Green4Grow is a project based around Hall Farm, just outside Reading, between Shinfield, Arborfield and Sindlesham. It has one simple objective: Stop Reading University selling off the farm land it had for use by the National Institute for Dairying (NIRD) to be used by Wokingham Borough Council and various as yet unspecified developers for housing.

This land is farm land and should be kept for growing things. Reading is already joined to Wokingham at Winnersh. Shinfield has all but disappeared under the rising tide of housing estates spreading across the region. Before long the fields around Reading will all be gone and there will be no bringing them back.

But post Brexit, post Pandemic Britain needs to be more self sufficient in food. The global Climate Emergency needs urgent action. Growing food locally cuts down on the carbon footprint of that food. Growing it organically makes it healthier. Growing it for ourselves gives our food relevance and meaning. Being outdoors with your neighbours builds communities.

To plant more trees requires a place or places to grow them. Our green environment can help us fight pollution, reduce flooding and support greater biodiversity. The money donated here will be used to support and nurture community based organic farming. It will also be used to fight using greenfield sites such as Hall Farm for yet more housing.

There has been a North/South divide in this country since the Romans conquered the rich lowlands around the Thames Valley and left the rest of the poorer hills for the Celts. This divide is still here, 2,000 years later, hence the so called "Levelling Up Agenda". This divide means a house built in the South East corner of England is worth many times more than the same house built elsewhere in the country. But if this government is serious about levelling up the country they need to stop building in the south and start building in the north. This will also have the added benefit of making so called "affordable housing" actually much more affordable :-)

It used to be "Jobs" that were the reason for such overcrowding in one part of this island, but post pandemic many of us have learned alternatives to commutes and offices. I know, the powers that be want us all back on the motorways and the railways, but many of us have discovered a better way. A cheaper, cleaner, less destructive way. A way that allows us some work/life balance. Now we all want to move out of the cities and live in the countryside. Great! Enjoy it while you can because the way things are going it's going to be urban sprawl all the way from London to Bristol.

I know that many people feel strongly, as I do, that this has gone on long enough. I have joined my Parish Council. I am a member of my Neighbourhood Action Group. I have helped to write my local Neighbourhood Plan and seen it adopted by my Local Authority. But still they come. Those speculators looking for a fast buck. "Never mind the local community, what can they do"? "We have the money" "We have the power" "If we want to wreck the environment who is going to stop us"?

Could it be you?