The Heavens Valley, nestling on the edge of Stroud, has long been a cherished haven for individuals, families, and friends. It is an open space where everyone can enjoy the meandering streams, beautiful meadows and ancient woodlands.

Thanks to a major grant from a local charitable trust, the entire 102-acre Thrupp Farm (including the much-loved and iconic Heavens Valley) will soon be entirely in community ownership, as of August 2025.

The wonderful grant of £911,000 was received after detailed discussion with the Gloucestershire-based Summerfield Charitable Trust, who share our vision of nature restoration and community access.

This money makes a world of difference to our campaign. It means we have been able to repay the two generous local people who lent us £550,000 to buy the land, and we can also hire two part-time people to handle land management and community engagement respectively. The rest of the money will go towards various improvements to the land and buildings.

The purchase of Thrupp Farm in Stroud was completed in November 2024 – funded by the two loans and by £300,000 in donations, fundraising events and share sales.

This is a massive milestone in our campaign, which started in October 2023 in the form of a group of residents who got together in a pub to talk about whether a community purchase might be possible. It’s testament to all our volunteers and the community as a whole, whose passion to protect and save this land for everyone, for ever, made it all happen. 

If you’d like more information about the grant, please see our Question and Answer section (HERE)

Photo credits: Top photo by Martin Phelps, Photo on left by Gill Thomas shows from left to right: David Owen and Roger Mortlock of the Summerfield Charitable Trust, Karen Thomas, Sue Fenton, Clare Mahdiyone, Lucas Schoemaker and Martin Whiteside from the Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society and three temporary residents of the Heavens Valley.