Now that this important piece of land is ours, made possible by the people who love it, we are coming together again to work out how we can care for it and enjoy it as a community forever.

With the support of a team of local volunteers and the Heavens CBS Community Engagement Coordinator, nearly 600 people have now provided their views and hopes for the Heavens Valley, completing the initial phase of our community engagement programme.

The CBS has also spoken with a wide range of organisations across Stroud, including drop ins and discussions with local community groups. Over 30 people agreed to be interviewed to share in-depth perspectives, and more than 560 locals responded to the Community Survey.

This is an incredible level of response, and it just goes to show how important the Heavens Valley is to the people of Stroud. We are very grateful for the time, thought and energy that everyone has given to this process. 

The key findings so far: 

The HVCBS has been fortunate to receive support in its analysis of the data so far from the University of Gloucestershire, which has allowed us to present some key preliminary findings:

Nature and Access

The strongest clearest finding has been that people place equal importance on the Heavens’ wildlife and nature, and on its use as a place for physical and mental wellbeing, and for connecting with nature, family and friends. 

In other places, people and nature can be seen as working against each other. But here, there is a strong sense of coexistence; a feeling that people should be able to walk, play and gather, while habitats are protected too. 

Informal Use

Practices such as fire building, den making, rope swings and social gatherings are focused on the central valley, and have symbolic importance for those who use the land. These activities are broadly seen as a key part of the commons culture of the Heavens, requiring guidance rather than ‘policing’ or prohibition. 

Future Stewards

Young people may be less likely to fill out a survey or attend an AGM, but they appear throughout the data in references to childhood and teenage use, parenting and care, and family gatherings. Our outreach and interviews also show that young people are among the deepest users and future stewards of the Heavens. Young and old, participants stressed the importance of balancing responsible use with the needs of the landscape, and building understanding of the natural world in order to look after it.

Keeping what makes it wild and special

‘Wildness’ is a theme that runs through the data.The quiet, secret and ‘natural’ feel of the Heavens valley is seen as central to its identity, and this is highly valued by residents.

The public engagement has shown concerns among residents that a place loved for its wildness and tranquillity could become too busy or too much like a formal park. 

There is broad support for improvements that support responsible use and accessibility, but always in ways that are unobtrusive, minimal and in keeping with the landscape of the Heavens.

The Next Steps - Discussion Groups

The second stage of the project is digging deeper into some of these themes. A series of small focus groups will bring together groups of up to 20 people to discuss topics such as Recreational Use; Access; Landscape and Community; Heritage and Identity; and Community Building. There will be additional discussion groups for Young People, led by Youth Directors Tom Pedder and Nyima Gritten.

The first session, on Recreational Use, was held on Monday June 29th, 6-8pm at Stroud Brewery, looking at dog walking, camping and dens, fires and building a culture of care for the land.

A celebratory event - Nature in the Heavens Valley - took place on July 12 from 2pm-4pm at the Trinity Rooms. The event featured talks from Simon Pickering and Matteo Lewis from the HVCBS Ecology Working Group, on the rich and varied flora, fauna and wildlife of this unique landscape.

If you would like to be involved and share your expertise or your views, then the next Discussion Group will centre on Accessible Nature on Friday 4 September, online, from 12.30pm to 2pm with the aim of sharing expertise on accessibility and nature.

Then Emma and the Community Engagement team will be focussing on Building Community around the Land on Wednesday 9 September from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Rodborough Community Hall. The discussion will centre on community, land and governance.

The final discussion group will be on Land, Heritage and Identity and will be held on Sunday 13 September from 3pm to 5pm at the Museum in the Park. This discussion will focus on the role of heritage in building community.

For more information, or to book your place on our next Discussion Group, please contact:

Emma Kernahan - emma@heavensvalley.org.uk