Community volunteer Paul Wyeth has been named this month’s recipient of the Stroud Times Community Champion Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the local area and his dedication to environmental conservation and community wellbeing.
Paul is widely known across Stroud for his commitment to tackling climate change, enhancing local green spaces and bringing people together through nature-based projects and volunteering.
One of his most recent achievements is the creation of the Winding-hole Meadow along the Stroudwater Navigation. The once-overlooked patch of land near Frome Gardens has been transformed into a thriving wildlife haven featuring fruit trees, bug boxes and a park bench for visitors to enjoy. Paul also organised a community tree-planting event designed to encourage families and children to connect with nature and learn about conservation. Seasonal celebrations at the meadow, including Winter and Summer Equinox gatherings, have further strengthened the sense of community around the space.
In addition to this work, Paul helps maintain the nature reserve at the Queen Elizabeth II playing fields and volunteers regularly with the Cotswold Canals Trust, where he supports litter-picking and canal maintenance efforts. He also volunteers weekly with the Stroud Valleys Project.
Paul shares his observations of local wildlife and the changing seasons through his blog, Wild Ebley, which features nature writing and photography from around the Stroud area. He has also introduced three “poetry pods” in Ebley — small public noticeboards displaying seasonal and topical poems for passersby to enjoy.
Councillor Gavin Lindsay praised Paul’s dedication to the local environment and community spirit.
He said: “Paul’s tireless and imaginative efforts to make the QEII Nature Reserve and the Winding-hole Meadow total delights are just wonderful. Along with the other volunteers from Stroud Valleys Project that he inspires, the pond and surrounding spaces have become joyful places to visit.
“The poetry displays, apple tree planting and the care taken to maintain the paths and pond all help create calm and contemplative places for everyone to appreciate. Paul’s blogs and photography also provide timely and thoughtful insights into the natural world around us.
“I am so pleased Paul is part of our community. He has enhanced the spaces we share and made them places of beauty and enjoyment. He truly embodies the spirit of a Community Champion.”
Alongside his environmental work, Paul volunteers as a reading mentor with the Gloucestershire charity Read With Me. He spends one day each week at Foxmoor Primary School supporting Year 4 pupils with their reading skills.
Students at the school described Paul as “kind, caring and understanding” and said they look forward to reading with him every week because of the support and encouragement he provides.
At home, Paul has also created a wildlife-friendly garden, adopted two rescue hedgehogs and helped rewild the public footpath linking his home to Frome Gardens by adding compost bins and bug hotels to support local biodiversity.
For more information or to submit a nomination, please contact:
ash@stroudtimes.com or post your nomination on our social media platforms.
