The free sessions, run by officers of the Basingstoke Safer Neighbourhoods Team, offer cycle marking and safety advice.

PCSO Alex Wheatland, of the Eastrop Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: “The purpose of the roadshows is to raise awareness about cycle safety and offer some free crime prevention advice.”

“We regularly see people, particularly children, cycling without lights and we want to help make them become safer cyclists.”

The first sessions took place last week at Chiltern Primary School in Buckskin, Costello Technology College, in Crossborough Hill, Eastrop, and the ASDA supermarket in Chopin Road, Brighton Hill.

Roadshows include one held on Friday, February 12th between 5.30pm and 7.30pm at the Community House, in Branton Close, South Ham, and one scheduled for Saturday, March 13th between 10.00am and 4.00pm outside Debenhams in Festival Place.

The sessions are free thanks to donations from Brackenwood Windows, De La Rue, Hampshire County Council, Kingfisher HVHS Housing and Sony.

Figures for the first nine months of 2009 show that just over 20% more Grade B or end-of-life material, mainly PVCu windows and door frames that have been removed from properties, was recycled compared to the same period in 2008.

In the first nine months of 2009, 9,212 tonnes were collected for recycling compared to 7,610 tonnes for the same period to the end of September 2008.

It’s the first time that recycling volumes for end-of-life PVC have overtaken those for other types of PVC waste such as off-cuts, mis-measured windows and cable waste since the organisation began compiling statistics in 2005.

Describing this as a ‘considerable achievement’, a spokesman for Axion Consulting, the scheme’s UK agents, says the figures show that Recovinyl is achieving its original aims - to develop markets for post-consumer PVC recyclate in the UK and to promote collection, recycling and re-use of this sustainable material.

He added, “There is definitely an upward trend for end of life PVC recycling as these figures show and we are very pleased that there are more recyclers specialising in this type of waste.”

Brackenwood is doing its part for the environment too

Brackenwood Windows is a member of PVCAware as part of our on-going commitment to helping the environment. PVCAware is an initiative from the British Plastics Federation’s Windows Group to promote awareness of the versatility of PVC as a material and also of PVC-U windows.

So you can be sure that when you invest in many of Brackenwood’s PVCu products, you too will be playing your part in contributing to a more sustainable future.

Contact Brackenwood today on Freephone 0800 25 35 45 for more information on how we are taking a responsible approach to reducing the impact our industry has on the environment.

Rockdoor are a leading supplier of long life, low maintenance, PVCu doors to Brackenwood  and include some of the best possible design, build quality and security features available.

The Kitemark symbol is widely recognised - by over 91% of the UK population in fact - and demonstrates that the Rockdoor range has been independently assessed and tested by the BSI to conform to relevant British Standards. It also confirms the levels of craftsmanship and quality have been proven and validated.

Neil Briggs, Sales & Marketing Director of Brackenwood Windows commented, “This is a significant achievement for one of our most trusted suppliers of PVCu composite doors.”

He added, “It’s also great news for us too as the effect of the accreditation will be felt mainly by our customers who’ll benefit greatly in terms of product quality and guarantees.”

Some of the key features of Rockdoor composite doors from Brackenwood include:

- Composite doors will never rot, warp, swell, shrink or need repainting
- Each style of door is available in 9 stunning colours
- High security locking systems are fitted as standard
- Virtually maintenance free, with excellent thermal values
- All doors come with a full 10-year guarantee.

Rockdoor themselves believe that the Kitemark accreditation reinforces their strong market position as the premium UK brand and that other companies will launch onto the composite door market with products without the same standards and guarantees.

For more information on Brackenwood’s truly outstanding range of PVCu composite doors from Rockdoor, contact Brackenwood now or telephone us on Freephone 0800 25 35 45 and we’ll do our very best to help.

Brackenwood Windows is proud to be an accredited partner of Rockdoor and their remarkable range of composite doors and associated products.

“Door That Beat The Bobbies”

When Lancashire Police had to forcibly enter a house through the front door with their rams and batons, it turned out to be an impossible task!

Why? Well because, unknown to them, the door in question happened to be a Rockdoor. Even with some of the best equipment around the Police team were very impressed by the door, to say the least, with the Rockdoors unrivalled powers of resistance and all round strength.

They had to abandon their operation and find an alternative method to gain entry to the house.

Originally published in the ‘Lancashire Evening Telegraph‘.

“A smashing time at Rockdoor for Jack Straw”

The UK’s leading composite door also proved to be too strong for Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw MP. During his visit to Rockdoor, Mr Straw launched a sustained assault on a black Number 10-style Rockdoor.

But despite his best efforts Mr Straw made little impact. Hardly surprising considering Rockdoor is a fully engineered composite door system designed for strength and security.

Brackenwood Windows is an authorised re-seller of Rockdoor products, renowned throughout the industry for their robust composition and longevity.

Contact Brackenwood now or call us on Freephone 0800 25 35 45 to find out more about these truly amazing doors that add both style and security to any property.

While a Brackenwood stable door remains true to the traditional style, it has all the benefits that modern door technology can offer.

Quality, versatility and choice

Because it’s manufactured to high performance specifications, the stable door offers security, durability and low maintenance as standard as well as being backed by a rock solid, 10-year guarantee.

And with fully adjustable hinges, the stable door can be adjusted both horizontally and vertically so it opens and closes perfectly every time. It also has a bespoke central seal to stop any draughts or leaks.

Brackenwood’s stable doors are available with two sizes of glass in the top half of the door - ‘Spy View’ and ‘View Light’ as well as a solid version without glass.

Homeowners can also choose from a range of colours and woodgrain finishes both externally and internally.

Read more on Brackenwood’s Stable Doors.

Save 2.5% on any purchase before January 1st 2010!

As you may be aware, the current 15% standard rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) is due to revert to 17.5% with effect from 1st January 2010.

This means that savings can be made on goods ordered and paid for before the January 1st deadline.

For example, if you choose to order goods and services from Brackenwood with a value of - say £1,000 - it means that if you delay until after the New Year you will have missed out on a £25.00 saving!

Naturally, for higher value purchases, even more money can be saved.

So if you’re looking to make any of the following improvements to your home or business, it makes sense to talk to Brackenwood before standard-rate VAT reverts to 17.5% on January 1st.

- New & Replacement Windows
- New & Replacement Doors
- French Doors
- Patio Doors
- Conservatories
- Soffits, Fascias & Guttering
- Sarnafil Flat Roofing
- Solar Energy Systems

How do I qualify for the savings?

Simply pay in full prior to 31st December 2009 and you will qualify for VAT at the current rate of 15%.

Still not sure?

No problem. Just get in touch with us for a friendly discussion about your requirements. Call us FREE on 0800 25 35 45 or contact Brackenwood Windows online now.

The video was made up from some clever use of photos put to a piece of music. Can you remember the tune and the amazing muscle man on Opportunity Knocks?

This amazing image shows how money and energy can literally go out of the window through inefficient glazing.

Thermal images, such as the one above, show the shocking amount of heat lost from single-glazed windows compared to those fitted with Pilkington energiKare™. They also revealed the much higher temperatures on the external surface of the single glazed windows compared to the windows incorporating Pilkington energiKare™.

A Pilkington spokesman said: “The temperature ranges shown by these images is a real eye-opener. They offer emphatic proof that Pilkington energiKare™ keeps heat inside the home to reduce the amount householders need to spend on their ever-increasing fuel bills”.

How does energiKare™ work?

Pilkington energiKare™ is made up of Pilkington K Glass™, the UK’s best selling low-e glass and ‘extra clear’ glass Pilkington Optiwhite™. It works in two ways; reducing the amount of net heat lost through windows by up to 90 per cent, and allowing more heat (energy) in from the sun.

How much would you save?

Assuming a conservative 10 per cent annual rate of cost of fuel inflation on an average, three-bed, semi-detached home upgrading from single-glazing to Pilkington energiKare™. The saving would work out to approx. £170 per year - or around £10,000 over 20 years.

Energy Saving Scheme accredited

Windows that incorporate Pilkington energiKare™ have a Window Energy Rating of at least a ‘C’ which means they are eligible for the Energy Saving Trust’s ‘Energy Saving Recommended Scheme‘.

If you want to find out how much money Brackenwood can save you with Pilkington energiKare™, contact us today or telephone FREEPHONE 0800 25 35 45.

As concerns deepen over the ‘credit crunch’ and its effects on the UK housing market, home owners are turning in increasing numbers to home improvements rather than face trying to sell their homes.

According to the results of a recent survey commissioned by Home insurer LV=, “almost one million British households are ‘doing up’ their homes because the effects of the credit crunch are preventing them from moving.”

And of all the different types of home improvements either undertaken or planned in the next 12 months, a whopping 2.3 million (16%) of home owners are planning to install new windows.

The survey also showed that despite purse strings tightening in other areas, over half (57%) of all Brits have undertaken home improvements in the last 12 months or plan to complete them in the next six months.

With the average spend on home improvements estimated at over £5,000, the total cost of these renovations is projected to be over £4 billion.

A spokesperson for LV= Home Insurance, Emma Holyer said: “Despite the challenging housing market and lack of affordable mortgages, we are still a nation obsessed with our homes and what money we can make on them.”

She added, “Many homeowners told us they were spending this money so they could profit more on their homes when they do come to sell them after the market has stabilised. This shows that although people are concerned about the short term housing market there does appear to be optimism in the long term.”

If you’re one of the growing number of householders looking to invest in their property during these uncertain times, contact Brackenwood today on Freephone 0800 25 35 45 for friendly advice on the many benefits that replacing your windows and doors can bring.

And with the looming possibility of increased energy bills causing concern too, don’t forget to ask about our energy efficient windows and doors.

Figures obtained from a nationally representative online poll by www.opinium.co.uk.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a strong, versatile, lightweight, low maintenance and fully recyclable material.

It’s found virtually everywhere due to it’s suitability to a wide range of products including replacement windows and doors such as those provided by Brackenwood.

When used in such products as window and door frames, it can be continuously recycled into new ones as well as other home improvement and building products.

Brackenwood signs up to PVCAware

Nowadays, more than ever, we all have to play our part to recycle as much consumer waste as possible.

PVCAware is an industry-driven campaign committed to “promoting and driving the sustainable values of PVC as a material for use in the manufacture of window frames and other building applications.”

Brackenwood has recently signed up to the PVCAware campaign as part of our on-going commitment to helping the environment.

And that’s not all. We’ve taken steps to prove it.

We recycle for you… and we pay you too!

Right now, Brackenwood is offering a tremendous deal to any of our customers who buy new windows and doors from us. Not only will we take your old windows and doors away to be recycled - we’ll even give you cash back for them!

That’s right. We’re offering part exchange for all new windows and doors as a move designed to actively demonstrate how we are taking a responsible approach to reducing the impact our industry has on the environment.

Contact Brackenwood today on Freephone 0800 25 35 45 for more information on how we can work together to contribute to a more sustainable future as well as details on how to claim your cash back bonus.