MORE than 60 people marked a Wokingham group’s third birthday last week with a pub quiz, and talks on nature restoration and community-led change.
Members of People, Planet, Pint (PPP) Wokingham celebrated three years of sharing their environmental concerns and ideas for improvement, over a pint, in the town centre’s Rose Inn.
Since its beginnings, PPP Wokingham has discussed ways to save money, to support their local community, and to protect the environment.
And neighbours have become friends through their shared commitment to sustainability in the borough.
“That’s the principle behind PPP,” said organiser Elizabeth Corse.
“Our third birthday gathering proved that neither January weather nor depressing headlines can dampen local enthusiasm for the environment.
“More than 60 residents packed into the Rose Inn on Thursday evening to mark the event.”
Attendees, who included members of PPP groups from Reading, and Windsor for the first time, were able to enjoy a three-part pub quiz covering global, UK, and local environmental issues.
They also heard from local experts about rewilding and community-led projects.
“We lost count after 60 people,” said Elizabeth, who co-hosts the Wokingham group with Anna Watson.
“We even had to get more chairs from the cupboard, and the Rose Inn had to send more bar staff.”
The evening featured presentations from Neil Melleney on how quickly nature can bounce back and what rewilding really means, and from Kat Heath and Jamie Taylor from the Reading Bike Hub, a new community project that has transformed Reading’s old Mothercare shop into a hub for bike repairs, tool library, repair cafe, and underground skate park.
And Austin Jacobs from Reading Hydro shared the seven-year journey to create community energy at Caversham Weir.
A quiz, suitable for adults and children, was masterminded by Akita Bansal and presented by 12-year-old Grace Watson in her first public speaking engagement.
“Normally there is no formal format at a People Planet Pint—which is why I think it’s become an international movement,” Elizabeth explained.
“But to mark our three years, we held this special session.
“It’s a chance for people in our area who care about some aspect of the local environment to meet, exchange wisdom, and simply enjoy spending time together over a drink.”
The evening generated a wealth of practical recommendations for residents, including how to visit local homes with heat pumps, and how to use Olio app to reduce food waste.
Other resources highlighted included the National Emergency Briefing, the Ealing Beaver Project demonstrating how beavers prevent flooding, and banking alternatives such as Triodos Bank, and the Mother Tree league table.
“Like everyone else, I’m time poor,” said Elizabeth, “but the single best investment of time I’ve ever made has been building up roots and connections with my local community, thanks to People Planet Pint.”
People, Planet, Pint Wokingham meets on the first Thursday of the month, for conversation, shared ideas, and networking, over a drink at the Rose Inn, Wokingham, from 6pm.
The group’s next gathering is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, with all welcome.
To join the event people can register, at: eventbrite.co.uk (search for People, Planet, Pint Wokingham)
For more information, visit: : readingbikehub.org.uk and: readinghydro.org
