Reading is about to get a little more magical this winter. From Saturday 15th November 2025, the town will light up with its very first Winter Light Trail at Forbury Gardens and the Abbey Ruins — a sparkling new event designed to delight visitors of all ages.

Take a 30–50 minute stroll through the historic grounds, now transformed into a glittering winter wonderland. From colourful light installations to twinkling pathways, every corner offers something to marvel at and photograph — the perfect backdrop for creating festive memories.

The fun doesn’t stop at the lights. Warm up with festive drinks from the bar, enjoy delicious treats from the food court, and even toast marshmallows under the glow of the sparkling displays. It’s an experience that’s as tasty as it is magical.

Open daily from 4pm to 8pm between 15th November 2025 and 4th January 2026, tickets start from just £7.95 for children and £11.95 for adults. Bring the whole family and step into a world of winter magic right in the heart of Reading.

📍 Where: Forbury Park Gardens, Reading
🎟 Tickets & Info: https://www.illuminatereading.co.uk/

Reading is falling just shy of England’s national recycling target, according to the latest government figures for 2023/24, with some nearby councils pulling well ahead.

Data released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) reveals significant differences in how much household waste is being recycled across the south of England. While the national average sits at 44%, some councils are exceeding that by a wide margin — and others lagging far behind.

South Oxfordshire District Council leads the way for the second consecutive year, recycling 62.9% of its household waste. Close behind are the Vale of White Horse (60.7%) and Dorset Council (60.5%).

By contrast, councils like Portsmouth (27.9%), Gosport (26.3%), and Slough (24.9%) are well below the national average. Slough, which neighbours parts of Berkshire, has one of the lowest rates in the country.

In Berkshire, just three councils are currently meeting the target set in 2020 to recycle at least 50% of household waste:

Bracknell Forest – 55.7%
West Berkshire – 53.4%
Wokingham – 55.4%

Reading Borough Council recorded a recycling rate of 49.8%, narrowly missing the target. Nearby Windsor and Maidenhead also fell short, recycling 49.1% of waste.

The wide variation in performance is down to a mix of factors, including population density, housing types, and the amount of garden or organic waste being collected.

While Reading’s figures show progress, the close miss highlights the need for further improvement if the town is to meet future environmental goals and keep pace with neighbouring authorities.

A deeply emotional and historic vote took place this week. The House of Commons approved the Terminally Ill Adults Bill—law that proposes to grant terminally ill persons under English and Welsh jurisdiction the right to have assisted death by a medical practitioner if it should pass the House of Lords.

The bill passed with a thin majority of 314 votes to 291 and sparked national debates brimming with saxophonic emotion. It was a free vote; that is, members of Parliament could vote according to conscience, and the party was not expected to bind them. The bill secured the support of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer but apparently was rejected by Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch and Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

All three of Reading’s Labour MPs, Matt Rodda (Reading Central), Olivia Bailey (Reading West and Mid Berkshire), and Yuan Yang (Earley and Woodley), voted against the bill. They may well have objections rooted in such concerns as the safeguarding of vulnerable people, possible pressure being put on those with life-limiting conditions, and just the sheer moral gravity of a change of that kind.

For many people in Reading and elsewhere, this bill goes well beyond politics. It arises out of dignity, choice, and compassion for the hardest moment. Respect goes to those who voted with care and conviction; passing of this bill has been another step toward giving people in unbearable suffering the freedom to choose how and when their life ends-on their terms, with support, been one of the options, and without pain. It’s a difficult subject to deal with, but at its basic level, one of a few simple human desires is to die with dignity.