More than 500 people gathered in Rodborough Fields last Saturday for a vibrant community celebration featuring Boss Morris and marking a major milestone in the preservation of local green space.
The event combined the annual spring ritual Finger in the Spring by Boss Morris with celebrations following the successful transfer of Lot 1 of Rodborough Fields into managed community ownership. The achievement follows a long-running public campaign to protect the site, enhance biodiversity, and ensure its future use for education and community benefit.
Boss Morris, a collective of female creatives and professional musicians known for their contemporary interpretation of Morris dancing, brought their spring performance to Rodborough Fields for the first time. Now in its fourth year, Finger in the Spring was relocated from its previous location in Kingscourt to honour the natural spring that feeds the fields.
Participants gathered at Wallbridge Green before processing through the fields to the spring, continuing onward to the Prince Albert on Rodborough Hill. The day also featured a fundraising cake stall, speeches from campaign representatives, and a spoken word performance by Stuart Butler of Radical Stroud.
John Bloxsom, Chair of the Rodborough Fields Preservation Group, said: “It was a fantastic day, and we are grateful to Boss Morris for bringing such wonderful energy and creativity, and so many smiling faces to Rodborough Fields. It was great to have the opportunity to celebrate Lot 1 of the fields coming into community ownership. We are grateful to everyone who has supported our campaign, including those who helped by baking cakes and visiting our cake stall in the fields on Saturday.
“Though our community purchase is now complete, we still need further donations to fund the long-term care of the site and pay off the loans which were generously pledged to help us get to this point.”
The Rodborough Fields Preservation Group confirmed that, while the purchase of the land is now complete, further fundraising is required to support ongoing stewardship and repay bridging loans used during the acquisition process.
Donations can be made via the Rodborough Fields Preservation Group website or in person at the Stroud Valleys Project shop, 8 Threadneedle Street, Stroud, GL5 1AF.
Scroll through Simon Pickering’s picture gallery.
Donations can be made via the Rodborough Fields Preservation Group website (https://rodboroughfields.org.uk) or by taking a cheque to Stroud Valleys Project shop, 8 Threadneedle Street, Stroud, GL5 1AF.
