A campaign group in Stroud has reached a pivotal stage in its mission to protect a beloved beauty spot from development by bringing it into community ownership.
Local councillors and residents have rallied to raise funds to purchase the 120-acre Thrupp Farm, including the stunning Heavens Valley, for the community after it was put up for sale in 2024.
Under the banner Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society — also known as For Heaven's Sake — the groups aims to protect the valley for nature and the community by raising £850,000 to purchase the farm from the landowner, in order to prevent it from being sold to developers.
After months of fundraising, the group has managed to secure £270,000 through donations and share sales — with two members of the local community also stepping in to loan £550,000 to the society, to fasttrack the campaign towards its target.
The landowner has agreed to accept the society's offer of £850,000, but with contracts needing to be exchanged this November 2024, the group is still £30,000 short of the required amount.
A community event has been organised for this week which will see locals come together to celebrate and secure the land, with one final fundraising push.
'We are at an absolutely pivotal stage,' said Martin Whiteside of the Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society team.
'The current landowner has accepted the community offer but the sale needs to be completed in early November.
'We urge everyone who has pledged money to fulfil their pledges if they can and we ask everyone else who can afford to, to help and donate urgently.
'One of the kind people supporting the purchase with a loan has stepped up to offer £5,000 in match funding at this stage. And we have received a further £10,000 in match funding from another generous individual — so every £1 raised from the community is, in effect, doubled so the target can be reached.
'This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring a major piece of land into community ownership to enable nature recovery and community access in perpetuity. We are so close to achieving this; we just need that £30,000 to get us across the line.'
The community will gather in Stroud for the group's sold out 'mythical' fundraiser at the Trinity Rooms on Friday 1 November 2024, with musical performances, stories of the Heavens and a special ceremony designed to 'raise the roof', featuring plenty of noise-making with pots, pans and horns.
To find out more about the campaign including how to donate, visit the Heaven's Valley website.
