Run, walk, sit and snap to celebrate Love Parks Week!
Parks and open spaces are there for everybody to enjoy - a whole range of FREE activities have been planned for Love Parks Week - from Saturday June 14 to Sunday June 22 - at parks throughout the borough for everyone from fitness fanatics to families wanting to enjoy a leisurely day out surrounded by nature.
A special family fun day will be held at Imperial Park in Windsor on Saturday June 14 from 11am to 2pm, combining the start of Love Parks Week with the park’s official launch which was postponed last month because of bad weather. Activities for all ages include a penalty competition and a basketball shots competition, inflatables and sumo suits.
A ‘Sit and Snap’ competition at all parks in Windsor and Maidenhead on Saturday June 21 gives visitors of all ages the chance to enjoy a picnic and take photos which can then be entered in a competition to win six tickets to the Windsor Wheel. Photos need to be emailed to outdoor.facilities@rbwm.gov.uk by Wednesday June 25 and the winner will be announced on Monday June 30.
Nature walks led by countryside rangers will be held on:
·Monday June 16 at 10.30am - Ockwells Park, Maidenhead - Woods old and new
·Tuesday June 17 at 10.30am - Hemwood Dell, Windsor - Trees in the Dell
·Tuesday June 17 at 7pm - Braywick Park, Maidenhead - Marvellous mini-beasts
·Wednesday June 18 at 7pm - Sutherland Grange, Windsor - Wild by the water.
Runners can join a fitness instructor for a jog and workout on:
·Thursday June 19 at 10.30am - Ockwells Park, Maidenhead
·Thursday June 19 at 1pm - Vansittart Recreation Ground, Windsor
·Friday June 20 at 10.30am - Oaken Grove, Maidenhead
·Friday June 20 at 1pm - Dedworth Manor, Windsor.
Garden in Bloom
Keen gardeners are invited to dig for victory and sign up for this year’s Garden in Bloom competition, run in connection with the national Britain in Bloom competition.
The annual scheme is open to all private gardens across the borough, provided they are visible for passers-by to enjoy, and this year there is a new category for pubs and other local businesses. Be it hanging baskets, glossy lawns or vibrant flowerbeds, the key is the benefit to the community from the display. Councillors will judge gardens in their wards over the summer and certificates and rosettes will be awarded to outstanding gardens in each of the borough’s 23 wards. The best two from each ward will qualify for the finals and an overall winner selected in August with a prize giving ceremony in the autumn. Residents can nominate their own or someone else’s garden by visiting www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/landevgarden, picking up a form from the reception areas of the the council offices in Sheet Street, Windsor, leisure centre or library, or contact 01628 796227 or 796133.
Windsor Judo Club picks up coveted national award
Amongst the winners of the prestigious ‘Sports Club of the Year’ awards ceremony in London in May, presented by sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe MP and world cup winner Jason Leonard, was Windsor Judo Club. CCPR recognises sports clubs which have made an outstanding contribution within their community. The six finalists had all shown exceptional commitment and dedication in providing opportunities to make sport inclusive and accessible for all. In the view of the judges, Windsor Judo Club, which finished in joint third place, engages with a wide range of partners from the local police force, through its local authority, to the Household Cavalry to promote judo to all. Offering regular technique-based training with high quality coaches, Windsor provides mentoring to its members and actively works to ensure effective long term player development, regardless of ability. The club is also working to provide free judo to children in the local area.
Sunday the 15th June is the day of the Windsor Triathlon.
This event will see over 2000 competitors and around 3000 spectators. Note there will be extensive town centre road closures on the day.
Supporting parents with teenage children
Helping local parents to support their teenage sons and daughters - that’s the focus of a series of sessions, sponsored by the Royal Borough’s Extended Services.
The first session ‘Listening and Talking to Teenagers’, will be held at the Xtend Conference Centre on the Dedworth schools site in Smiths Lane, on Tuesday June 3 from 7.30 - 9pm.
Future support sessions will be held at the centre on Tuesdays from 7.30 to 9pm:
June 10 - Drugs and Alcohol Awareness
June 17 - Sex and Relationships
June 24 - Coping with Stress
July 8 - Challenging Behaviour and Attitudes
July 15 - Dealing with Bullying
All the sessions are free and refreshments will be provided. For further information please contact Cyndy Gray, adviser for Healthy Schools, on 01628 796753 or email cyndy.gray@rbwm.gov.uk <mailto:cyndy.gray@rbwm.gov.uk>
Open Air Theatre: MACBETH & MR TOAD’S MAD ADVENTURES - Book now!
Since the late 1940’s Windsor Theatre Guild have been performing open air productions in the Summer – their new venue at New Lodge on Drift Road is only 4 miles out of Windsor and set in 50 acres of gardens & woodland it provides the perfect backdrop to their Summer Productions. This year they are performing Macbeth. Directed by Dom Cook, Shakespeare's powerful tragedy is presented as a modern ensemble piece; fusing together club music, dance and movement to exhilarating dramatic effect!
This is their sixth year of producing a Children's Matinee. This year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame they will be showing Mr Toad's Mad Adventures. This is a new dramatization by Vera Morris, directed by Mavis Froud and will appeal to children of all ages.
You can picnic on the beautiful lawns before the performance.
Macbeth runs from the 2nd July to 12th July at 8pm (no performances on Sun 5th & Mon 6th July). Tickets £13 (concessions £12). Groups of 6 or more £10 each.
The Children’s Matinee is on Sat 5th, Sun 6th & Sat 12th July at 2pm & 4pm. Tickets £6.
Box Office: 0845 034 3340 for both shows.
The Firestation Arts Centre (formerly Windsor Arts Centre) Gets Backing of Royal Borough
After months of deliberation and uncertainty Firestation Arts & Culture CIC has been selected by The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead to establish The Firestation arts centre at The Old Court on St. Leonards Road, former home to the Windsor Arts Centre.
“We’re delighted to have won the confidence and support of the council with our ideas and enthusiasm” says MD Dan Eastmond “and are very excited to be able to now move to the next phase. We’re hoping to occupy the building from June onwards and have a terrific programme of events developing that launches in September.”
The Firestation will offer an exciting, vibrant and diverse programme of live events, exhibitions and film as well as a great range of classes, courses and support for community groups.
With a terrific theatre space and cinema, the Basement Studio, a great bar and the addition of a state of the art IT Studio, The Firestation will showcase music, theatre, dance, comedy, film and contemporary art in a relaxed, fun and vibey environment.
So what’s next? “Things are hugely exciting and we can now move our plans forward with organisations like Windsor Boys School, No Handbags Theatre, 4Motion Dance, The Windsor Fringe and others, working together to offer something really special. We already have some great events and activities planned together.” says Dan. “Starting things from scratch means the door is wide open and as well as arts practitioners we're looking for key staff, a range of sponsors from a major corporate sponsor for the theatre to local businesses who can offer their help, volunteers, producers and, of course, supporters!”
Anyone wanting to offer their services or support can contact Dan on 0845 652 0272 or visit www.firestationartscentre.com.
2M group doubles as airport protest spreads
The 2M group of local authorities opposed to Heathrow expansion - of which the Royal Borough was one of the pioneers - has now doubled in size following a surge in membership among London boroughs.
The group - which took its name from the 2 million residents represented by the original 12 authorities including Windsor and Maidenhead - now represents a combined population of 4 million people after Brent, Harrow, Lewisham, Southwark and Sutton added their voice to the protest.
Cllr David Burbage, leader of the council said; “This is really good news for all of us who are campaigning against unsustainable expansion of Heathrow. The more local authorities throw their weight behind the protest the more likely our voices are to be heard.”
Transport secretary Ruth Kelly is expected to announce her decision following the initial consultation in the early summer. The Heathrow expansion plans are equivalent to building a new airport the size of Gatwick in the most densely populated part of the country. For more information visit www.2MGroup.org.uk <http://www.2MGroup.org.uk>
CALL TO LOCAL ARTISTS
Would you like to bring your work to a wider audience? ‘Artists Open House’ might be the event for you. The Artists Open House runs in Windsor every September as part of the Windsor Fringe Festival. Last year seventeen artists opened their houses in the Town to the Fringe public, had a fun weekend in the process and sold some work.
If you live in Windsor and would like to open your house to show your work please contact Jenny Griffin at nigelgriffin@4qtwindsor.fsnet.co.uk
Free home insulation for the over-70s
Borough residents aged 70 or over can now get free insulation for their homes thanks to a scheme launched by the Royal Borough and the Mark Group. To qualify, residents have to be aged 70 or over - they do not need to be in receipt of any benefits - and they have to register their interest using a special enquiry line 0800 616 302. Residents should quote Windsor and Maidenhead Energy Care Scheme when calling.
WINDSOR FRINGE FESTIVAL ARE SEEKING ENTHUSIASTIC PEOPLE WITH GREAT IDEAS TO JOIN THEIR COMMITTEE. Follow this link for more information:
http://www.ctwindsor.co.uk/WindsorFringeFestival-NewRecruitsRequiredFebruary2008.htm
Or click on our Community Pages icon and follow the Windsor Fringe Festival link.
NEW! Discussion forum. You can tell us what you would like to see in the magazine or on the website, let us know about local events or just chat with other people in the area. You can visit the forum: http://ctwindsor.freeforums.org/
NEW! Review a restaurant. Your chance to give your own comments following a visit to one of our reviewed restaurants. Please email them through to us at: restaurants@ctwindsor.co.uk
Restaurants reviewed to date:
Nov 07 - The Windsor Grill
Dec 07 - The Tower Brasserie at the Harte & Garter
Jan 08 - The Greene Oak
Feb 08 - Saffron Bengali and South Indian Cuisine
Mar 08 - Wagamama |
