Since 2011, archaeologist Neil Baker has been exploring this area to the south of Stroud. His Heavens Archaeological Research Project (HARP) has uncovered secrets of Stroud’s rich industrial heritage that have been lying under this beautiful landscape.

Join Neil for a guided walk as he reveals the Heavens’ hidden history of weavers, millers and clothiers; you’ll never see things in the same way once you know about the mills and homesteads that once dotted this ancient landscape.

The walk will take 2.5 to 3 hours and the route is hilly, uneven and muddy in places, so stout footwear and a basic level of fitness are required.

Dogs are allowed, but they must be controlled and kept on a lead at all times.

Neil is very kindly running this walk on eight occasions this winter, as a joint fundraiser with the Heavens Valley Action Group, who are raising money to buy the land for the people of Stroud. Find out more about the Heavens Valley Action Group here.

Join Stroud Valleys Project and Small World Adventures for a look into the wonderful world of HIBERNATION!

This group will give toddlers and pre-schoolers a chance to take a closer look at the wildlife on our doorstep and join in with craft activities and stories.

This will be a monthly group, so keep your eyes open for next month’s theme.

Open to children between the ages of 2 and 4 years, who must be accompanied by an adult.

£3 per family (up to 2 adults and 2 children). If you are experiencing financial difficulty and would struggle to pay, then please get in touch with us.

Sorry - this event is now fully booked.

Join Stroud Valleys Project and expert willow weaver Norah Kennedy for this willow birdfeeder making workshop.

There will be a brief introduction to feeding birds in your garden, followed by the workshop.

This is a FREE event, but places are strictly limited, so booking is essential.

This event is not suitable for children under 13 and all under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

This event is part of our Garden Guardians project, which is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Sorry - this event is now fully booked.

Join Stroud Valleys Project and expert willow weaver Norah Kennedy for this willow birdfeeder making workshop.

There will be a brief introduction to feeding birds in your garden, followed by the workshop.

This is a FREE event, but places are strictly limited, so booking is essential.

This event is not suitable for children under 13 and all under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

This event is part of our Garden Guardians project, which is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This event is now sold out. Other dates are available.

Since 2011, archaeologist Neil Baker has been exploring this area to the south of Stroud. His Heavens Archaeological Research Project (HARP) has uncovered secrets of Stroud’s rich industrial heritage that have been lying under this beautiful landscape.

Join Neil for a guided walk as he reveals the Heavens’ hidden history of weavers, millers and clothiers; you’ll never see things in the same way once you know about the mills and homesteads that once dotted this ancient landscape.

The walk will take 2.5 to 3 hours and the route is hilly, uneven and muddy in places, so stout footwear and a basic level of fitness are required.

Dogs are allowed, but they must be controlled and kept on a lead at all times.

Neil is very kindly running this walk on eight occasions this winter, as a joint fundraiser with the Heavens Valley Action Group, who are raising money to buy the land for the people of Stroud. Find out more about the Heavens Valley Action Group here.

Join Stroud Valleys Project and the Museum in the Park for this year’s spooktacular autumn adventures!

As well as our family favourite carved pumpkin competition and trail, you can make a pumpkin puppet, a spooky spider, or stamp an autumnal gift bag.

You can drop off your carved pumpkins between 2pm and 5pm so that they can be added to our trail and entered into the competition. The first 15 entrants will get a Garden Guardians Goody Bag, which includes our fantastic any-year Gardening for Wildlife calendar!

This is a completely free event and is suitable for all ages. There is no need to book, just drop in at the Museum in the Park anytime between 2.00pm and 6pm. Donations for the Museum in the Park and Stroud Valleys Project welcomed.

The full schedule for the day is:

·         2.00pm to 5pm – Drop off your carved pumpkins

·         2.30pm to 5pm – Autumn Crafts

·         5pm to 5.30pm – Pumpkin judging takes place

·         5.30pm to 6pm – Pumpkin trail plus mulled apple juice (for a donation)

·         6pm – Pumpkin competition winners announced

This event is part of our Garden Guardians project, which is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This event is now closed for new bookings

Join Stroud Valleys Project for a delve into the wonderful world of earthworms!

Earthworms are vital for the flourishing of the soil. We will explore and search for the three main types of earthworm, delving into the different places where they like to live. Earthworms, described by Charles Darwin as ‘nature’s ploughs’ are surprisingly varied and colourful. By the end of the session, you’ll be an Earthworm Expert!

This event is suitable for children aged 6 and over. Each child must have their own ticket and be accompanied by an adult. Adults don’t need a ticket.

Later in the day you can also join us for our Pumpkins in the Park activities.

This event is part of our Garden Guardians project, which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage fund and is being run in collaboration with the Museum in the Park.

Please note: this event starts at 1pm, not 10am as previously advertised.

Join Stroud Valleys Project and Small World Adventures for a look into the wonderful world of seeds and berries!

This group will give toddlers and pre-schoolers a chance to take a closer look at the wildlife on our doorstep and join in with craft activities and stories.

This will be a monthly group, so keep your eyes open for next month’s theme.

Open to children between the ages of 2 and 4 years, who must be accompanied by an adult.

 £3 per family (up to 2 adults and 2 children). If you are experiencing financial difficulty and would struggle to pay, then please get in touch with us.

This event is part of our Garden Guardians programme which is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Image: Alfie Owens

If you have apples to juice, bring them to our site in Berkeley and watch as our magical press transforms them into tasty and nutritious juice.

Our Apple Day is at Sarah’s Field on Saturday 12 October, between noon and 3pm. Bring your apples, clean containers, and a cup (other drinking vessels are available) and join the juicing fun.

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Sarah’s Field, Lynch Road, Berkeley GL13 9TR

Ponds provide vital habitats for many struggling species of wildlife and also make a really fun and fascinating addition to your garden.

From micro to massive, ponds come in all shapes and sizes! Join Stroud Valleys Project and Wild Stroud to find out how you can add a watery enhancement to your own green space.

This workshop is unfortunately not suitable for under 12s. All under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

This event is part of our Garden Guardians project, which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This event is now fully booked.

Join Stroud Valleys Project and fungi enthusiast Tony Hardware on UK Fungus Day for a delve into the wonderful world of fungi at Crickley Hill.

Autumn is a great time to spot some of the weird and wonderful fungi that lurk amongst the leaves on the woodland floor. Don your wellies and walking boots, get outside and enjoy some time seeking out these fascinating treasures.

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

This event is in collaboration with the National Trust and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.

Join Stroud Valleys Project and a host of other organisations on the Sub Rooms Forecourt as we reimagine Stroud’s tomorrow.

At this Transition Stroud organised event you can come and share your ideas about how we can turn our imaginative ideas for a positive, sustainable and connected Stroud into reality.

As part of our National Lottery Heritage fund supported Garden Guardians project, we will imagine a Stroud that is connected for and rich in biodiversity and will talk about what we can all do to support this vision.

There will also be a series of bookable interactive workshops as well as creative drop-in activities available, so there should be something for everyone!

You can find out more here: https://transitionstroud.org/transition-stroud-action-groups/reimagine-strouds-tomorrow/

Join Stroud Valleys Project and a host of other organisations to find out about some of the free-of-charge services available in Gloucestershire that can support your health and wellbeing.

You can join in with a taster activity from our brilliant Being Well in Nature programme that is available to carers and the cared-for.

There will be plenty of tea, biscuits and chat on offer, so why not come along and join us at the Longfield Hospice, Burleigh Lane, Minchinhampton, GL5 2PQ?

For more information about the event, visit longfield.org.uk\events\gloucestershires-big-information-day

Join Stroud-based multimedia artist Catherine Jones for a series of three Art from the Heart workshops based at the National Trust’s Tinkley Gate site. You can attend just one or come along to all three.

In this third session, we will look at some of the work of Gloucester-based poet Ivor Gurney, creating our own poems and a miniature book inspired by his poems. The photograph shows Gloucester Cathedral’s Ivor Gurney windows, created by Thomas Denny.

This event is kindly supported by Painswick Art Society and is priced to be accessible. If you are experiencing financial difficulty but would like to come along, please get in touch on info@stroudvalleysproject.org – thanks.

Sorry - this event is now fully booked.

Join Stroud Valleys Project and PhD researcher Sharon Gardham for a delve into the woodland history of Rodborough Common. In times past, Rodborough Common was part of the medieval Custom Wood, and its traces can still be seen on the Common today. As we walk, we will explore the trees of the past and look for the traces they have left on the Common of today.

This event is being run in collaboration with the National Trust.

Join Stroud Valleys Project and Small World Adventures for a look into the wonderful world of leaves!

This group will give toddlers & pre-schoolers a chance to take a closer look at the wildlife on our doorstep and join in with craft activities and stories.

This is a monthly group, so keep your eyes open for next month’s theme.

Open to children between the ages of 2 and 4 years, who must be accompanied by an adult. 

£3 per family (up to 2 adults and 2 children). If you are experiencing financial difficulty and would struggle to pay, then please get in touch with us.

This event is part of our Garden Guardians project which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Join Stroud-based multimedia artist Catherine Jones for a series of three Art from the Heart workshops based at the National Trust’s Tinkley Gate site. You can attend just one or come along to all three.

In this second session, we will look at some of the work of the artists who created windows in Selsley Church, including William Morris and Edward Burne Jones. We will use them as inspiration for our own artworks.

This event is kindly supported by Painswick Art Society and is priced to be accessible. If you are experiencing financial difficulty but would like to come along, please get in touch on info@stroudvalleysproject.org – thanks.

Sorry but this event is now fully booked.

Did you know that there are 17 bat species in the UK, and eight species so far were observed commuting and foraging in the arboretum at the Museum in the Park?

Find out more about our incredible bats with local expert Ivi Szaboova of Gloucestershire Bat Group.

We’ll use bat detectors to track and indentify the flying mammals and – hopefully - will spot some flying. Species that might put in an appearance are Common and Soprano Pipistrelle; Brown Long-Eared Bat, Daubenton's Bat, Lesser Horseshoe, Myotis Species, Noctule, and Serotine.

You may need warm clothing; you’ll definitely need suitable footwear and a torch.

No dogs, please.

Join Stroud-based multimedia artist Catherine Jones for the first in a series of three Art from the Heart workshops based at the National Trust’s Tinkley Gate site. You can attend just one or come along to all three.

In this session, based on Cider with Rosie, we will be exploring childhood memories and ways to capture these elusive snippets from our subconscious. We’ll create mixed media pieces that reflect our reminiscences.

This event is kindly supported by Painswick Art Society and is priced to be accessible. If you are experiencing financial difficulty but would like to come along, please get in touch on info@stroudvalleysproject.org – thanks.

CANCELLED DUE TO LOW FUNGI COUNT. The weather pattern has meant that there are hardly any mushrooms in the park… please book on to our Crickley Hill event instead.

Join us for an early autumn parkland fungi foray!

Autumn is a great time to spot some of the weird and wonderful fungi that lurk amongst the leaves on the woodland floor. Don your wellies and walking boots, get outside and enjoy some time seeking out these fascinating treasures.

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

This event is part of our Garden Guardians project, which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Please note this event will now take place on the 22 August, which is a change to the published date.

Join Project Officer Tamsin for a summer stroll along the canal and River Frome taking in the seasonal wildlife and discussing how we can encourage it into our gardens.

This is a FREE event, but booking is essential as places are limited.

This event is part of our Garden Guardians project, which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Image courtesy of Richard Croft.

Join us and find out about this ancient method of mowing using the lightweight and ergonomic Austrian scythe. We will provide you with guidance in setting it up, sharpening, safety, and efficient mowing action. 

Scything can be very useful for orchard management, wildflower meadows or anywhere that has long grass!

We will mow areas of a beautiful wildflower meadow site and rake up the cuttings to help in its management.

Scythes and sharpening stones provided.

Due to the nature of the workshop attendees must be over the age of 16.

Did you know that there are as many of seven types of bat making their home in Stroud?

Find out more about our incredible bats with local expert David Bullock of the Gloucestershire Bat Group.

We’ll use bat detectors to track the flying mammals and – hopefully! – spot some flying. Species that might put in an appearance are Soprano and Common Pipistrelles; Daubenton's Bat; and Noctule.

You may need warm clothing; you’ll definitely need suitable footwear and a torch.

No dogs, please.

Wallbridge Fields, the strip of wooded land between Rodborough Avenue and Bath Road, now belongs to Rodborough Parish Council and is managed by a community interest company (CIC) of Rodborough Avenue residents.

Wallbridge Fields CIC and Stroud Valleys Project are inviting residents to join them at Wallbridge Fields on Sunday 11 August for a community afternoon.  

There will be activities for all the family, including a mini-beast hunt, a ‘guess the species’ game, and other wildlife-themed fun.

You can also find out the initial results of the wildlife surveying that has been taking place and talk to members of the Wallbridge Fields CIC about their plans to revitalise the site for people and for wildlife.

Come along to the Wallbridge Fields entrance, just off Rodborough Avenue (what3words: ///adjusted.access.enacts) between 1.00 and 3.30.

Parking is very limited, so please do walk or cycle if you can.  

Sorry - this event is now fully booked. If you would like to be added to a waiting list, please email info@stroudvalleysproject.org.

Families are invited to join Stroud Valleys Project to check out the wonderful underwater world of the pond.

Ponds are a vital wildlife habitat and are good for people too! Children will have a hands-on opportunity to get a closer look at the exciting variety of animals that live in our ponds.

This is a FREE event, but places are strictly limited. Each child must have their own ticket and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults do not need to book a ticket.

This event is part of our Garden Guardians project, so there will also be a chance to find out how you can help the wildlife in your own green space.

Moths come in all shapes and sizes… and some of them don’t have mouths!

Moths are tasty treats for lots of creatures – and even for people in some parts of the world – so they have all kinds of tricks to avoid getting munched. Find out all about marvellous moths with our very own moth man, Graeme Davis.

See some of our colourful moths close up at this trapping session on Minchinhampton Common – don’t worry, no moths will be harmed during the event! We’ll hope to see Brimstone, Dark Arches and Spectacle Moths, amongst others.

No dogs, please.

SOLD OUT

Join Stroud Valleys Project and PhD researcher Sharon Gardham for a delve into the history of Rodborough Common. Using documentary evidence and the clues left on the land itself, we will cover more than a millennium of history, exploring how Rodborough has been shaped by its past inhabitants, both human and non-human.

This event is being run in collaboration with the National Trust.

BOOKINGS FOR THIS EVENT ARE NOW CLOSED

In summer, the skies over Symonds Yat are alive with birds of prey. Join local raptor expert Steve Watson as he helps us spot up to seven species as they search for food for their young. Peregrines, Goshawks, Buzzards, Red Kites, Hobbys, Kestrels and Sparrowhawks have all been spotted against the magnificent backdrop of Symonds Yat, which has been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Steve, author of the highly acclaimed book The Peregrine Falcon, says, “This is probably the best viewpoint in the UK, scenically and for observing raptors.”

If you book onto this event, you’ll be able to buy Steve’s book for the reduced price of £35 on the day; usual RRP is £50.

This event is now fully booked - but check out our other moths event in Minch!

Moths are amazing creatures. They come in all shapes and sizes… and some of them don’t have mouths!

Moths are tasty treats for lots of creatures – and even for people in some parts of the world – so they have all kinds of tricks to avoid getting munched.

See some of our colourful moths close up at this trapping session with expert Graeme Davis (that’s him with the Death’s Head Moth in the photo). We’ll hope to see the Buff Ermine and Heart and Dart Moth, amongst others. Don’t worry, no moths will be harmed during the event!

No dogs, please.

This event takes place at National Trust Tinkley Gate; full location details on booking - end time is approximate.

This event is now closed for new bookings. If you would like to join us however, please call 07552 181918 for details on where and when to meet.

Did you know that there are more than 20 different species of Bumblebee in the UK? Want to learn more?

Then join Stroud Valleys Project and the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust on a Safari like no other – we’re on the hunt for Bumblebees!

Learn all about the different types of Bumblebee that can be found in the UK, what flowers they like and where you are most likely to find them.

This is a FREE event, but places are limited, so booking is essential.

Image Credit: Paul Gardham