The Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society (CBS) has completed the first phase of its community engagement programme, with more than 560 people sharing their views on the future of the 102-acre community-owned landscape, writes Susan Fenton.
Known as the Listening Project, the initiative was launched at the end of last year to gather ideas, hopes and priorities for the future management of Heavens Valley. Alongside the public survey, more than 30 people took part in in-depth interviews, while the Society also engaged with a wide range of local organisations and community groups.
Community Engagement Coordinator Emma Kernahan said the response demonstrated the strength of local support for the site.
“We are so grateful for the time, thought and energy that the people of Stroud have given to this process so far. It has shown the importance of this place to the people who live near it. It’s a reflection of how deeply our community is invested in this beautiful land and how much local people of all ages feel a sense of ownership and belonging.”
One of the strongest findings from the first phase is that local people place equal importance on protecting the Valley’s wildlife and habitats while ensuring it remains a place where people can enjoy nature, improve their wellbeing and spend time with family and friends.
Emma said: “In some places, people and nature are 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.”
The engagement has also highlighted important questions for the future. Some respondents expressed concerns that a place valued for its wildness and tranquillity could become too busy or evolve into a more formal park.
These issues will now be explored during the second phase of the Listening Project, which has now begun. A series of small focus groups will discuss topics including recreational use, ensuring young people have a meaningful voice, and how community feedback will help shape the Society’s future land management strategy.
People interested in taking part in a focus group are invited to contact Emma Kernahan at emma@heavensvalley.org.uk.
Emma added: “The Listening Project shows that buying the land together has shifted the conversation from ‘we own this’ to ‘we care for this’. Heavens Valley is unique, both because of the extent to which people already feel connected to it and because of its scale as a community-owned landscape.
“We have lots of decisions ahead of us, and lots of work to do, but building a culture where everyone using the Heavens understands the landscape, knows how to look after it, and feels like they belong, will be hugely important in the coming months and years.”
The Listening Project will continue over the coming months, with the findings from the focus groups helping to inform the long-term vision and management of Heavens Valley as a thriving, community-owned landscape that balances nature conservation with public access and enjoyment.
