratt,  Peter Trout, Jean Newbery, Richard Denney.

Trees planted last winter (Feb 2008) in Peppard Rd (2 oaks); Buckingham Drive (2 flowering cherries); Grove Rd /opposite St Barnabas Church (cherry & rowan); Kiln Rd/Caversham Park Rd triangle (hornbeam). Regularly watered these during the summer and carried out checks on earlier plantings to adjust/remove ties and trim back basal shoots where necessary.

Participated in the March 2008 RESCUE event – cleaned out the Vastern Ditch in Richfield Ave (a joint effort with the Bell Tower Community Association).

Wrote item to promote battery recycling (published in May 2008 Caversham Bridge).

Wrote items to promote tetrapak (drinks carton) recycling – with June & September mailings.

Kings Meadow flood works (in connection with Amersham Rd Children’s Centre).  Responded to this planning application, spoke at Planning Applications Committee and attended site meetings with RBC staff. Also subsequent meeting to discuss and agree remedial tree planting work.

Site Allocations Development Plan Responded to RBC consultation in conjunction with Caversham & Emmer Green Residents Associations.

Caversham Lock Island/King’s Meadow Baths Development Proposals Consulted with Steve Ward (Head of Parks, Sports & Recreation, Reading Borough Council) and submitted paper with comments to Cabinet and Culture & Sport Scrutiny Panel.

Parks & Open Spaces Held regular meetings with Ben Stanesby (Parks Manager) and other Parks Department staff to discuss various environmental issues affecting Albert Road Rec, Balmore Walk, Caversham Court, Christchurch Meadows, Henley Road Allotments, Hill’s Meadow, King’s Meadow, Thames Promenade, and Westfield Road Recreation Ground.

Deans Farm Lakes (Caversham Lakes) Discussed issues concerning the two Deans Farm Lakes and mineral extraction with Oxfordshire County Council staff.

Planning Applications Commented on Planning Applications in Bridge Street, Southview Avenue, Queen’s Road, Caversham Road, Paddock Road.

Liaised with other local community organisations including Caversham & District Residents Association (CADRA), Emmer Green Residents’ Association (EGRA), Reading Urban Wildlife Group (RUWG) and Bell Tower Community Association (Richfield Ave ditch clearance).

Volunteered to care for new beech tree at The Cloisters (planted autumn 2008)

Continue to attend and participate in meetings of the Reading Globe Alliance (TREGA) and the Green City & Open Spaces Forum.

Globe members continued to tackle graffiti around the Caversham area on an ad hoc basis and to send regular reports on graffiti to local police/council staff. We have also repainted many of the badly faded or graffiti covered green telcom boxes with paint supplied by NTL/Virgin Media.

Globe members continued to keep an eye on environmental issues throughout our area and to raise relevant issues with council staff as necessary.