Charlotte is a Research Fellow at the Countryside & Community Research Institute at the University of Gloucestershire, the UK’s largest centre for rural and environmental research. With over 10 years’ experience in social science research, she has a background in zoology and ecology.

She led a Defra-funded test and trial with farmers to co-develop long-term agreements for nature recovery, and is involved in a national citizen science programme.

She has specialist knowledge of plastics in soils, pesticides, desertification, and regenerative farming.

Locally, she set up the Golden Valley land managers’ group, which brought people together to identify key challenges and create a shared vision for a resilient valley.

Fiona’s day job is as a facilitator and coach - she facilitated the meeting at the Sub Rooms when we launched our campaign – and has a background in HR.

Her role with the CBS involves Volunteer Management, communicating with those who have volunteered and organising workdays in The Heavens. She is also part of the Community Engagement Sub group, working on plans to engage people in the local area on creating a long-term mandate and plan for the Heavens over the next year.

Fiona is also involved in the recruitment of the two part-time posts, following the recent funding grant.

Sue was one of the residents who first got together informally to form the Heavens Valley Action Group in 2023 when rumours first circulated that the Heavens Valley was to be put up for sale.

With a background in journalism and public relations, her specific role is in the CBS’s Communications group, working on publicising our campaign in local and regional media and managing the Facebook page, which now has 1,400 followers.

She is one of the town councillors for Trinity ward, in which much of the land is situated, and serves on the council’s environment committee.

The Stroud Town Council representative, Adrian is a town councillor and also a Director of Transition Stroud and The Bike Drop (part of Grace Network).

His professional background is as a Chartered Secretary, and then as a comms and PR professional, working in the not-for-profit and charity sectors.

He has worked for a housing association, credit union, run a small social enterprise, worked for mutuals in the financial services sector, and helped develop and establish what is now the largest, ethical low-cost lender in the country - Fair for You. 

The Stroud Valleys Project representative, Stella has been an active volunteer in the local charitable sector for over 35 years. With a background in journalism, public relations, and corporate communications, her expertise includes crisis and reputation management, stakeholder communications, working effectively within and alongside local government structures and partnering with the voluntary sector.

She is Chair of Trustees for Stroud Valleys Project, and a trustee of the Lansdown Hall and Gallery community arts centre.

She has previously served as a trustee of the Biodynamic Land Trust, and was Mayor of Stroud from 2022 to 2024. She has previously been involved with the Stroud Community Planning Conference, Slad Valley Action Group, and Stroud Against Supermarket Saturation.

Tom is the director in the Under 25-year-old category, tasked with driving youth engagement through working with projects championed by students, bringing their opinions to allow a new generation of people to use and respect the Heavens to the benefit of all

He will share the role with fellow student Nyima Gritten, who will be a non-board member. 

The two are particularly interested in ecology, in alternative governing structures and in digital skills, and have deep personal connections with the land.

They are both actively involved in organising and running local events, from Daisy Day to the recent Heavens BioBlitz. Between us they have knowledge of the ecological, environmental and the political perspectives that this role requires.

Lucas is the District councillor for Stroud Trinity, in which much of the Heavens land is situated, and is also a town councillor.

He has a background in community organisations, including Oakbrook Community Farm and the Open House charity.

He has experience in organic farming, biodiversity and establishing socially responsive viable organisations in the third sector, including Stroud Common Wealth. 

Working in social enterprises has given him skills in governance, business management, fundraising, rural land management, and team work/cooperation in the community.

Gill works in in rural affairs research, including land use, agricultural policy and tree cover on farms.

She is based in the Countryside and Community Research Institute (University of Gloucestershire). Her experience in community research and co- production methods will be useful to the campaign.

A former English teacher and Head of Department in local schools, Gill brings communication skills, both spoken and written, as well as management experience that will enable her to contribute to strategy and engage with the community, including potentially marginalised groups.

A District councillor, Gill is Stroud District Council’s Litter and Clean Environment Champion, working with communities on grass roots projects, events and fundraising campaigns. In that role she won the Stroud News & Journal’s Community Champion of the Year award in 2025.

She also serves on the council’s Environment committee.

She lives on a 12-acre smallholding, where she works with school students on habitat restoration to support GWT’s efforts to create wildlife rich corridors.

She is part of the Golden Valley Land Managers’ group.

Gill, a professional photographer, is also a director of Transition Stroud and is programme lead for the Cotswold Canal Trust’s youth volunteer group, working with Duke of Edinburgh students and The Door Youth Club.

Karen has been part of the campaign since it began, first as one of the co-ordinators for the Action Group and later as a director and co-ordinator for the Heavens Valley CBS.

She has helped create a communications strategy, supported our shareholders, been involved with fundraising, and taken care of much of the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the CBS moving forward. She was closely involved in negotiating the land purchase and has often represented the CBS publicly.

Karen’s background is in PR, marketing and local journalism. More recently, she trained as a Cognitive Therapist.

The Brimscombe & Thrupp Parish Council representative, Martin has a professional background in agriculture, forestry and community participation in sustainable land management in different countries.

He has been involved in many community organisations in Stroud, was an elected District Councillor for Thrupp for 19 years and the leader of the Greens on the District Council.

He was a founder member of the action group, helped organise the community meetings and helped fundraise, and was part of the negotiations around the community purchase from the previous owner. Since we purchased the land, he has helped maintain the paths, cleared rubbish, done tree safety surveying, approached funders and much more.

Matt loves the Heavens Valley, for dog walking, running and just being with the kids.

He has worked in the sustainability sector for 15 years, first in renewable energy and sustainable transport, and now running a local nature partnership.

He is passionate about the roles of both private finance and communities in nature recovery, and is excited to see if these can be married together in the Heavens. 

Rob Green and Jim Lewis (land management), Jacky Martel

Clare has worked in the voluntary sector in Stroud for over 25 years and is currently a director of Stroud Common Wealth and CEO at Stroud Valleys Project (SVP).

She was an integral member and leading force in the establishment of the Heavens Valley Action Group but has now stepped away to concentrate her considerable talents on the furtherment of the SVP.

Clare, who can be found walking in the Heavens once or twice a week, has a wealth of knowledge and experience in fundraising and working in the voluntary and charity sectors, and knows the importance of having accessible green space.

Before we were a Community Benefit Society the SVP kindly received donations on our behalf, as well as providing back office support and marketing.

Annabel helps with our social media and is responsible for our Instagram account friendsoftheheavens.

She is a community connector and currently freelances as a social media support to small businesses. Thanks to Annabel’s organisational skills we have put on two very successful gigs at Stroud Brewery, both of which raised thousands of pounds and much awareness of our cause.

She has had a lifelong association with the Heavens Valley and now visits about five times a week. She says: “I moved to Bowbridge Lane 25 years ago and when choosing a home with my now husband, we wanted to be close to community and town, but also to the fields as his first children had grown up playing in the Heavens. With a dog and a new baby in the family mix in 1999, the Heavens became like a second home to me!”

 Annabel is keen to ensure community access of this special area. “The valley has historically been used by community - possibly even from Roman times! The well-trodden routes local humans have worn over the fields, up through the woods, to church in Bisley or to visit the Foresters Inn; or to use the water for powering small industries such as knife-sharpening - these are all the Valley's human history.”

Stuart lives on the very edge of the Heavens Valley, surrounded on three sides by its woodland.

After a career in the film and TV industry, he studied forestry and tree surgery and now works as a Project Officer for the Stroud Valleys Project where he oversees the planting of hundreds of trees with teams of volunteers. Stuart is also involved in other initiatives such as wildflower meadow maintenance and pond creation. A keen bee-keeper, he has produced a honey bee health product.

He says: “The campaign is a great opportunity to do the right thing by this land and create something really exciting with and for the people of Stroud.” Stuart is a key member of our Land Management group.

Bob has lived on Thrupp Lane, ten minutes away from the Heavens Valley, for almost 50 years. He says: “It has always been an enjoyable and accessible green space close to my home and a place for my family to get fresh air and exercise – originally my children, now grown up, and currently my grandchildren both those who live locally and those who visit from Cornwall.”

Bob finally retired in 2021 after working for various multinational companies throughout Europe since 1969 . He worked in Research, Business, Procurement, Management and Human Resources. In the last seven years he was Chair of Trustees for several medium to large pension funds within the UK Group of his final employer. He is currently vice chair of the Brimscombe and Thrupp Parish Council.

He is treasurer of the CBS and says: “I am a generalist with a focus on management, both business and people.” The group is fortunate to be able to call on Bob’s experience in risk management and governance.