New Grant Aims to Empower Communities in Protecting Green Spaces

A new £1 million grant has been established in Gloucestershire to assist local communities in protecting their green spaces and wildlife habitats. The funding is designed to help groups act swiftly when valuable land becomes available for purchase, enabling them to compete with private buyers and secure these areas for community benefit.

"We know there are people across Gloucestershire who desperately want to protect woodland or wildlife sites in their community but when that land comes up for sale, they simply don't have the time or resources to compete with a private buyer," said a representative familiar with the initiative. "This funding means we can help them when it really matters. We can provide money to act quickly, bring in the legal and ecological expertise they need."

Recent successful community efforts to protect land include initiatives at Daisybank, Lott Meadow, and Southcourt Green in Cheltenham, as well as Juniper Hill Field and Heavens Valley in Stroud. Another example is Rodborough Fields near Stroud, where a public campaign to prevent development led to the woodland being brought into community ownership.

John Bloxsom, chair of the Rodborough Fields and Frome Banks Preservation Group, welcomed the establishment of such a fund. His group managed to purchase nine acres of Rodborough Fields through a crowdfunding campaign that raised £200,000. However, the future of an additional 30 acres is now uncertain after it was placed on the market.

Angela France, a director at Daisybank CIC, which played a role in saving a field in Cheltenham from development last year, expressed her delight regarding the new fund. "Local green spaces are so important to us now," France stated. "I see more and more local communities getting together to protect them."

Since acquiring their land, the Daisybank group has organized activities such as litter picking, butterfly counts, and ecological surveys to inform their land management strategies and support thriving local wildlife. A community event is scheduled for October 24 to gather input on the field's future.

The new grant is also intended to support nature recovery across the county and address disparities in access to natural environments. David Owen, chair of trustees at The Summerfield Charitable Trust, believes the initiative holds the potential to establish a lasting legacy for nature, communities, and future generations in Gloucestershire. "Through this investment, we hope to enable communities to act quickly when opportunities arise, protect important natural assets and create benefits for wildlife, health and wellbeing that will endure for many years to come," Owen added.

The fund aims to empower communities with the financial means and expert support necessary to protect significant natural assets when opportunities arise, fostering long-term benefits for both the environment and local well-being.