Commissioner pounds the pavement on patrol with pastors

THE STARS are coming out this month … and you’re invited to keep your eyes for them.

No, not local legends such as Ricky Gervais and Kate Winslet (although keep your eyes out as you never know…) but the heavenlies.

Countryside charity CPRE is organising is annual Star Count event, a citizen science project that calls on people to look up and take count.

It says that nothing beats looking upwards to see velvety blackness, with twinkling constellations as far as the eye can see, but the view can be marred by light pollution.

This, it adds, disrupts wildlife, affects sleep cycles, and contributes to carbon emissions.

So between Fridays, February 17 and February 24, the Berkshire branch of CPRE is asking people to count all the stars you can see in the Orion constellation. CPRE says no special equipment is needed as the count is carried out with the eye.

Greg Wilkinson, chairman of CPRE Berkshire, says: “We want to make sure that we can all enjoy starlit nights, and we need your help in measuring what effect light is having on our views of the galaxy. And the best way to see how many stars we can all see in the sky is to count them.

“So every year, around February, CPRE asks people from all across the country to become ‘citizen scientists’ and look heavenwards for one night. We hope lots of people in Berkshire will sign up to take part in this year’s exciting project which really is something the whole family can get involved in.”

The results are compared to previous years and create a map of the best and worst places to go stargazing in the county.

“This will enable us to work with local councils and others to decide what to do about it,” says Mr Wilkinson.

“Together, we can work towards rewilding our skies for the benefit of people and wildlife.”

He added: “Star Count is a great activity, whether on your own, with friends or with family, and you don’t need to go out of your way.

“You can take part at your local green space, your garden, or even just by looking out of your window – but be sure to switch all your lights off first.” n For more details, log on to: www. cpre.org.uk and click on the link for Star Count.

A rugby special in a bun

RUGBY is on the mind of many of us this month, as the annual Six Nations tournament returns.

To celebrate, a burger has had a Guinness-inspired makeover.

Honest Burgers, which has a branch in Reading’s town centre, has brought back its rugby special.

It comprises crispy onions, Honest beef and pickles, rocket, candied bacon, and Guinness fondue cheese. It is then topped with Guinness bacon and chive gravy, and crowned with a toasted bun.

It’s more successful than England were against Scotland in the opening round of fixtures, and costs £14, with a side.

Adam Layton, Honest Burgers’ head of food, said: “Our Guinness Fondue burger is a fan favourite and packed with pints and pints of the ‘black stuff’.

“We make beer fondue cheese with cheddar and mozzarella for the essential cheese pull shot and keep plenty of Guinness aside for our homemade stout and bacon gravy, which is of course applied liberally.” n For more details, log on to: www.honestburgers.co.uk

It is only available until Tuesday, February 28.

By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today

THE POLICE and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Matthew Barber, gets a first-hand glimpse of how funding is helping community projects.

Mr Barber joined First Stop and Reading Street Pastors, which both saw £5,000 of investment from the PCC Community Fund.

First Stop provides first aid and pastoral care, set-up by Reading Borough Council with Transform Reading, and operates in the town centre during the late evening on Fridays and Saturdays.

Reading Street Pastors are trained volunteers from churches around Reading who also lend their support to members of the public while on patrol in town from 10.30pm-3am on Fridays and Saturdays.

On Friday, January 27, Mr Barber paid a visit to First Stop before joining Reading Street Pastors for a patrol in Reading’s town centre.

The visit is part of an ongoing programme of engagement work by the PCC’s office which will see a number of regular visits with partners and funded organisations through the year.

Mr Barber said: “It was a pleasure