Community hopes to turn field near Stroud into farm and gardens

A GROUP is looking to raise £12,000 to turn a field in Brimscombe into a community farm and gardens.

Charlea Community Gardens, a community interest company which was set up in 2016, is seeking to transform a one-acre field behind the Queens Court flats.

The initiative will build upon the existing Charlea Community Gardens site, with plans including a natural play area, community growing spaces and zones for biodiversity and wildlife conservation.

There will also be a space for livestock which will expand upon the foundations of the popular pig and chicken clubs at the current gardens.

An appeal for the project has gone live on crowdfunding platform Crowdfunder, with all money raised set to go directly towards helping pay for specific projects relating to the gardens and farm.

These include raised beds, a new orchard and the play area, as well as livestock enclosures and the enhancement of wildlife habitats.

The Aviva Community Fund is providing live match funding.

The field proposed for Charlea Community Farm & Gardens development was home to a play area from the 1950s to 2018, when the land was acquired by a private owner.

According to the CIC, the site was put back on the market following multiple failed planning applications, with the company reacquiring the space for community use.

The CIC - which is run fully by volunteers from the community - said that the initiative to develop Charlea Community Farm & Gardens will create a hub for community engagement, education and sustainable living.

The gardens and farm will serve as a community gathering space and educational site, along with supporting food security and environmental stewardship.

They will also provide a welcoming space for community events, social gatherings and volunteer activities, and it is hoped that it will offer a location for classes and workshops on gardening, environmental conservation and sustainable living.

Furthermore, the farm and gardens aim to promote local food production and supply fresh produce to local residents.

They will additionally enhance local biodiversity through the creation of wildlife habitats and the planting of native species.

£145,000 has already been raised for Charlea Community Farm & Gardens - with support secured from Brimscombe & Thrupp Parish Council, Gloucestershire County Council and the Community Ownership Fund - and £12,000 now needs to be raised through Crowdfunder.

“Charlea Gardens have great potential to become a significant community asset that could play a pivotal role in the lives of so many local residents,” said Stroud District Council councillor Gill Thomas, who is a director at Charlea.

“The site could also play an important role in helping Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust expand its Golden Valley project and become part of a much larger biodiversity initiative.”

A number of rewards for donations are offered on the Crowdfunder appeal page, from an invite to an event to celebrate the farm and gardens’ opening in exchange for £5 to the opportunity to name a whole area of the site in exchange for £2,500 or more.

If the £12,000 target is exceeded, additional funds will be invested in further enhancing the space.

For more information about Charlea Community Farm & Gardens and to donate, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/p/charlea-seeds