More than 40 people attended a walk in celebration of Rodborough Fields on Sunday.
The walk, organised by Lotte Lyster Connolly from the Prince Albert and the Rodborough Fields Preservation Group, began at the Clothiers Arms on Bath Road where the group were welcomed by new owner Hugo.
From the Clothiers, the group walked down Bath Road and up the footpath through Rodborough Fields to the Prince Albert. Along the route, the group were treated to a specially-prepared spoken word work by Radical Stroud’s Stuart Butler.
During the walk, the group were updated on the plans to purchase part of Rodborough Fields for the community by John Bloxsom, Chair of the Rodborough Fields Preservation Group.
The update included the news that the Rodborough Fields Preservation Group has now been officially established and registered by the Charity Commission (Charity number: 1214461).
The group were also updated on the generous offer from the Laura Kinsella Foundation to match-fund up to £20,000 in public donations raised as part of the group’s latest appeal. Though the original deadline has passed, new donations will continue to be match funded up to the £20,000 target.
Chair of the Rodborough Fields Preservation Group, John Bloxsom, said:
“It was great that so many people were able to join us for this special walk along the footpath through Rodborough Fields, and to be able to update everyone on our progress, including our formal establishment as a charity which was accepted this week.
“Special thanks to Stuart Butler for inspiring us with the fascinating history of Rodborough Fields and its links to the production of the Stroudwater Scarlet which was once hung out to dry on tenterhooks in the fields.
“Many thanks too to walk organiser Lotte Lyster Connolly and to the Laura Kinsella Foundation and all our donors for their generosity.
“We are so close to making community ownership for this part of Rodborough Fields a reality but we still need more donations, so if anyone is able to support the campaign please visit rodboroughfields.org.uk and donate today.”
