Community organising is the work of bringing people together to take action around their common concerns and overcome social injustice. Community organisers reach out and listen, connect and motivate people to build their collective power.

CCB has been working with Community Organisers Ltd for the last 3 years, bringing their training to Berkshire and helping active citizens improve their skills in community engagement, empowering them to bring about positive changes within their communities.

Membership of Community Organisers Ltd is free and brings with it access to an incredible network of like-minded people from across England. See https://www.corganisers.org.uk/membership/join-the-movement/become-a-member/ for details on how to join.

Joining Community Organisers will also connect you with local people working to improve life within Berkshire. Community Organisers Berkshire, a CCB initiative, provides support to anyone needing information and advice with progressing their own community-led project.

Members of Community Organisers can now take advantage of a new benefit: Peer Learning Circles. People often find that the best way to learn new skills is through doing something, and then reflecting on this with others. The Peer Learning Circles will help you apply the skills that you are developing as community organisers, to the work you are involved with on the ground.

Members can sign up to join a Peer Learning Circle and be matched with people either from the local area or members from farther afield but with similar interests or working on similar projects. If you’d like to hear more about Peer Learning Circles or find out about Community Organisers Berkshire, please contact Tim Parry at CCB. tim.parry@ccberks.org.uk

Campaign launched to mark Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Trees are a vital part of nature. This week celebrated #loveatree day – Berkshire is full of ancient and awe-inspiring trees but it would be great to take advantage of the campaign (also launched this week) to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.” 

Everyone from individuals to Scout and Girlguiding groups, villages, cities, counties, schools and corporates will be encouraged to play their part to enhance our environment by planting trees from October, when the tree planting season begins, through to the end of the Jubilee year in 2022. To read more about please click here.

At CCB we are always working to ensure that we as friendly to the climate as we possible can be so we would encourage people to plant a bare root/root balls plants if possible (not the ones in plastic pots) and ensure they are grown without peat and preferably planted with peat free composts. For further tips on how you can help our climate please click here.

With more people enjoying the outdoors than ever before, Natural England have refreshed the Countryside Code , it has been revised to help people enjoy the countryside in a safe and respectful way. Here’s what you need to know:

Respect 

Please respect those living in, working in and enjoying the countryside. Be sure to be nice, say hello and share the space.

• Make sure you keep to the footpaths to help protect crops and wildlife.
• Leave gates and property as you find them.
• Slow down or stop for horses, walkers and farm animals and give them plenty of room.
• Don’t block gateways, driveways or paths with your vehicle.
• If you’re on your bike, give way to walkers and horse-riders on bridleways.
• Keep away from machinery and farm animals.
• If you’re worried about something, try to alert the farmer.
• Although you might think you are being kind, feeding animals can cause them harm. Please do not feed livestock, horses or wild animals. 

Protect

We all have a responsibility to protect the countryside now and for future generations.

• Litter and leftover food not only spoil the beauty of the countryside but can be dangerous to wildlife and farm animals too. Please take your litter home.
• Fires can be as devastating to wildlife and habitats as they are to people and property. Be careful with naked flames and cigarettes, and make sure they’re extinguished properly.
• Everyone knows how unpleasant dog mess is, but did you know it can be very harmful to farm animals? Be a responsible dog owner – bag it, take it, bin it.  
• Keep your dog on a short lead around farm animals. The only time you should release your dog is if you’re threatened or chased by cattle.
• Take care with BBQs and do not light fires. Only use BBQs where signs state they are allowed, and always make sure they are put out and disposed of responsibly. 

Enjoy

British farmers are proud to enhance the British countryside. We can all do our bit to enjoy the countryside responsibly.

• Plan your adventure in plenty of time by referring to up-to-date maps or guidebooks, and be aware of the weather forecast.
• Make sure you give farm animals plenty of space as they can behave unpredictably.
• Be safe – let a friend or family member know where you’re planning to go.
• Enjoy your visit – have fun and make memories!

Berkshire’s Livestock

Farmer’s livestock is being put at risk by dog walkers not adhering to the Countryside Code, according to rural insurance company NFU Mutual.

Jeremy Plank farms 1,700 ewes across his farm in Hungerford, West Berkshire and has suffered several dog attacks over the years, including two in March 2021.

He feels concerned that the risk is now higher than ever before.

Jeremy said: “It’s incredibly worrying that we’ve had two attacks already this year. We still have the whole season ahead of us. The risk has noticeably grown, with more people choosing to walk on the farm for their daily exercise during lockdown.

“Early in March, we found seven ewes dead after they were chased into a dyke and drowned. Another attack this month saw a dog chase heavily pregnant ewes. Although the owners were there at the time, they could not get the dog to return to them. Many people don’t realise that the stress of the chase can cause sheep to miscarry, so even if you can’t see an injury, that doesn’t mean the dog hasn’t caused harm.”

LeadOn campaign

On Friday 30 April, the National Sheep Association launched #LeadOn, a two-week campaign that aims to encourage dog owners to be responsible and act as an example to others by keeping their pets on leads in the presence of livestock.

Sheep farmers across the UK will be posting their own experiences on Facebook and Twitter about the devastating effect a dog attack on their flocks can have for all parties.

Information in article sourced from Farmers Weekly, Countryside Online and Reading Chronicle