Stroud Valleys Project - Take the Dandelion Challenge

Please watch our short film about wildlife gardening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvcRvGl-Q5Y Dandelion 1

We are challenging you to find your dandelions and take photographs of the insects that visit them. We explain all about the importance of dandelions in the film. They are great for spotting insects because they grow on waste ground and pavements, so even if you don’t have a garden you can still spot things when you are out and about on your daily exercise. They are starting to go to seed now so if they have, grab a handful to plant for next year and maybe take a photograph of the beautiful ‘dandelion clocks’. Email us at (which email? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

Dandelion Clocks?

Does anyone else remember using dandelion seed heads as ‘clocks’, to ‘tell the time’, blowing on the seed head until it was empty and then counting how many times you had to blow to make all the ‘fairies’ fly away and then saying ‘that’s x o’clock’. Do email us and let us know your memories.

If you would like to spot more things, please go to www.wildclassrooms.org and register and there with your spottings. The species we are spotting in May are Cow Parsley, Orange Tip Butterfly, Great Tit, Hawthorn and anything of your own choice.

A big thank you to John Bassett (Spaniel in the Works) and Tom Wickham-Bassett for donating their time to our charity during lockdown to bring us this film.

Details: Created: 19 October 2020

Eco Shop

Coronavirus Jan 2021

Unfortunately, we have had to close our Eco Shop once again.

However, we are now offering a remote order and payment service. If you would like to take advantage of this, you can do so by emailing us at ecoshop@stroudvalleysproject.org or by phoning us on 01453 753358 with details of what you would like to order from our shop stock. We will then call you back to take payment and arrange for you to collect your order. We are also offering a refills service. If you need refills, please email or call us to let us know what you need (including the volume and the brand) and when you would like to drop off your empties. Before you bring them to us, please ensure that all empties are clean and dry and that they are in a bag, marked clearly with your name, contact details and full information about what products you would like.

Tash or Sharon will be in the shop to pick up your messages, process your orders and accept your empties at the following times:

Tuesday 10:00am - 3:00pm

Thursday 10:00am to 3.00pm

Saturday 10:00am - 2.00pm

If you aren’t able to get to the shop, please don't hesitate to contact us to see if we can help.

As we move through this current lockdown, we will be reviewing our opening times in line with demand, so please check on social media and our website for any alterations.

Remember, you can also still order from us via StroudCo.

Please note that unfortunately we are not able to accept any recycling during this lockdown.

We look forward to welcoming you back to our shop when we are safely able to do so. In the meantime, thank you so much for your continued support.

Our Volunteers Say

Quote

I've found the projects inspiring and I've developed skills I didn't know I had, to the extent that I am now able to find employment in new fields.

I will always be grateful to the staff and volunteers at Stroud Valleys Project for their encouragement and warm support.

Being involved with Stroud Valleys Project has been a great experience. I've enjoyed and learnt so much through various courses and volunteer projects I've worked on.

Thank you all at SVP for the help and support you have given me in the last couple of years, which has helped me to get my foot back on the ladder in the world of work.

I loved the course (Veg Growing), it was the highlight of my week

“Often I feel so bad I don’t want to do anything but after coming here, working with my group in the sunshine, I always feel more cheerful. They are my friends now.”

“Volunteering with SVP is the best thing that happened to me in my life.”

“I never thought I would get into gardening and growing stuff, but through all my work with SVP I have learnt to really appreciate nature.”

“We get lots of work done – and we have a laugh!”

“Our group is like pieces from a jigsaw puzzle. Everybody mucks in and does what they can, and the job gets finished in no time.”

“When somebody has a bad day, the others in the team make them feel better.”

“I learn lots of interesting things and I feel useful.”