Charlea Community Gardens is now well underway to create an ambitious community open space in Brimscombe.
Since December 2024 the site has been cleared of brush and rubbish with 3000 hedgerow trees now being planted to improve the habitat for wildlife.
In order to make the site accessible for all a number of wheelchair friendly footpaths are being created on the sloping site in order to access the community growing area, wildflower meadow and the wildlife pond.

A major part of the project is to develop a natural play trail which will provide creative and imaginative play for children using natural materials. The trail will include dens, balance beams, swings, climbing logs, stepping stones, and willow tunnel. The Stroud District Council crowd funding initiative with Spacehive is supporting the natural play trail and nearly 90% of the funds have been raised with a deadline of 27th February to raise the remaining 10%. Donations can be made on the Spacehive site https://www.spacehive.com/charleacommunitygardens
Graham Russell, a Trustee with Charlea Community Gardens, said: “We have been amazed at the support and generosity of so many people to get the gardens to this position of being created. We just need that bit more support to be able to design and construct the natural play trail which will be amazing for children in Brimscombe and Stroud.”