Volunteers from the Cotswold Canals Trust celebrated reaching a key milestone with the successful completion and opening of the current phase of the Fromebridge restoration project, between the A38 roundabout and Occupation Bridge at Whitminster.
It means that the Fromebridge towpath, a part of the Thames & Severn Way, is now accessible to all and connected to Fromebridge Lane. It’s maintained by volunteers from The Cotswold Canals Trust.
Progress is also being made on the Fromebridge reserve – a new pond is currently being lined, Occupation Bridge is being restored, and an accessible bird hide has been installed overlooking the Fromebridge wetlands area.
The wetlands area will be enhanced, and the towpath extended to Stonepitts Bridge, over the next year. These next steps will build on the progress made so far, enhancing the site’s ecological value and public access.
Cotswold Canals Trust and Stroud District Council are lead development partners and the Fromebridge project is the largest biodiversity project being undertaken on the Cotswold Canals Connected Phase 1B project, between Stonehouse and Saul.
The Trust was supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Enovert Community Trust, Summerfield Trust, the Association for Industrial Archaeology, the Notgrove Trust, the Susanna Peake Charitable Trust, and Hugh Conway-Jones. Their combined support and funding have enabled significant progress in transforming this important section of the Cotswold Canals.
Volunteers from the Cotswold Canals Trust, Stroud Valleys Project, and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust have worked tirelessly to deliver a range of enhancements. These include transplanting vegetation from the canal into a newly dug nearby wildlife pond, carrying out vital dry dredging of the canal, restoring Occupation Bridge as a key heritage feature, and installing a new bird hide and interpretive signage to engage visitors. The team has also enhanced the towpath and surrounding landscape, creating a more accessible and welcoming space for all to enjoy.
“This has been a remarkable achievement for our volunteers and our funders, whose generosity has turned a vision into reality,” said David Hagg, Chair of the Cotswold Canals Trust. “Fromebridge is becoming a special place for both people and wildlife, and we look forward to completing the next stage of this restoration.”
Stroud District Council Leader Chloe Turner added: “I would like to congratulate the volunteers and partners in this exciting project for transforming this area into a haven for nature, which is accessible to all. None of this would have been possible without generous donations from sponsors, partners and supporters.”
This week, funders from both Enovert Community Trust, and Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA) were invited to the site to see the progress and how the funding has been spent.
Enovert Community Trust provides grants to support community and environmental projects that bring environmental benefits and impact on the community and Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA), the national society for industrial heritage, which has promoted the study, preservation, and presentation of industrial heritage in Britain since 1973.
The Fromebridge site is now open to the public, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy the newly restored canal section, explore its growing nature reserve, and appreciate the rich heritage and biodiversity that this project is committed to preserving.
Pictures by Matt Bigwood
