News
Stroud Valleys Project are pleased to be working with Cotswold Allrunners in ‘The Cranham Beast’ sponsored event. 
The Cranham Beast is a trail event which takes in some of the most hilly, but beautiful, and stunning parts of the Cotswolds. The event gives runners and walkers the opportunity to explore fantastic common land, diverse woodland, the famous Cheese Rollers Hill (Coopers Hill), get spectacular Cotswold views and visit local villages such as Sheepscombe, Witcombe, Birdlip and of course Cranham.
There is something in this event for everyone, from the very fit, to people recovering fitness and wanting to get out in the beautiful Cotswold Countryside.
If readers would like to take part, go to the Cotswold Allrunners website https://iamoutdoors.uk/cotswold-allrunners/cotswold-allrunners-events/cranham-beast/ or call Stroud Valleys Project charity on 01453 753358. Stroud Valleys Project would like supporters to raise vital funds for the charity.
CEO Clare Mahdiyone said, ‘We are really pleased to be working with Cotswold Allrunners this year. We think that together we have devised a sponsored event which includes everyone, from the very fit to those who are just starting out on their journey to fitness.
Click here for more information.
- Created: 11 January 2017
26 May 2016
Some of our local wildlife is difficult to see, such as moths that fly at night which can be really beautiful, but we rarely see them properly. We are working with Adult Education in Gloucestershire to help members of the public learn more about the butterflies and moths of Bisley Road Cemetery, which is a Local Nature Reserve in Stroud, managed by Stroud Town Council.
The butterfly session on Tuesday 14 June 10am – 1pm will be led by Sue Smith, Chair of the Gloucestershire branch of Butterfly Conservation, and will look at butterflies, their larval plants and their nectar sources.
The moth session on Friday 10 June, 9.30am – 12.30pm will be led by Bob Smith from the Gloucestershire branch of Butterfly Conservation. Bob will show us some of the moths that are night visitors to this Local Nature Reserve. We will learn about their lifecycles and behaviour, and how to encourage moths into your garden at home.
We are looking forward to Stroud Festival of Nature which starts on 10 June with George Monbiot at the Sub Rooms - there were still some tickets left at time of writing, but they are going fast. There will be lots of nature and outdoor events over the summer, if you would like more information you can pick up a programme of events from SVP eco shop.
Our popular Seedling Swap is on Saturday 4 June from 10.30 to 1pm. If you have any spare or unwanted seedlings bring them along and exchange them for others you don’t have! Both vegetable and flower varieties welcome. Even if you don’t have any seedlings to swap, you can still pick some up for a donation to Stroud Valleys Project. It’s a great way to meet other gardeners and to share advice and knowledge.
- Created: 19 September 2018
Friday 20 May
Stroud Valleys Project are working with Adult Education Gloucestershire to bring you ‘Bat Ecology for Beginners’. Led by consultant ecologist Ivi Szaboova, this session will explore: the life cycle of a bat; identification of bats in the field by using bat detectors; what you can do to help bats in the UK.
Following a theory session at Stroud Valleys Project Office, we will then go out to Stratford Park to put some of the theory into practice.
Bats account for more than a quarter of mammal species in the UK and around 20% of all mammal species worldwide. Bats play an essential part in the natural world and are indicators of a healthy environment. Their future is directly linked to our quality of life and the quality of our environment.
CEO Clare Mahdiyone said ‘Bats are really important indicators of the quality of the environment and we are fortunate that here in Stroud, you will get to experience many of our local species’.
COST : £10 for adults, £7 Concessions
Booking essential - ring Stroud Valleys Project 01453 753358
- Created: 11 January 2017
20 April 2016
Join us on Friday 13 May when our bat expert leads a bat detecting walk around Stratford Park. In partnership with the Museum in the Park and this event is part of Museums at Night. This annual UK-wide festival encompasses inspiring after-hours events, designed to encourage people to see arts, culture and heritage in a different light. We will start at 8pm looking for bats around the park; bring a torch and you will also be able to explore the museum by torchlight. Places are limited so please phone us to book a place.
If you are interested in learning even more about bats we have organised a course on Bat Ecology on Friday 20 May from 7.30pm to 10.30pm which includes theory and going as well as the opportunity to see bats in their natural habitat.
With the arrival of spring, we have some lovely tomato plants for sale in our eco shop, grown by one of our friends to help you get ahead in the garden. In addition we have a wide range of vegetable, herb and flower seeds; it’s definitely feeling like planting time now that it’s warming up a bit. A reminder that we have a Seedling Swap coming up on Saturday 4 June 10.30am to 1pm, so if you are growing seedlings, it’s worth planting a few extra to bring along and swap for something new. You can also pick up some organic natural fertiliser made of seaweed extract while you’re there – all-purpose or specialist tomato feed.
Following such a mild winter and so few frosts, I think we can expect a lot of slugs this year. To help in the battle to protect your precious seedlings, we have stocked up on our wildlife friendly slug pellets, wool pellets and copper tape.
- Created: 19 September 2018
Saturday 12 March 2016
9am – 2pm
Stroud Valleys Project and Stroud Farmers’ Market are joining forces to run Children’s days at the Farmers’ Market.
The first children’s day of 2016 will be held this Saturday where a variety of free activities will be taking place at the special Children’s Day stall.
The activities include the return of our popular taster passport trail in which stall holders provide delicious food samples for children to try. New this year is the chance to decorate your own mini Farmers’ Market shopping bag and to sow seeds in your own home-made paper plant pots.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tamsin Bent
Telephone: 01453 753358
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Created: 11 January 2017
25 February 2016
We are planning our summer programme of events and we are always looking for new activities; if you have an idea for a new event or activity, please get in touch with me.
Coming up is the Stroud Farmers’ Market Children’s Day on Saturday March 12th. We will have a stall in the Farmers’ Market and we will be running three activities: taster’s passport, where children can taste products on participating stalls, seed sowing so they can grow a plant at home and decorating a bag to use around the market.
You can join us for a gentle stroll through the nature reserves in Chalford’s Golden Valley. The rich wildlife is a feature here, with a good chance of seeing dippers, kingfishers, grey wagtails and spring woodland flowers. It’s on Wednesday 6 April 10am - 12.30pm and the cost is £5/adult and £2/child. Places are limited to 10 people so booking and paying in advance is essential.
Our courses are filling up, but there is still space on our Going Wild In Your Garden course running on Saturday 9 and Saturday 23 April from 9.30am - 4.30pm in Stroud. You will be able to discover how to transform your garden, big or small, into a wildlife haven with this 2 day course. We’ll be looking at simple ways to make your patch irresistible to the wild things. You’ll be creating a plan for your patch on the first day, and then getting your hands dirty on the second day as we make wildflower seed bombs, wildlife hibernacula and a mini bog garden The course will include both theory and hands-on practical sessions. Cost for adult: £25 / £17.50 concessions. We also have spaces on the Introduction to Permaculture weekend course. This takes place over two full days at Day’s Cottage in Brookthorpe on 16 and 17 April. This course costs £60 / £42 concessions.
- Created: 19 September 2018
Friday 5 February
We are delighted to announce our official partnership with local musician Saskia Griffiths-Moore and her album launch event at the Subscription Rooms on 5th February.
We invite you to come along and show your support for our charity and for local young musicians.
Saskia is part of an all-female atmospheric folk/pop trio which features double bass, fiddle, guitar, 3 vocals, bassoon, keys and flute, and who play Saskia's original songs. Saskia is launching her debut album 'Gentle Heart' which was 100% crowdfunded!
Johnny Coppin said of her “…a fine singer-songwriter…wonderful voice and great guitar playing.”
To find out more about her music, see her website: www.saskiagm.com.
We will be there to talk about our work and there will also be a raffle with over 25 prizes to raise funds for our charity. There will be a bucket collection afterwards in aid of us too. VIP guest, Town Mayor Kevin Cranston will be there as well as the local press. Dress up smartly because there will be someone taking your picture (with your permission of course!).
Book your advance ticket here.
Saskia Griffiths-Moore
Debut Album out February 5th!
- Created: 11 January 2017
Don’t let unwanted 2016 diaries and calendars gather dust on your desk, drop them off at Stroud Valleys Project office instead, so others can use them.
The Diary Swap works like this: drop off unwanted 2016 diaries or calendars at Stroud Valleys Project. And if you need a new diary or calendar, pop into the SVP office at 8 Threadneedle Street on Stroud to get one. Simple! Saving resources and at the same time reducing the clutter on your desk.
The swap will be running until the end of January.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clare Mahdiyone
Telephone: 01453 753358
- Created: 20 August 2016
Our
new Events Guide is out now with all our events and courses from now to April 2016. If you would like to find out more please get in touch.
We are getting ready for Goodwill Evening coming up on Friday 4th December. We are running children’s activities, including festive fir cone hedgehogs, making candles from beeswax, and making tree decorations from beeswax with Stroud Beekeepers. For adults we will be making Christmas wreaths from natural materials. You can pre-book onto a workshop with us or book on Friday night or on the morning of Saturday 5th December. If you already have the skills to make one, we can provide a bag containing all the bits and pieces you need to make one at home.
Fancy being 
pampered at a Spa Day for two at the Cheltenham Park Hotel or have a glider lesson with Cotswold Gliding Club? Come to our eco shop in Threadneedle Street for a great chance to win these raffle prizes. You can also win tickets for Gifford’s Circus this year because we have tickets for two adults and two children to attend this magical local circus.
You also stand the chance to win a Hamper from Suma – the UK’s leading supplier of natural, ethically sourced and organic foods or a Victorian-style 3-course Tea for Two courtesy of Woodchester Lodge; a 2-hour free horticultural consultation by a green-fingered expert from Daisy Bank Garden Design. Other prizes include vouchers, to be spent at our eco shop, kindly donated by JPR Environmental, creators of living willow structures; and a voucher for The Toy Shop, in central Stroud, at which you could find that elusive Christmas present for your children.
So don’t delay! Come and find Stroud Valleys Project this Christmas!
- Created: 11 January 2017
Dear Friends,
Cotswold Gliding Club have kindly supported our charity by donating a trial gliding lesson for our raffle this year, so if you have ever fancied taking to the skies in a glider, come to our shop in Threadneedle Street to buy a ticket in our raffle to be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize. If you fancy being pampered you could win a Spa Day for two at the Cheltenham Park Hotel or visit Gifford’s magical local circus (tickets for two adults and two children). You also stand the chance of winning a Hamper from Suma – the UK’s leading supplier of natural, ethically sourced and organic foods – containing coffee, paté, pesto, fruit, nuts, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and pasta. Our raffle is a great fundraiser for our charity, so please support us by buying a ticket or selling them to family and friends.
- Created: 20 August 2016
