A WOKINGHAM social group that meets to discuss sustainability over a pint was delighted by the number of people who came to its second birthday gathering in November.
Members of People, Planet, Pint Wokingham raised a glass at The Rose Inn to the group’s growing popularity, as visitor numbers at the celebration doubled the group’s membership overnight.
“It was the moment that I realised I’m not alone in my worry, and that not only do people care in Wokingham, it is a growing movement,” said group facilitator Elizabeth Corse, in the above picture, on the right.
“We’ve been excited to see that our membership is steadily growing, but to have 60 people turn up to our two year celebration is a real turning point – it was such a dream.
“There are some tremendous things going on in the borough, and lots of people are keen to learn and share ways to support sustainability in Wokingham.”
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To mark their two year anniversary, the group invited Matt Knight from Freely Fruity, Maya Gheorghe from Maya’s Refillables, Marc Adams a local resident who has recently installed a heat pump, Clare Sharp from LEVI project, and Leanne Hughes who organised this year’s Holme Grange School Sustainability Fair, to share their inspirational sustainability stories.
“It feels like there has been something of a sustainability recession recently, and that we really need to be doing all we can to support our environment locally,” Elizabeth said.
“In the next two years I would love to see our Wokingham group grow even more.”
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People, Planet, Pint began as a spontaneous casual gathering at COP26 in Glasgow, in 2021.
Championed by Adam Bastock, founder of Small99, a company that helps small businesses to improve their sustainability, in three years it has grown into a global phenomenon that regularly sees around 11,000 like-minded people gathering at 500 events across 90 cities.
It aims to create a welcoming space for people to share their ideas about sustainability and the environment, over a drink.
Everyone is welcome; sustainability professionals, council workers, students, people looking to shift their career, business owners, and interested local residents.
“Whether you’re interested in biodiversity in the garden, or zero clean energy, there’s a place for you here,” said Elizabeth.
“There’s no agenda, we’re just keen to be supportive of each other – there’s always an opportunity to ask for help with a particular project or resources.”
“We are all influencers in our own lives, so come along and be inspired by what’s going on in the borough.
“We’re a really friendly group of people who really care about the environment and each other.
“It’s not an activism group, we’re simply individuals from all walks of life, who want to learn and share ways to support sustainability in Wokingham.
“Our strapline is ‘Think Global, Act Local.’”
Meetings are free to attend, and usually take place in a local pub, over a drink.
“The first drink is free,” said Elizabeth, “and on most months there’s no need to book – people can just rock up.”
People, Planet, Pint Wokingham would like to thank The Rose Inn, where they meet most months, on the first Thursday of the month, at 6pm.
Their next meeting will be on Thursday, December 5.
For information, visit:eventbrite.co.uk and search for People Planet Pint Wokingham
