SHEEPLANDS SHOW MASTER PLAN

ONE of Wokingham’s water suppliers is offering to help people lag pipes ahead of winter.

South East Water says that the one simple task can help protect cold water pipes and taps from freezing and bursting.

The company says that it is a home improvement job that need not be costly, as it is sending out lagging via its website, free of charge. The lagging can also be bought from DIY stores.

The company says pipes burst when exposed to extreme cold such as in attics and outside buildings. Garden taps also need protecting.

And with temperatures forecast to drop this weekend, it seems like it could be timely advice for the company’s 2.2 million customers.

Steve Andrews, South East Water’s head of central operations, said: “A very wellinsulated pipework system will help cut down on running costs and save on maintenance.

“Burst pipes are a very unpleasant and inconvenient problem and when they occur inside the home or in the boundary of a property they are usually the responsibility of the householder to repair.” n For the winter kit, additional advice and a video on how to protect water pipes go to southeastwater.co.uk/winter n The name of a qualified plumber can be found at watersafe.org.uk or by calling call 0333 207 9030 Festive singalong

A POPULAR festive singalong is returning to Wokingham Town Hall. Taking place on Saturday, December 4, from noon to 1pm, the event aims to add a little jingle to the weekend in the countdown to Christmas.

The free event will be held inside Wokingham Town Hall, but places need to be booked. n For more visit: ticketsource. co.uk/wokinghamtowncouncil or call 0118 974 0882.

Hare Hatch Sheeplands reveals £5 million renovation plan at show

EXCLUSIVE

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today

A BOROUGH plant nursery has published plans for its £5 million renovation.

The owners of Hare Hatch Sheeplands are hoping to secure a change of use for their business from plant nursery to garden centre.

This would mean they could then “compete on a level playing field” with Dobbies and The Berkshire Gardener on the Bath Road, said owner Rob Scott.

This would include diversifying the range of products for sale.

He hopes to secure approval for a £5 million renovation, which would upgrade the facilities while continuing the centre’s community ethos.

Operations director Andy Dicks said he wants the site to be a place for everyone.

“We will continue to serve the local community and be a meeting place for dozens of clubs,” he said. “We are not changing that ethos.

“But we need to move with the times and modernise.”

The plans include the current plant nursery being knocked down and replaced by a modern building with an outdoor display area.

The farm shop would remain, and the cafe relocated to a different section of the building.

“Our farm shop is 36 years old,” Mr Dicks said. “It’s as local as you can get. We can tell you where everything came from.”

Outside, the duo hope to include a play area, which backs onto a field for recreational use. This would replace existing glass houses.

They also hope to plant a woodland at the north of the site, alongside the Bath Road. This would mostly consist of purple-flowering Paulownia trees, which research has shown can capture 10 times more carbon than some other tree species.

Also included in the plans are allotments, which could be used by nearby schools or community groups. These will replace current glass houses that are in a poor state of repair, Mr Scott said.

The aim is that some of the produce grown on site will be used in the cafe.

Hare Hatch Sheeplands ran a public consultation on its plans from Friday until Sunday last week.

The three-day event showcased the visual plans in the current cafe, with questionnaires for visitors to complete.

And the team were on hand to discuss the proposals.

Mr Scott said the three-day event was a great success, with many people “overjoyed” to see the centre progressing on its plans to refurbish the site.

He said there were more that 200 responses to the feedback questionnaire, with 95% of respondents either agreeing or strongly agreeing with five questions.

These explored support for the proposals, whether the plans were an improvement to the current site and buildings, and views on landscaping, reducing the number of buildings, and providing facilities for community groups to grow their own.

The questionnaire also allowed residents to provide any comments.

Mr Scott said the majority of commenters praised Sheeplands on moving forward in its ambitions to redevelop the site, with some calling the plans “fantastic”.

Of those that provided suggestions, Mr Scott said that these included a range of further ways to ensure the development is as eco-friendly as possible.

One suggestion from a visitor included a pedestrian entrance to the site, along the A4.

PLANS: From left: Robb Scott and Andy Dicks hope to remove some of the existing glass houses in favour of green space Picture: Steve Smyth

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Plant a tree and visit Santa

GOOD boys and girls have been waiting very patiently, not least as last year’s Christmas was hit by lockdowns and tier restrictions, but Santa Claus is coming, well, not to town, but to village.

Father Christmas is preparing to take up residence at Hare Hatch Sheeplands.

He is taking extra precautions to ensure his grotto is covid-safe.

Not only that, but he has one eye on the environment as children visiting will be able to plant a tree in a nearby woodland.

Sheeplands has teamed up with the Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh and Just Around the Corner for this project, which will see the trees planted in its Rehoboth stables, off Forest Road in Wokingham.

This is free, but donations towards the costs will be welcomed. Each child who takes up the offer will receive a certificate.

Santa will be arriving on Saturday, December 4, seeing children at weekends until Monday, December 20, when he will be welcoming wish lists through to Christmas Eve.

Children can also enjoy breakfast with Santa. n For more details, visit: www.harehatchsheeplands. co.uk/santa