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As September arrives, there's still plenty happening across the Stroud district, with opportunities to get active, discover what's on locally and get involved in community projects.

If you're hoping to squeeze in a few more swims before autumn arrives, Stroud Lido remains open until 30 September, weather permitting. You can book in advance on the Active Lifestyles Stroud website or app, or simply turn up and enjoy our spring-fed outdoor pool. There are also some fantastic events planned during September, including Sip, Dip and Paint sessions and Sunrise Yoga every Saturday morning.

September is packed with events across the district. Each month we publish a comprehensive What's On guide on our website and Facebook page, and it can also be delivered straight to your inbox through our Events and What's On email updates. If you'd like to stay informed about local events, attractions and activities, now is a great time to subscribe – https://www.stroud.gov.uk/email-alerts

We're also hosting a couple of events of our own. On Tuesday 22 September, from 4pm to 6pm, we're running a mock polling station for anyone interested in working at the next scheduled elections in May 2027. It's a great opportunity to find out more about the roles and see how polling day operates. Details can be found here. 

For community groups with ideas they'd like to bring to life, we're running two crowdfunding workshops on 9 and 10 September to help organisations learn more about launching a campaign through Stroud Funding. Details and booking information are available here.

We're continuing to showcase everything the district has to offer through a new promotional film currently being shown at railway stations along the Stonehouse to London route. The film highlights the variety of places, experiences and attractions across the district and might even inspire residents to discover somewhere new closer to home. You can watch it on the VisitStroud.uk website here:  Your Dream Weekend

Finally, a short section of Stratford Road will be closed over the weekend of 5 and 6 September while essential tree works are carried out in Stratford Park. Please allow extra time for your journey if you're travelling in the area. Access to Stratford Park, the Lido, Active Lifestyles Stroud and the Museum in the Park will be from the Paganhill direction during the closure.

A new promotional film celebrating Stroud district's unique mix of adventure, relaxation, nature, food and culture has been launched as part of a campaign to attract more visitors and support local businesses.

Created by Stroud District Council, the film showcases the district as a destination where visitors can enjoy both excitement and tranquillity, highlighting spectacular landscapes, vibrant market towns, independent businesses and sustainable travel opportunities.

Filmed over five days in June, the project featured local actors and showcased the places and experiences that make Stroud district unique. The crew visited 31 locations and covering 537 miles during filming.

The film features businesses and visitor attractions from across the district including Brimscombe Mill, Berkeley Castle, Minchinhampton Common, Stinchcombe Hill Golf Club, Williams Kitchen, Stroud Brewery and the Old Spot Inn, Dursley. 

The campaign is aimed primarily at 18 to 35-year-olds looking for a short break and supports the growing trend of micro-tourism - inspiring residents to explore destinations closer to home.

A shorter version of the film is being used as a digital advert at rail stations along the Stonehouse to London train route. From 24 August, the advert will appear at Bristol Temple Meads, Swindon, Reading and London Paddington stations, helping to reach thousands of potential visitors while promoting sustainable travel by rail. Additional social media versions of the film will be released in spring 2027.

The council worked closely with Visit Stroud which is hosting the film on a dedicated landing page where viewers can find further inspiration and practical information for planning a visit: Your Dream Weekend

Chris Uttley, Climate, Economy and Flood Risk Manager at Stroud District Council, said:

"One of the Council Plan priorities is to promote Stroud district as a sustainable tourism and visitor destination.

"This campaign showcases the incredible diversity of experiences available across the district, from outdoor adventures and cultural attractions to great food, beautiful countryside and places to relax.

"We hope the film inspired people to discover somewhere new, support local businesses ad experience everything that makes Stroud district such a distinctive and rewarding place to visit. We’d like to thank all the businesses and organisations that helped bring the campaign to life.”

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A section of Stratford Road in Stroud will be closed for two days in September to allow essential tree works and inspections to be carried out in Stratford Park.

The road will be closed on Saturday 5 September and Sunday 6 September, between 7am and 6pm, from the Tesco roundabout to the roundabout at the entrance to Stratford Park.

The closure is required to enable specialist contractors to safely undertake essential tree works on trees that overhang the carriageway, as well as carrying out more detailed inspections of a number of significant trees within the park.

All proposed works have been approved through the planning process and are necessary because the trees are located within a conservation area.

Stroud District Council acknowledges that the closure will cause some disruption and has scheduled the works over a weekend to help reduce the impact on weekday traffic. Motorists are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys during the closure period. 

Vehicular access to Stratford Park, Active Lifestyles Stroud and The Museum in the Park will be available only from the Paganhill direction.

Angela Gillingham, Head of Community Services for Stroud District Council said:

"Stratford Park is home to some of the finest and most significant mature trees in the district. Regular inspections and maintenance are essential to ensure the long-term health of these trees and the safety of park visitors and road users.

"We appreciate the disruption this temporary road closure may cause and would like to thank residents and motorists for their patience and understanding while these important works are carried out."

Stratford Park is a 56-acre park owned and managed by Stroud District Council and boasts one of the finest collections of mature trees in the region. Its collection rivals that of nearby Westonbirt Arboretum, and it is believed that several specimens were acquired through a shared order with Westonbirt in the late 1890s.

The park is home to more than 800 trees, including notable examples of Cedar of Lebanon, Monkey Puzzle, Wellingtonia, and Indian Bean Tree among others.

The works will help protect and preserve this important collection for future generations while ensuring the safety of everyone who uses the park and surrounding roads.

Diversion signs will be in place, and residents are advised to plan their journeys in advance and allow extra time for travel during the closure period. 

Please note: the original road closure signs displayed the incorrect dates. These have now been corrected.

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