Volunteers sought to help tackle draughts and poor insulation for vulnerable
residents.

Posted by: Communications teamon 17 June 202213:37

A new group, Draughtbusters, is being created to help tackle draughts and poor insulation in the ​homes of the district's elderly and vulnerable residents.

Although much of the country is enjoying hot weather right now, the colder months and another increase in energy bills will be here before we know it.
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In readiness for this, we're seeking volunteers to help find and fix draughts in homes and to help raise awareness of what residents can do to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

The move will mean residents have warmer and more energy-efficient homes - while also having a positive environmental impact. It will also help to reduce energy bills at a time when home heating costs have rocketed alongside a broader increase in the cost of living.

Speaking about the initiative, Councillor Steve Ardagh-Walter, Executive Member for the Environment, said:

"Fuel bills at the moment are sky high and a concern for many people. This situation will push many people across West Berkshire into fuel poverty and very real hardship. One of the biggest causes of fuel poverty is draughty and poorly insulated homes: these waste lots of householders' money as well as unnecessarily contributing to global warming.

"Fortunately, both draughts and poor insulation can be fixed quite easily. To make this happen locally I'm hoping people will come forward to be a part of this group and make a difference to the lives of others in their community."

The new group is being developed with support from the Volunteer Centre West Berkshire. Once established, the intention is for it to become independent through the establishment of a charity or community organisation to continue the service over the coming years.

If you're interested in energy saving and the environment will you join us? We need both a core team who can set up the organisation, arrange training, publicity and work with other bodies; and also practical people who are willing to give some time to find and fix problems in homes. If you are able to help, please contact steve.ardagh-walter@westberks.gov.uk and indicate whether you would like to be involved in the core group, as an individual problem fixer, or both.

​It has been a busy time over the Autumn and Winter at Marsh Common in Weston. The Parish Council and volunteers have been hard at work adding and improving habitat to further encourage wildlife on the common. Bat and bird boxes have been installed, as have an extensive bug hotel, dormouse houses and a hedge for wildlife.

Bat Boxes
James Shipman, Chairman of the Berks & South Bucks Bat Group, gave a fascinating talk about bats at our November Parish meeting (and fortunately for us will be giving another at our Annual Parish Meeting on 25th May 2022). During the meeting James kindly donated a bat box to the Parish Council and later helped install it on Marsh Common.

​The box is designed to mimic a small crevice that certain species prefer to roost in, similar to lifting bark on natural features. It can attract a variety of species including the Soprano Pipistrelle, Noctule bat, Brown Long Eared bat and also, if we are lucky, the Barbastelle bat.
 
Bats play an important role in indicating changes in aspects of biodiversity but unfortunately in the UK bat populations have declined considerably over the last century. Bats are under threat from building and development work that affects roosts and loss of habitat. The Parish Council has committed to acquiring several more bat boxes for the common, one of which has also been recently installed. Our hope is these can provide additional habitat for the local bat population.

​To further provide for the bats on the common, slots have been cut in the trunks of a pollarded willow tree. Cut at a specific height and location, it is hoped we may get Barbastelle or Pipistrelles using the holes for their roosts.
 
Dormouse Houses 
Two dormouse houses have also been installed on the common to provide a cosy home to hazel dormice. The hazel dormouse is one of Britain’s rarest mammals with numbers estimated to have fallen by 52% since 1995. The loss of ancient woodland and hedgerows across the UK is thought to be a major reason for this decline. Living mainly in branches in the woodland canopy, they rarely descend to ground level other than to hibernate. 

​Our dormouse houses are sited in hazel trees with the entrance at the rear of the house facing the trunk which makes it more difficult for birds to occupy. This offers safe access from the trunk of the tree which is the dormouse’s preferred route.
 
So rare are hazel dormice they are protected by law in the UK, and must not be handled or disturbed without a licence.

​Hedge for Wildlife
​As part of the Queen's Green Canopy initiative, to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee, Parish Councillors and volunteers have planted a hedge for wildlife on the common, comprising of 200 native Blackthorn, Hornbeam, Field Maple, Hazel, Bird Cherry and Hawthorn trees. The hedge should provide flowers, nuts, sloes, hips and haws. Such diverse native hedgerows are great for wildlife, providing a haven for many insects, small mammals, reptiles and even amphibians. They are also good hunting grounds for predators seeking insects and other invertebrates and hedgerow berries provide birds with high-energy food in autumn and winter. 

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​Bug Hotel 
Another new addition to Marsh Common is a fabulous 5 star bug hotel. Constructed using recycled and reclaimed materials, the bug hotel provides shelter for a wide variety of invertebrates as well as small mammals and even hedgehogs. For solitary bees, bug hotels and wildlife stacks provide a great place for them to live, lay their eggs and hibernate. Insects and other minibeasts need safe spaces such as this to shelter, hide from predators and raise their young.
 
Logs have been cut and stacked in the bug house and elsewhere on the common as log piles are really important for wildlife. Centipedes, woodlice and beetles like to burrow into decaying wood and log piles may also attract birds, frogs and hedgehogs looking for a tasty snack.

​Twigs and dry leaves have been added for ladybirds and lacewings who will love to crawl into the crevices and hide among the leaves. The tiled roof should keep the inhabitants relatively dry and provide shelter from bad weather for years to come. 

All of these changes are designed to help support the important ecosystem this amazing little common provides and to play a role in the battle against loss of habitat and climate change.

For more information about Marsh Common

For more information about the Queen's Green Canopy

For more information about Berks & South Bucks Bat Group
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The days are getting longer, and our thoughts turn towards summer and to cricket at Welford Park. Preparations at Welford Park are well underway, but the club need help from our local community.
 
Colts Coaching
Children from reception year up to and including year 7 are welcome to come along to our colts coaching which occurs on Fridays from 18:30 to 20:00. Parents are most welcome to stay during these sessions and enjoy the evening
 
Last summer it was very well attended with almost 90 children registered with the club. For the new season we are looking to train an additional 7 coaches, and to purchase almost £2,000 of new equipment. But this all needs funding.
 
We have a fundraising account with the good Exchange whereby Greenham Trust will match every donation. So, including gift aid, a £20 gift is turned into £45 to the club. We still need in excess of £500 of donations, so if you can possibly help, please follow the link and any donation will be gratefully received. https://app.thegoodexchange.com/project/19128/welford-park-cricket-club/welford-park-cricket-club-colts-training-program
 
Club Sponsorship
The club can not survive on members subs only, so we are involved in lots of fundraising opportunities. To stage a match with league umpires and balls costs the club £60. To help with this cost we are looking for local businesses to sponsor a home match for £35 per game or £100 for a 3-match package. 
 
We also have sponsorship opportunities such as signs on the ground, adverts in the fixtures books and shirt sponsorship. If any of these might interest you, please contact Ian Herrington on 07879 204696 or ianherro810@gmail.com.
 
Participation
Would you like to participate as an umpire, scorer or player? We cater for all standards from Berkshire Premier to some very relaxed friendly games which often include beginners or people coming back to cricket for the first time since school.
 
If you are interested please also contact Ian on 07879 204696 or ianherro810@gmail.com.