Tree planting to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III

PHOTOS BY PAUL KING

Crowthorne Parish Council marked the Coronation of King Charles III with the planting of a native field maple. Local children from Wildmoor Heath School, joined councillors and the local Men’s Shed at a short ceremony at the Morgan Recreation Ground in Crowthorne.

Cllr Jeff Allen said: “We thought very carefully about what sort of tree to plant and decided on a field maple. This is Britian’s only native maple; it turns a lovely colour in the autumn and is a valuable nectar source in April and May for our pollinators. It likes well drained soil, which we have at the rec, and supports a broad range of native insects which in turn feed our local birds.”

He continued: “We had a brilliant time in the Morgan Rec on Coronation Day last year, watching it all live on the giant

Day centre celebrates special themed days

COATS Crowthorne celebrated St David’s Day recently.

Almost 40 of their regular visitors enjoyed a Welsh-themed day with a lunch of lamb stew and creamed leek, followed by Welsh cakes and cream.

Lunch was followed by a Welsh quiz which was won in a tie break by ‘Rose’s Team’ - well she is Welsh after all so no surprise there.

The day centre is now preparing to celebrate St Patrick’s Day on March 14th with a leprechaun or two.

COATS is a local charity set up in 1966 to provide a place to meet and socialise for the local senior community. The centre provides companionship, healthy lunches, teas, stim- ulating activities, entertainment and services for older people in the local community in addition to providing respite for their carers.

TV screen in the pouring rain. It seems so long ago now, so it is great to plant our maple, not only to remember the event for the next 200 or so years, but to help our local wildlife.”

The Morgan Recreation Ground has a good variety of trees present including a notable Sweet Chestnut which is more than 200 years old. The area is popular with residents as it contains an array of facilities including a toddler area, ninja trail, football pitch, an all-ability exercise track and a market on Fridays and Sundays. Parking is free off Lower Broadmore Road, RG45 7LD, which is a convenient minute’s walk from the High Street, which is packed with independent shops and cafes.

For more information on the Morgan Rec’s facilities go to www.crowthornepc.gov.uk

Annual community meeting

The annual community meeting for Crowthorne residents is taking place on Tuesday 19th March at 7pm at the Morgan Centre.

Organisers are excited to be welcoming the second in Command of the Gurkha Regiment from RMA Sandhurst as a guest speaker, and Broadmoor’s consultant ecologist who will speak about biodiversity and ecological management on their site.

Crowthorne Parish Council will also present grant cheques totalling £20,355 to local groups and organisations working with and helping residents in Crowthorne.

This meeting is also an opportunity for residents to raise any questions they have with council.

There is also a food and drinks reception after the meeting. All residents are welcome.

D-Day’s 80th anniversary event

On June 6th 2024, the D-Day 80 events will mark 80 years since one of the most significant military operations in history. We remember with everlasting gratitude those who gave their lives for the freedom of Europe. The British Army is delighted to participate in the lighting of the beacons to pay tribute to them.

Join Crowthorne Parish Council to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day in the Morgan Recreation Ground on 6th June 2024.

As the largest naval, air and land operation in history it is worth commemorating!

The event will include a children’s art show, D-Day landscape model, WWII songs, food and drink stalls, the RBL beer tent, outdoor cinema and the live broadcast of the international beacon lighting ceremony to close the event at 9.15pm.

Is your school entering the art competition? Crowthorne schools are invited to create artwork for display. A prize of £200 will be awarded to the school who sends in the most WWII inspired artwork.

Artwork could be a propaganda poster, a cover for your favourite WWII book, a WWII film poster, a postcard image and note, a portrait of a relative that was in the war, or a photo of a model you have created.

You can find more inspiration at Crowthorne library. Your WWII pictures need to be ready for collection from your reception by Friday 17th May.

For more details, or if you or your club, would like to be involved, call 01344 771251 or projects@ crowthorne-pc.gov.uk

My Wokingham ran a poll recently to gain an insight into what those who live and work in the borough consider the most important issues. Wokingham, renowned for its affluence and high quality of life, stands as a testament to the charm of a thriving community. However, as with any locale, the town grapples with its unique set of challenges. To gauge the collective concerns of Wokingham Borough residents and workers, we invited local residents to participate. This survey aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the issues that occupy the thoughts of those who call the borough home. Your perspective matters, and we wanted to hear your voice on matters that directly impact our community’s well-being. The results were presented to local politicians. Below are their thoughts.

Residents’ order of importance: l Healthcare services l Crime and safety l Transportation and traffic l Housing, development and planning l Cost of living l Local economy and businesses l Education l Council Tax bills l Environmental and green spaces l Community services l Refuse services l Pollution