History

Econet was initially founded as a networking group to support and promote local conservation organizations, as shown in a flyer from that time.

However, after a significant increase in insurance costs, in 2002, Econet became a conservation group. Several local conservations groups merged with Econet to share resources and reduce costs. These groups included:

Newbury & Thatcham Green Gym, established by TCV in May 2012, joined Econet in June 2013 after TCV‘s funding for the group ended. In June 2014, TCV secured additional funding for the group’s development, and by April 2015, it became an independent conservation group once again.

In 2013, the Friends of Cemetery Junction, now called the Friends of Reading Old Cemetery, joined Econet. This was followed in August 2022 by the Friends of Ruscombe Wood (also known as Forwood). In 2024, Econet Broad Hinton Copse and Econet Charvil were set up to support local communities in Twyford and Charvil with the management of their green spaces.

As a group, we have been offering local residents the opportunity to participate in the management of green spaces in and around Reading for over twenty-five years, with CRoW having been active since 1986.

To maintain links with our history and local connections, we continue to use the names of the groups which have become part of Econet where appropriate, such as in the names of work parties and in the case of the Friends, when referring to those who participate in such work parties. However, all activities are Econet activities and all volunteers are Econet volunteers.