This large village, almost wholly of recent growth, acts as a commercial, shopping and social centre for the surrounding area. A village magazine is available bi-monthly. Sonning common Health Centre was the instigator of a set of leaflets on 'Health Walks'. The village also has a voluntary organisation called 'Green Gym' where outdoor physical exercise is used to benefit both the individual and the local community, e.g. by laying a new footpath or planting trees.
Sonning Common is also the home to the Herb Farm, which has one of the most comprehensive collections of herb plants and herbal products in the country. At the Herb Farm you can also attempt the Saxon maze, a large symbolic hedge maze created in 1990, derived from an illustration of an 8th century mythical Saxon sea creature.
The council has a leisure area, which it manages in Horsepond Road called Bishopwood. This area has four football pitches, two cricket squares and tennis courts. The tennis courts, which have recently been upgraded, have excellent playing surfaces. There is a pavilion with changing rooms and showers plus a social area with licensing facilities. Bookings for these facilities may be made by contacting the parish office by telephone 0118 972 3616, by fax 0118 972 1216 or by e-mail scpc@btopenworld.com.uk.
