GLOBE is for people who care passionately about our local environment.
We are:
- working to improve and protect green spaces for the benefit of wildlife and local residents.
- taking practical action on the ground as well as influencing policy and planning decisions.
Our activities include:
- Practical events such as tree and hedge planting, rubbish clearance, graffiti removal and walks.
- Encouraging Councillors and Council Officers to take action to improve the local environment.
- Monitoring and commenting on planning applications and consultations on issues such as landscaping, flood risk, wildlife conservation, light pollution and visual impact.
- Working with other local community, residents and conservation groups to further common aims.
- Refubishing and planting the 22 wooden planter boxes in Central Caversham
Caversham GLOBE works in all parts of Reading Borough north of the Thames as well as adjoining areas along the riverside and into South Oxfordshire. We are an independent community-based group funded by donations from residents and local traders. We are one of several GLOBE groups set up in Reading in the mid-1990s following the Rio Earth Summit.
GLOBE Meetings & Mailing List
We meet on alternate months (usually on a Tuesday evening) to talk about local issues and make decisions (see Diary/ Events page for dates). Anyone is welcome to the meetings which are usually held in the upstairs meeting room at The Griffin, Church Road, Caversham RG4 7AD. If you would like to be added to our mailing list please email with your contact details and areas of interest. (see Contacts page). We have no annual subscription, all we ask is for your interest, support, ideas, expertise and energy.
Recent Articles:
- Planning application for 260 properties on Reading Golf Club submitted
Our friends at the ‘Keep Emmer Green’ (KEG) campaign have asked us to tell our members about the planning application… Read more: Planning application for 260 properties on Reading Golf Club submitted - Caversham GLOBE oppose EA planned Flood scheme of Walls and Bunds – Asking for natural Flood defences
The Environment Agency has been running multiple consultations regarding a flood defence scheme based on heavy engineering of walls, bunds… Read more: Caversham GLOBE oppose EA planned Flood scheme of Walls and Bunds – Asking for natural Flood defences
Recent News:
As part of The Big Help-Out Day on Monday 8th May Caversham Globe has decided to re-paint the planters in central Caversham. Globe maintains all the planters outside the shops in Church Street and on the corner of Church Road. We provide the plants, and undertake weeding, tidying and watering during dry spells. As it has been some years since we last painted the planters, their appearance would be greatly improved by repainting. So we're looking for a group of volunteers to come forward to help us with this important task.
Would be able to spare an hour or two on Monday 8th May to help us? We aim to start at 10am but you would be welcome to join us later too. In the event of rain the event would be rescheduled. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are able to help, please email: info@cavershamglobe.org.uk
As there are around 20 planters, we need a good number of people to help. No expertise is necessary, just a willingness to help. We will provide all the equipment.
Is there an age limit on this?
Get you garden ready for summer and come along to Bean Pole Day on Saturday 22nd April from 10.00am to 3.00pm in Caversham Court Gardens (Church Road, Caversham RG4 7AD)!
Reading Tree Wardens will once again have a stall at the event to publicise our activities and raise funds. We will be selling garden plants (including plants you don't often see in garden centres), young vegetable plants, house plants and young trees etc. Please remember to bring cash along for your purchases!
If you have some plants to donate for our stall, we have drop off points ahead of the event in Redlands, Caversham, and Tilehurst. ( For locations email us at at rtwn2011@gmail.com)
Bean Pole Day is organised by Econet and there will be many other local groups at the event on 22nd April from 10am. Look forward to seeing you there! 🌳🪴🥀🌸🌱
"Get you" too!
Caversham Globe planted this cherry tree (prunus yedoensis) on Balmore Walk about 22 years ago. One of the earliest cherries to flower, it's looking stunning in the spring sunshine.
I love this tree, I did wonder why it has all it’s blossom and other trees don’t 😊
Walked past this earlier this week and took a photo, lovely looking tree.
Love this tree....just walked past now...thanks Caversham GLOBE
I love it!
Walked by it yesterday. My son loves it ❤️
Concerns were raised by residents at last week's GLOBE meeting about what is happening at the former advertising hoardings site at the junction of George Street & Gosbrook Road
ukpropertyforums.com/enforcement-team-steps-in-at-caversham-site/?fbclid=IwAR3Qq8u1xuGkQ35Z7Vd6FB...
Enforcement team steps in at Caversham site - UK Property Forums
ukpropertyforums.com
Enforcement team steps in at Caversham site Posted by Alan Bunce | Jan 27, 2023 | Berkshire, Deals, Development, News, Reading, Thames Tap | 0 | Enforcement action has begun by Reading Borough Council...Good, it looks like a right state at the moment.
Sad to report that a prominent tree in Nire Road has been felled possibly illegally, if anyone saw this happening or can help identify the culprits please contact Jacopo
[UPDATE] The tree was removed by Catalyst Housing Group under their 3 year tree maintenance plan, as it was diseased, reported to have bleeding canker. It is going to be replaced with a hornbeam.
This message from Tony Cowling may be of interest:
DraughtBusters Evening at Civic Centre 14 October 6-8pm
Increased fuel costs affect everyone, but for some it will be a very hard decision between food, warmth and increasing debt.
As you may know, DraughtBusters offers practical help to reduce heat losses to those in fuel poverty. We expect there to be more demand for the service this year and have applied for, and received, additional funds to make changes to more of Reading’s housing stock.
We cannot satisfy this demand without the experienced volunteers that have worked for DraughtBusters in the past, plus additional help.
DraughtBusters wants to set up hubs across Reading, each with their own tool and equipment store, and train new volunteers to join in with this important work.
There will be a meeting at the Civic Centre on October 14th from 6-8pm to launch the extended programme and we’d appreciate your attendance and hope that you will encourage other potential DraughtBusters to come and join us.
I hope to see you on the 14th
Tony Cowling
DraughtBusters – Energy saving advice and help
readinguk.org
DraughtBusters is a voluntary group who undertake draught proofing for people facing particular problems with draughts and heating in Reading using a small budget from the Reading Borough Council. Thi...Drought...no rain in sight...trees in Reading are standing bravely in hot sun but many of them are under stress. The Council are flat out watering and Reading Tree Wardens are out and about tending to and watering identified trees at risk. We are just abut coping but would welcome a reserve of temporary volunteers who, if needed, could be called up to water a few trees in their own area . Councillor Karen Rowland is out with her trolley of water containers helping out with these vulnerable trees in Thorn Street, by Cheapside, Abbey ward, setting a fantastic example. Would you be willing to be on the reserve list? Just drop us a line at rtwn2011@gmail.com with your name and the area you live in and you could save a tree!
The Thames Path will be closed in sections between Horseshoe Bridge and Caversham Bridge from tomorrow for several weeks, to allow vital resurfacing to improve and seal the path. The stages will work from east to west as shown, with the focus this week on Horseshoe Bridge to King’s Meadow. By the end of next week (weather permitting) we'll be starting the final stage, from Reading Bridge to Caversham Bridge. Diversions for each section will be in place during works.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people or changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.Caversham GLOBE supports Plastic Free Caversham! We encourage businesses and residents to reduce their dependence on single-use plastic.
We (Caversham Globe) will be pleased to welcome Plastic Free Caversham this evening at Church House in Caversham. The meeting starts from 7.15pm in the upstairs hall.
They will be giving a short talk to explain their aims to encourage local businesses, groups and residents to reduce their use of single-use plastic: also their various activities.
The normal meeting will take place afterwards.
Thank you for hosting us and for your support for the campaign! It was great to meet everyone.
Great turnout for this morning's litterpick around Thames Prom!From record to record! An amazing 26 volunteers today with Keep Caversham Tidy and Caversham GLOBE to clean up around Waterman Cl and Thameside Promenade car park. And we are at 450 hours of volunteering litter pick since September!
#keepCavershamTidy #trashtag #trashdr
If you want to follow our activity, then like our page, www.facebook.com/Keep-Caversham-Tidy-101638949007744, and if you want to join us in our adventures, then join our group, www.facebook.com/groups/468823317580585.
Thanks to everyone who helped out on today's cleanup with Keep Caversham Tidy at Hills Meadow & George St, in collaboration with GLOBE around 30 sacks of litter collected in two hours
where's that going?
Hello can you please check your DMs? Thanks
Thank you.
Sad news about the felling of the veteran Bhutan Pine at Caversham Court Gardens.The Reading Borough Council Parks Team have confirmed with regret that the ailing Bhutan pine next to the Tea Kiosk will be felled on 11 February 2022. A replacement tree of the same species will be planted the same day, close to the site of the old one. We hope that the bark chippings from the old Bhutan pine may be used as a mulch for some of the other trees in the gardens which are currently showing signs of stress due to climate change and soil conditions.
The Bhutan pine (Pinus wallichiana) is a coniferous evergreen tree native to the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountains, from eastern Afghanistan east across northern Pakistan and north west India to Yunnan in south west China. It grows in mountain valleys at altitudes of 1800 to 4300 m, reaching 30 to 50 m in height.
An important timber tree in the Himalayas, it is harvested on a commercial basis from both wild stands and plantations, producing high-quality, durable timber used in local carpentry and for making tea boxes. The Bhutan pine also has a range of traditional uses for food (pine nuts) and medicine (for example turpentine, used to cure respiratory problems). Used as firewood locally, it produces a lot of smoke because it is very resinous.
The Latin name comes from Dr Nathaniel Wallich (1786-1854), who was born in Copenhagen but spent many years exploring the botany of northern India and nearby areas. He introduced the seeds of this pine to England in 1827 and it became a fashionable specimen tree with its long needles and huge banana-shaped cones. Our tree was probably planted in the second half of the 19th century.
The sketch of our Bhutan pine was done by Hester Casey in 2020.
Objections to the latest planning application on Reading Golf Course need to be made by 11 January see the KEG web site (details below) for links or send comment direct to the RBC Planning Applications web site planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_PL/comment.asp?AltRef=211843&ApplicationNumber=211843
Great turn-out today at our litter pick in Christchurch Meadow with Caversham GLOBE. We did a great job tidying up the canal ditch and the area by the bathroom building. Great to see so many new faces too!
#keepcavershamtidy #trashdr #keepcavershamtidy
Follow Keep Caversham Tidy on our public page, www.facebook.com/Keep-Caversham-Tidy-101638949007744, or join our Facebook group, www.facebook.com/groups/468823317580585, if you want to join us in our adventures across Caversham.
Grove Road hedge replanted!
The hedge bordering Emmer Green recreation ground along Grove Road had been in a sorry state for several years with gaps and sections of dieback. It needed urgent attention. Earlier this week a team of volunteers assisted by Reading Council's parks department, cleared the deteriorating sections of the hedge, which have now been replanted with new hedging. The mesh fence will help to protect the new saplings. More plants are on order to fill the remaining gaps.
The work was possible thanks to a grant which Caversham GLOBE received from Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) to restore the hedge. Thanks to all volunteers and RBC staff who have helped with the project.
Well done Caversham GLOBE group and all those involved in replanting.
It was great to be able to help with this- such a happy thing to do!
Great job, guys!
👏👏
Preparatory work on the hedge is starting tomorrow, with replanting week.Congratulations to Caversham GLOBE for securing funding from Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) to help restore the hedge bounding the Emmer Green recreation ground along Grove Road.
Working alongside Reading Council starting this November, volunteers will be carrying out planting in this area. If you would like to volunteer, either with the planting, or follow up maintenance please contact rdguk.info/CavershamGlobe_libUe or info@cavershamglobe.org.uk
Calling all GLOBE members! We have been contacted by Hannah Dunford regarding motivations for community engagement, she says:
"Hello, I am a third year geography student at University of Reading. I am currently studying community motivations for engagement with the new Reading Hydro project for my dissertation. It would be much appreciated if you could fill out my questionnaire if you are familiar with the project. The link to the questionairre is:" docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzKLKe2YnCGeMqWcn4LJWXoEl5CX5kDyPrhUEoG9EskNGoAQ/viewform?usp=s...
Community motivations for engagement with the Reading Hydro Project
docs.google.com
I am a third-year geography student studying at the University of Reading. I am currently conducting research about the new Reading Hydro Project in Caversham. I am investigating the community of Read...Many thanks !
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people or changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.well done once again all of you. Some new faces and some who have been clearing litter from public places for soooooo many years. I know why you do it but I wonder how you keep doing it and why people drop litter and fly tip their rubbish.
Thankyou x
Timeline photosWork to protect the row of landmark poplar trees along the eastern boundary of Christchurch Meadows will begin next week.
Many of the trees in this area are believed to be almost 40 years old and are coming to the end of their natural life (this species tend to live between 30 to 50 years). This type of tree is also prone to snapping, and given the size and location of these trees, they will need to be reduced to a safer height from their current height of 18-22m.
Since the majority of the trees are still healthy they will only be reduced to around 15m in height. The entire row has been successfully reduced to a similar height previously, so this is an appropriate height for them to begin regrowth again.
Although some of the older trees are beginning to fail, our succession planting for this line of trees, initiated over seven years ago, has taken into account the limited life span of these trees and planned ahead for the future. We added 34 new poplar trees in 2014 and the majority of these are growing well. We hope the new healthier trees will eventually become the dominant ones along the row.
We carried out similar work previously to a number of other poplars to the north of this area, which have now regrown.
Over the last decade, we have planted over 200 new trees every year, with the final total for the 2020-21 season reaching 351 – which exceeds the 330 trees planted during the Queen’s Jubilee year of 2012.
The tree planting has attempted to increase the diversity of the tree varieties across Reading – including trees ranging from oaks to rowans, and limes to pines. This is an important part of our new Tree Strategy – and a crucial step in its response to tackling the climate emergency.
Caversham GLOBE supports the residents of Nire Road who want this area of woodland, which is public land owned by RBC, but is currently sealed off by an ugly metal security fence, to be cleaned up and opened to local residents as a community woodland. Please sign their petition...
A litter pick across Rivermead / Richfield Ave organised by the Caversham RAYS group will take place on Saturday 3 July. We will meet at 10am by the Rivermead bottle banks in the car park near Caversham Bridge Garden Centre, and then walk along Richfield Avenue, part of Cow Lane, and around the Rivermead complex, finishing where we started. If you are interested in attending the event, please join the Caversham RAYS group and flag yourself as attending the event, or message directly the organiser Jacopo Lanzoni, either on Facebook or by email (jacopo.lanzoni@gmail.com), so that the right number of litter picking kits can be prepared.
Thank you!
More than 15 bags of litter collected this morning by four Globe supporters. This is only part of our haul from George Street and the adjacent area of Hill's Meadow. #keepcavershamtidy
The 20 planter boxes cared for by GLOBE volunteers are really helping to brighten up the centre of Caversham at the moment!
Beautiful! A credit to your volunteers efforts 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Laura Stentiford good bit of advertising there gal Paws 'n' Claws Pet Service Reading
RAYS (Reading Adopt Yours Street) will be having a dedicated litter picking week across Reading from 7th-13th June 2021. Volunteers are asked to pledge their time to litter pick either via the Keep Britain Tidy website - www.keepbritaintidy.org or by emailing rays@reading.gov.uk
#keepcavershamclean #keepcavershamtidy
Reading Tree Wardens will have a stall at Beanpole Day, this Saturday, 22nd May in Caversham Court Gardens. Open 10am-3pm. Come along and support us and buy some small trees and plants for your garden! Full event details via link below.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people or changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.This year's Reading RESCUE Spring cleanup is taking place from 3-6 May. #keepCavershamClean
Despite more than 2000 objections to the First application, a second application has been put in to build on Reading Golf Club land, this time for 257 units. Please see more information on the KEG (Keep Emmer Green) post below.
www.keepemmergreen.com
Once you have clicked ‘SUBSCRIBE’ you will receive an email asking to confirm your subscription before you can receive newsletters and emails from KEG. If you don’t receive this email please let...KEG has also published a press release regarding the second application: keepemmergreen.com/posts/2021/2/7/planning-application-210018-validated And also some revised guidelines if you are thinking of putting in your views: keepemmergreen.com/posts/objection-guidelines-xn466
Plan for 260 homes at Reading Golf Club withdrawn after 2,000+ objections
Plan for 260 homes at Reading Golf Club withdrawn after 2,000+ objections
www.readingchronicle.co.uk
Plans for 260 homes at Reading Golf Club (RGC) have been withdrawn after more than 2,000 objections.Thanks to Friends of Clayfield Copse for setting up a self-guided tree trail around Clayfield Copse. It launches on Saturday 7th and runs until the end of November. Directional signs will be in place, starting from the car park. Come and get to know ten trees really well, each with its own story set out for you. Meet the 'lovers' tree, the 'Queen of the Woods' tree and the 'super carbon recycling' tree. Find out what wildlife likes which trees, which wood makes the best brooms and hear the sad story of our ash trees. More at www.econetreading.org.uk/
An interesting local walk for lockdown! Enjoy!
Enjoy 🍂🍁💐 we want you all to be safe and hang around forever and a day 💓💖💓
Kate Whiting
Cecile Mallett
Wild About Reading is an autumnal celebration of all things wild in our beautiful town and activities are running during half term from Saturday 24th October through to Tuesday 27th October. Some activities are also being held on line.
Activities need to be booked in advance via the event list at www.wildaboutrg.com.
You can also see the online programme leaflet as a pdf on the Wild about reading website:
daba80ec-a800-4eda-92ad-15507cc09dc9.filesusr.com/ugd/8f5a26_721b84bf85874b91bafc62be2c813ac0.pdf
Our friends at Plastic Free Caversham invite all residents to take part in the Caversham October Clean any time during the half term week - click on the link below for more details
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people or changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.
The footpath over the weir will be closed during construction of the hydro which is now underway. View Island can still be accessed from Hill's Meadow.On Tuesday 6th October at 9am an exciting event is taking place with the start of civils construction at the Weir to create Reading Hydro. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the preparatory work to get the site ready for the contractors.
It does mean however that you will not be able to use the path from View Island to the weir as that is where the turbines are being installed. Please use the alternative route over Reading Bridge if walking from Lower Caversham into Reading.
We will update you on progress on the construction and thank you for your patience during this phase
A reminder from KEG that the deadline for objections is 25th SeptemberThe planning application for 260 houses at Reading Golf Club is the most objected to in Reading Borough - ever - with over 1000 objections! But we still need your help. This is the LAST weekend to make YOUR voice heard. Don't let Reading Golf Club take local residents for granted, and have your say.
Object by the 25th September:
planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_PL/detail.asp?AltRef=200713
www.datagram.co/map.html
A planning application has now been submitted for 260 properties on Reading Golf Course.
You can also see more information in the 'Keep Emmer Green (KEG) article: www.keepemmergreen.com/posts/2020/8/13/planning-application-submitted-by-rgc
Call to all Caversham GLOBE members: Put your views in via the planning application page linked below
planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_PL/detail.asp?AltRef=200713&ApplicationNumber=&AddressPrefix=17+k...
Planning Application Submitted by RGC — Keep Emmer Green
www.keepemmergreen.com
A planning application has been submitted for a housing estate on Reading Golf ClubIf you are thinking of putting in an objection, The keep Emmer green (KEG) group has since posted an article about the process: www.keepemmergreen.com/posts/objection-guidelines
Penny Chase
Anna Cowles
A great opportunity to be part of local community enterprise.We’re hiring! Go to our website for more details and an application form.
Keep Britain Tidy are organising a Great British Cleanup from 11-27 September. Caversham GLOBE hope to be able to support this with cleanup events locally in September, subject to social distancing guidelines etc. Dates and venues to be arranged.
Had a great time with the big Caversham tidy up we did back in (thinks)( Feb?) - would be great to be able to meet up and do this again.
Excellent !
The 20 planter boxes in Church Street are looking great at the moment. GLOBE volunteers have cared for these planters for several years. We hope to be able to carry out some maintenance on the deteriorating woodwork later in the year. Meanwhile, the shrubs are in flower and really brighten up the centre of Caversham.
Lovely! Gladdens the heart to see well cared for community areas. Big thanks to the Globe volunteers for their efforts 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Looking wonderful. So proud of Caversham GLOBE.
Thanks to all at Caversham Globe. Looks great 🎉🎉
keep up the good work you lovely people!
A massive thank you to all of the residents who came out to support Caversham Globe and Plastic Free Caversham to clean up Christchurch Meadows, Hill's Meadow and View Island this morning. At least 40 bags of rubbish were collected !
Well done one and all
Have you seen this video entitled 'A new type of river management is coming'? It's made in partnership with the Environment Agency (EA). Shouldn't the Caversham Flood scheme EA team be applying these approaches? e.g. keep 'wiggles' in river instead of straightening it with that conveyancing channel, slowing the flow instead of speeding it up? youtu.be/21YAP8RF_sw
I think that’s how the river used to be. It certainly had bigger water meadows 400 years ago.
GLOBE is supporting this cleanup event on 8th March. The plan is to cover Christchurch Meadows as well as Hills Meadow and View Island. Start time is 10am in the carpark at Hill's Meadow. All welcome, but please let us know in advance if you are coming, either message us or email info@cavershamglobe.org.uk
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people or changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.
Join the Woodland Improvement Team tomorrow (Tues 11th) for some tree planting at Bugs Bottom in Caversham. Meet by the main entrance off Hunter's Chase for 10am. We've got 300-350 native tree species trees to plant!
Follow the link for more details:
www2.tcv.org.uk/cgi-bin/volunteer/activity-details?id=31995;date=2020-02-11;search=RG47XG
#JoinInFeelGood Reading Council
GLOBE supporters have been busy planting up a gap in the hedge at the Grove Road allotments and smaller gaps along the edge of Emmer Green Recreation ground. Thanks to help from several local residents as well as EGRA and The Conservation Volunteers.
Thank you 🙏I have been waiting for the council to do this after a guy drove through the hedge a couple of years ago. ⚠️
Fantastic work Globe! Thank you so much from the Emmer Green residents 👍
Missing you guys and girls x