Stroud

The aim of this page is to recognise, celebrate and encourage the self-empowerment of community agency networks (CANs) and community groups' activism for climate, environment and many other sustainability topics across Stroud.

News

Networks and sustainability initiatives

• Transition Stroud

UK and international events

UK events

UK community action events

Global or international events

2021-2030, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, International community action events

Stroud video

Community involvement

• Stroud Area Assembly, a collaboration of governance practitioners, community development leaders and movement builders, and part of the work of Parents for Future Stroud and a national initiative, ‘Lifehouses – Collapse Preparing Communities’. Citizens’. "We are also linked with other UK networks and an internationalist solidarity movement. Citizens’ Assemblies are shorthand for wide ranging reform of democratic systems." Added 17:45, 18 December 2024 (UTC)

Localism

Stroud has a strong community of independent shops and cafés, which provide the mainstay of the retail experience in the town.

Food activism

• The Long Table Stroud, added 16:52, 8 March 2024 (UTC)
• Stroudco Food Hub
• Stroud Community Agriculture Ltd

A farmers' market, launched by Jasper Conran and Isabella Blow on 3 July 1999, takes place every Saturday at the Cornhill market. It was nominated for the national Farmers' Market of the Year in 2001 and won it in 2007 and 2013. It also won the Cotswold Life magazine award for the best farmers' market in Gloucestershire in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010. The market featured in an episode of BBC TV's The Hairy Bikers' Food Tour of Britain in September 2009, and won the Best Food Market award at the BBC Food & Farming Awards 2010. It is certified by FARMA.

In addition to the farmers' market there is a smaller market held (Fri & Sat) in The Shambles, an area adjacent to the steep High Street. John Wesley preached from a butcher's block in The Shambles on 26 June 1742. The Old Town Hall is one of the oldest existing buildings in Stroud: originally referred to as the market house, it was built in 1596 and is still in occasional use today.

• Farmers Markets (in Stroud) information from Stroud District Council

Stroud, a market town in Gloucestershire was one of the birthplaces of the Organic food movement and was home to Britain's first fully organic café, Woodruffs. The Biodynamic Agricultural Association is based in the town.

Commons

• Stroud Commons, group of Stroud residents coming together to build the ‘commons’ economy in Stroud, and to document everything so that it can be implemented in other towns too. added 14:43, 20 July 2023 (UTC)

Arts, sport and culture

Stroud has a significant artistic community that dates back to the early 20th century. Jasper Conran called Stroud "the Covent Garden of the Cotswolds"; the Daily Telegraph has referred to it as "the artistic equivalent of bookish Hay-on-Wye"; while the London Evening Standard likened the town to "Notting Hill with wellies". The town has a large and diverse number of creative artists, musicians.

Community currencies activism

From Wikipedia:Stroud pound

The Stroud pound is a local currency in use in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England. Unveiled on 12 September 2009, the scheme is the third local currency scheme introduced in England in recent years after the Totnes pound and the Lewes pound.

From Wikipedia:Stroud pound § History

Launched on 12 September 2009, the scheme is an initiative of the local Transition Towns group. Unlike the Totnes pound and the Lewes pound, the Stroud pound is based on the Chiemgauer, a community demurrage currency circulating in the Chiemgau region of Bavaria, Germany since 2003. The Stroud pound has a demurrage rate of 3% every six months. As of April 2010, 30 businesses in Gloucestershire are enrolled in the programme.

On the day of the launch, local currency with a face value of over 1,000 Stroud pounds was sold.

However, in 2011 only £4,000 worth of Stroud pounds were issued. Some local businesses complained about the hassle and said customers still supported them but preferred to use sterling.

In 2015 a discussion on a possible re-launch was held.

One of the founders, Molly Scott Cato said in 2016 that the currency was "never viable", since there was not enough currency in circulation, compared to the Bristol pound.

As of November 2019 the website had not been updated since 2012, but Stroud Pound Co-op Ltd still exists.

Sustainable transport activism

From Wikipedia:Cotswold Canals Trust

The Cotswold Canals Trust is a British registered charity that aims to protect and restore the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames and Severn Canal. Formed in 1972, the organisation has a goal to restore navigability on the two waterways between Saul Junction and the River Thames. Since then, it has overseen restoration of the waterways, with many bridges, locks, and cuttings being rebuilt and reinstated.

In 2021, the charity was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service for "regenerating a 36-mile canal corridor, engaging communities and reviving heritage and wildlife".

News archive

About Stroud

Past events

• Oct 1 - 8, 2016, Stroud Valleys Showcase
• June 27 - 28, 2015, Edible Open Gardens
• February 7, 2015, Stroud Potato Day
• May 3 - 4, 2014, Stroud Eco Open Homes 2014

From Wikipedia:Stroud

Stroud is a market town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District. The town's population was 13,500 in 2021.

Sited below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills, at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, the town is noted for its steep streets. The Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty surrounds the town, and the Cotswold Way path passes by it to the west. It lies 10 miles (16 km) south of the city of Gloucester, 14 miles (23 km) south-southwest of Cheltenham, 13 miles (21 km) west-northwest of Cirencester and 26 miles (42 km) north-east of the city of Bristol. London is 91 miles (146 km) east-southeast of Stroud and the Welsh border at Whitebrook, Monmouthshire, is 19 miles (31 km) to the west. Though officially not part of the town itself, the contiguous civil parishes of Rodborough and Cainscross form part of Stroud's urban area and are generally recognised as suburbs.

Stroud acts as a commercial centre for surrounding villages and market towns including Amberley, Bisley, Bussage, Chalford, Dursley, Eastcombe, Eastington, King's Stanley, Leonard Stanley, Minchinhampton, Nailsworth, Oakridge, Painswick, Randwick, Selsley, Sheepscombe, Slad, Stonehouse, Brimscombe & Thrupp, Whiteshill and Woodchester.

In March 2021 The Sunday Times named Stroud the best place to live in the UK, citing the town's abundance of green spaces, independent spirit, and high quality of schools.

Near you

Gloucestershire community action

External links

• Wikipedia: Stroud, Campaigns
• Stroud Town Council, link checked 15:08, 20 July 2023 (UTC)
• Stroud District Council, link checked 15:08, 20 July 2023 (UTC)