Alan (pictured here with his dog Bess) is a former Public Rights of Way (PROW) manager at Gloucestershire County Council and is a member of the Institute of PROW Management.

He has 40 years’ experience dealing with rights of way and access to land - as well as looking after and improving land for nature. As a member of the Heavens Valley CBS’s land management group, he advises on access and recreation issues and brings special insight into how local government works.

Alan lives very close to the edge of the Heavens Valley site and walks there every day with his dog Bessie.

“It is such a special place,” he says. “It’s somewhere where you can get away from traffic and the pressures of work and enjoy nature.”

James, who is a barrister, provides the group with advice on all legal and governance issues. He lives on the very edge of the Heavens Valley and says: “We are so lucky that we have the Heavens on our doorstep - the chance for my children to grow up with free access to such a large area of natural beauty is invaluable. They can explore the woods, the fields, the streams, almost entirely uninhibited, and generally can just do the things that (I think!) young kids should be able to do.”

He also believes that biodiversity matters: “To have such a large area which is already relatively biodiverse so close to home is a real privilege. It is something of which we as a community can be proud, but also should seek to protect. And I think it is important as a community to have a large and beautiful area which anyone - regardless of their personal circumstances - can have access to for their own wellbeing. To be able to preserve such an area for all the people of Stroud is a tremendous opportunity.”

James’ help and advice has been crucial in securing the site, instructing lawyers and the financing of the purchase. “As well as being a Director I am also the secretary of the Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society and so will oversee some of the issues surrounding governance as well as more mundane day to day matters.”

Ben has a particular interest in social justice and safeguarding public access to open spaces. “The denial of customary access rights is a nationwide trend, and my main goal is to ensure that Stroud's community continues to enjoy the same free and unfettered recreational use of the Heavens Valley as I grew up with,” he says.

“Like many young people in Stroud, the Heavens was an important part of my social life growing up, inseparable from my sense of place and identity. I want to help secure the valley for generations to come as a place where Stroudies can freely come to hold events, celebrations, meet with friends and enjoy nature.”

Ben Challis has a professional background in managing grant proposals and projects in the charity sector and has worked in the areas of biodiversity net gain, green finance development, green infrastructure and nature recovery.

He has been involved with the Heavens Valley CBS since its first informal meeting was convened last autumn. He has experience of navigating the planning and Public Rights of Way system and his main role so far has been focused on researching protective measures to protect access rights.

Fiona lives about ten minutes away from the Heavens Valley and has been a regular visitor there for 30 years. She is a facilitator and coach - you may remember that she facilitated our meeting at the Sub Rooms when we launched our campaign.

She brings her 30 years of experience in working within organisations including many years of being active in the Community Planning Conference which brought the community together to help regenerate the town.

She says: “I think keeping community access to the Heavens Valley is incredibly important as it is a place so many people love to go for relaxation and to connect to nature. The campaign has been incredibly well supported in the local community.”

Sue is one of the town councillors for Trinity Ward, which includes part of Thrupp Farm. She has been involved with the campaign since helping to organise the first informal meeting in late 2023.

With a background in journalism, Sue’s role with the HVCBS is focused on communications, media relations and social media. She set up the HVAG Facebook page, which helped the group gain almost instant awareness at the start of the campaign, gaining hundreds of followers within days of being created. The page now has more than 1,300 followers and engagement with the page remains high, helping us get rapid awareness of any updates.

Sue is a keen hiker and loves going out with an OS map to walk through the Heavens and explore the surrounding countryside. “I love England’s long tradition of Public Rights of Way; ensuring continued public access to green spaces is something I’m passionate about,” she says.

Sue says being a Director gives her a chance to be involved in decision-making about the future of the land. “I like being part of discussions about the multiple questions and challenges that are arising, and working with others to reach consensus on the best way forward.”

Rob has a professional background in wildlife, countryside conservation and land/forestry management, having worked for Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and what is now Natural England.

He was chair of Stroud Town Council’s Environment committee before stepping down from his role as a local councillor in early 2024.

He is the lead in our land management working group, advising on strategy for the future management of the site.

Rob has a particular interest in how outdoor public spaces could be made more accessible to people with disabilities. And he is keen to ensure that the public get the chance to offer their opinions and skills to the CBS to help influence the future management of the site.

“I want the organisation we are creating to be open and transparent, consultative, and welcoming,” he says.

Rob often walks in the Heavens Valley and says: “The opportunity of the community owning the Heavens Valley is a game-changer; my driving motivation, beyond safeguarding our community’s special place, is to see just how much more the site has to offer for nature recovery, for access, and for the community. It has so much potential to become an amazing community-led nature recovery project.”

Clare has worked in the voluntary sector in Stroud for over 25 years and is currently a director of Stroud Common Wealth and CEO at Stroud Valleys Project (SVP).

She was an integral member and leading force in the establishment of the Heavens Valley Action Group but has now stepped away to concentrate her considerable talents on the furtherment of the SVP.

Clare, who can be found walking in the Heavens once or twice a week, has a wealth of knowledge and experience in fundraising and working in the voluntary and charity sectors, and knows the importance of having accessible green space.

Before we were a Community Benefit Society the SVP kindly received donations on our behalf, as well as providing back office support and marketing.

Stella brings a wealth of experience to the group – as well as being a former Stroud Town Councillor, she has run the press office for Gloucestershire County Council and South Gloucestershire Council. She is currently chair of trustees for Stroud Valleys Project and is a trustee of the Lansdown Hall CIO. Stella is well known locally for her role as the Mayor of Stroud from May 2022 to May 2024.

She says: “I am Stroud born and bred and moved away at the end of the 1960s and returned as a single Mum to bring up my son here in the mid 1980s. One of the main reasons of coming back was the wonderful landscape. Stroud has fingers of green space down the five valleys that reach almost into the town centre. The Heavens Valley is one of these special spaces.

With a background in local journalism where she was involved in some of the area’s biggest stories, Stella has also been involved in several high-profile local pressure groups. She brings her knowledge of local government, communication, strategic planning, charity governance and volunteering.

Eli Parry is the Society’s youth engagement representative, tasked with ensuring that the youth voice is considered in decision-making about the management of the land.

 Coming from a local cattle-farming family, Eli also brings valuable knowledge of land management and animal husbandry, which enables her to have input into the land management strategy for Thrupp Farm.

 In her job as a youth support worker and mentor Eli facilitates supportive sessions with young people. In the community she has experience of running community workshops, including facilitation for community meetings and educational sessions, so her role also includes developing processes for the CBS’s community consultations.

 She was born in Thrupp and has walked, played and socialised in the Heavens Valley from early childhood. Eli says: “I have a particular interest in land and climate justice, the social impact of this on animals and plants and how we co-habit and co-produce with non-human animals and the environment. I’m also interested in social issues and inequality, youth empowerment and engagement, how accessibility can be improved for certain minoritised groups, and how we connect with our ancestral homes.”

Annabel helps with our social media and is responsible for our Instagram account friendsoftheheavens.

She is a community connector and currently freelances as a social media support to small businesses. Thanks to Annabel’s organisational skills we have put on two very successful gigs at Stroud Brewery, both of which raised thousands of pounds and much awareness of our cause.

She has had a lifelong association with the Heavens Valley and now visits about five times a week. She says: “I moved to Bowbridge Lane 25 years ago and when choosing a home with my now husband, we wanted to be close to community and town, but also to the fields as his first children had grown up playing in the Heavens. With a dog and a new baby in the family mix in 1999, the Heavens became like a second home to me!”

 Annabel is keen to ensure community access of this special area. “The valley has historically been used by community - possibly even from Roman times! The well-trodden routes local humans have worn over the fields, up through the woods, to church in Bisley or to visit the Foresters Inn; or to use the water for powering small industries such as knife-sharpening - these are all the Valley's human history.”

Stuart lives on the very edge of the Heavens Valley, surrounded on three sides by its woodland.

After a career in the film and TV industry, he studied forestry and tree surgery and now works as a Project Officer for the Stroud Valleys Project where he oversees the planting of hundreds of trees with teams of volunteers. Stuart is also involved in other initiatives such as wildflower meadow maintenance and pond creation. A keen bee-keeper, he has produced a honey bee health product.

He says: “The campaign is a great opportunity to do the right thing by this land and create something really exciting with and for the people of Stroud.” Stuart is a key member of our Land Management group.

Lucas is the district councillor (and one of the town councillors) for Trinity ward, which includes part of Thrupp Farm.

He says: “My house directly overlooks the Heavens Valley and the view of this unspoilt place is a constant source of inspiration and gladness. I will do what I can to preserve it for future generations.”

Lucas has a BA degree in Urban Planning, has worked in biodynamic farming and helped create a local organic food chain through the Oakbrook Community Farm. He is a board member of the Biodynamic Land Trust.

He has experience in establishing socially responsible enterprises in the third sector - such as the Painswick Inn Project - and in developing property portfolios for organisations incorporating social housing, childcare and enterprise hubs.

He currently spearheads affordable co-housing initiatives with housing associations and is a director of Stroud Common Wealth, which aims for more equal ownership of shared community assets.

Karen moved to Stroud in 2019, drawn to the way the town was so much a part of its green landscape. She now lives on the edge of the Heavens Valley and enjoys regular walks there with her dogs.

She began her career in PR, working for some of the top names in the industry, and then moved into marketing and local journalism. Latterly, she trained as a Cognitive Therapist. She helps to co-ordinate the Heavens Valley CBS and works within the fundraising and communications teams.

Karen explains how she got involved with the campaign: “I love the tranquillity of the Heavens and feel so lucky that this lovely place was only a step or two away from where I live. When I heard there was a chance to ‘save’ the valley I decided to do what I could to help.”

She says: “I love the ethos of Stroud – the way the community pulls together to fight for what it loves whenever there is a threat. We have been overwhelmed by the interest expressed whenever we speak to anyone about our campaign – and by the extraordinary commitment to help bring this land into community ownership - it’s truly heartwarming.”

Bob has lived on Thrupp Lane, ten minutes away from the Heavens Valley, for almost 50 years. He says: “It has always been an enjoyable and accessible green space close to my home and a place for my family to get fresh air and exercise – originally my children, now grown up, and currently my grandchildren both those who live locally and those who visit from Cornwall.”

Bob finally retired in 2021 after working for various multinational companies throughout Europe since 1969 . He worked in Research, Business, Procurement, Management and Human Resources. In the last seven years he was Chair of Trustees for several medium to large pension funds within the UK Group of his final employer. He is currently vice chair of the Brimscombe and Thrupp Parish Council.

He is treasurer of the CBS and says: “I am a generalist with a focus on management, both business and people.” The group is fortunate to be able to call on Bob’s experience in risk management and governance.

Martin has worked professionally for more than 40 years in community development, climate change, agriculture and forestry in both the UK and over 40 countries. He is currently a Brimscombe and Thrupp Parish Councillor and, indeed, Martin’s experience and contacts with local projects and organisations from his 19 years as the Green Party District Councillor has been the instrumental in the group’s momentum. Martin has lived on the edge of the Heavens for nearly 30 years and has enjoyed taking his children and now his grandchildren there to play and to walk to Stroud.

He comments: “Our campaign is essential because once a resource like this, which is used and loved by so many generations is lost, then an essential piece of our heritage is lost. A successful outcome of the campaign would be to witness a thriving biodiverse nature-rich area in community ownership with significant involvement in its care and use by the community.

Martin says: “My role as Director has been to build up the team of people working to save the Heavens Valley, negotiating with the owner to agree the sale and to work with a wide range of stakeholders to develop a vision. I have been implementing the practical steps to enable this incredible place to be both protected and developed as a jewel of nature recovery and community use in perpetuity.”

Jim Lewis (land management), Jacky Martel