Residents are being urged to help shape the future of Heavens Valley, the much-loved 102-acre beauty spot on the edge of Stroud, as it enters a new era of full community ownership.
The Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society (HVCBS), which manages the site, has launched a community survey as part of a year-long consultation process. Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win one of four £25 vouchers.
The land, which includes a rich variety of natural habitats, came fully into community ownership in August 2025 after loans taken out to purchase it the previous November were repaid. This was made possible thanks to widespread public donations and a major grant from the Summerfield Charitable Trust.
Now, the Society is beginning an extensive engagement process to help determine the long-term future of the site.
Emma Kernahan, Community Engagement Coordinator and local resident, said: “This is an important time for Heavens Valley. It’s incredibly rare for this amount of land to come into community ownership, and with so many similar campaigns around us, Stroud is really leading the way.
“Right now, we need the views and ideas of as many people as possible to shape our long-term plans and show just what’s possible when communities own the land around them.
“Many Stroud families have used this place for generations, while others are new to the area but already love bringing their children here. All our feedback so far shows just how important Heavens Valley is locally, and how much people want to both enjoy and protect the natural environment.”
The engagement project is currently in its ‘listening’ phase, gathering a broad range of views and insights from local residents. In the coming months, the team will explore key themes raised through the survey by organising events, interviews and ‘walk and talk’ sessions in the valley itself. All feedback will feed into HVCBS’s long-term management plan for the land and its surrounding community.
How to Take Part
Residents can share their views in two ways:
1. Complete the online survey
Visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/937MJRC
The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete and closes at 11.59pm on Saturday, February 28. Participants will be entered into a prize draw to win one of four £25 vouchers for a supermarket or local food shop of their choice. Winners will be announced on March 2.
2. Speak directly to the team
Contact the Society via https://www.heavensvalley.org.uk/ or email emma@heavensvalley.org.uk to arrange a conversation.
Residents are also encouraged to get involved by volunteering with Heavens Valley CBS. The volunteer community is already thriving, offering a friendly and rewarding way to meet new people while supporting nature. More information is available at: https://www.heavensvalley.org.uk/volunteer-info
What People Are Saying
Early responses to the survey highlight just how deeply valued Heavens Valley is within the community: “When we moved here, the Heavens was the first place we walked. It was May and full of buttercups. I had that realisation that we had moved to a very special area.”
“My children (now in their 40s) could explore the countryside with friends — dam building, sledging, den building and paddling. Children were allowed to learn through play. All this they have now transferred to their own children.”
“I was a single parent, living from payday to payday, and cheap days out at weekends were our one extravagance. Resources like the Heavens are so special and need to be protected so that other people can enjoy the simple pleasure of a day out in nature.”
“We’ve had the most wonderful days there — rolling down the slopes, building dams in the stream, exploring the woods, picking blackberries, getting mucky. It’s perfect as a natural, wild play area.”
“We went and got completely stuck in the mud by the stream… we were laughing so much we couldn’t get out. We went home totally covered in mud but happy.”
“There’s no question now that this is ‘common’ land — it’s ‘mine’, we all have a stake and people love this.”
“It’s such a big part of the Stroud community… it brings everyone together as we all care for the space so deeply.”
