Matty Airey

Grade II-listed St Mark’s Church in Woodmancote, on the edge of Dursley, has been put on the market for £175,000 as a freehold development plot. The 3,050-square-foot former Anglican church includes an open-plan nave, ancillary rooms and a mezzanine, and could be adapted for community or other uses subject to planning permission and listed-building requirements. Consecrated in 1844 and opened for worship in 1847, it served parishioners who could not afford pew rents at the main parish church. The church closed after its final thanksgiving service in March 2023, while the parish retains the burial ground.

Members of the Sodbury and Yate Sewcial Club donated more than 400 handmade drain bags to Southmead Hospital’s skin cancer ward. The bags are intended to help patients recovering from surgery manage surgical drains and move more comfortably. The not-for-profit club selected the donation as its annual good-cause project and welcomes both experienced crafters and beginners to its weekly sessions at Ridgewood Community Centre.

Cheltenham Tribute Festival will take place at Cheltenham Racecourse on August 29, running from midday to 10pm. Tribute acts representing artists including Queen, Florence + The Machine, Oasis, Pink, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and Dua Lipa will perform, alongside street food, craft stalls, bars, seating areas and fairground rides. Early-bird tickets are available through Skiddle.

Selected areas of Thornbury churchyard are being left unmown by Thornbury Town Council during dry summer conditions to provide shelter for insects and pollinators and help the soil retain moisture. Guy Rawlinson of the Holy Mowers at St Mary’s Church said the longer grass offers refuge for insects and keeps the ground cooler, while the council thanked residents, volunteers and community groups supporting local wildlife.

Cam Community Action Group is urging residents, businesses and community organisations to respond to Stroud District Council’s early consultation on a new Local Plan. The group supports housing growth in well-connected locations but says development must be matched by investment in GP services, schools, public transport, utilities and flood protection. It also wants affordable homes, accessible green space, biodiversity safeguards, protection of the River Cam corridor and preservation of Cam’s distinct identity. Consultation responses can be submitted through the council’s Local Plan consultation page until 11pm on Sunday, August 9.

A four-bedroom semi-detached house on Budding Way in Dursley is listed for £430,000 through Rightmove. The elevated property overlooks a playpark and has views toward Stinchcombe Hill, with a kitchen-dining room, lounge, four bedrooms, an ensuite, balcony, garage and allocated parking. Its rear garden includes lawn, trees, shrubs and a dedicated vegetable-growing area.

Alan Lambourne, an award-winning coach at Olveston and District Bowls Club, is raising funds to make lawn bowls more accessible to people with hearing loss. The club has already secured £6,000 for accessibility equipment and provides arm extensions, a bowls wheelchair, a ramp and free disability coaching. A recent Tesco fundraising campaign contributed £1,000, but approximately £17,000 is needed for portable technology that connects directly to hearing aids. Lambourne also hopes to expand coaching for autistic bowlers and players with other disabilities.

Cam Parish Council has launched the Cam Otter Trail for families during the school summer holidays. Participants can collect free maps and stickers, visit otter installations across the parish, and support local businesses involved in creating character homes. The initiative aims to encourage outdoor activity, community exploration and family participation, with maps and stickers sponsored by Stroud District Council and designs created by local artist Stephanie Cole.

The Hollies care home in Dursley is inviting local residents and families to a free summer food festival on August 7 from 2pm to 4pm. The Care UK event will include chef-prepared desserts, a barbecue, live music, mocktails, a tombola, a bouncy castle and face painting. It is part of Care UK’s nationwide A Taste of Home initiative, which promotes community engagement, residents’ recipes and locally sourced food. The event also aims to help residents connect with younger generations and members of the wider community.

Persimmon Homes Severn Valley has donated £1,000 through its Community Champions scheme to Downend Men in Sheds in South Gloucestershire. The funding will help the 10-year-old group relocate its workshop and expand membership while continuing to support older men and create practical items for local community projects. The group, which serves members aged 58 to 86, thanked Persimmon with a handmade desk ornament.

West of England mayor Helen Godwin has welcomed government plans to give mayors greater control over locally generated income, including a share of income tax and business rates. The proposed reforms would provide more integrated funding for housing, transport, regeneration and skills, building on the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s existing powers and investment fund. Godwin said the changes could support jobs, skills, housing and improved bus, rail and mass-transit services, and she also backed expanding the authority to include North Somerset.

Drivers are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time during the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court Estate, which is expected to attract up to 100,000 visitors daily and cause congestion on the M5, M32, A369, A370 and surrounding roads. National Highways recommends checking live traffic updates, while heavier traffic is expected during balloon ascents and Nightglow events. The Clifton Suspension Bridge will close on Friday and Saturday evenings. The fiesta, founded in 1979, is one of Europe’s largest hot-air-balloon festivals and includes balloon displays, entertainment, music, food and fireworks.

Gloucestershire County Council has published its adult social care annual report, covering support delivered during 2025/26. The report highlights efforts to help residents remain independent and safe, improve access to services, strengthen safeguarding, invest in prevention and support unpaid carers. It also details funding, feedback from service users and priorities for the coming year, including earlier intervention, stronger prevention and clearer services. Cabinet member Kate Usmar welcomed the progress while acknowledging that more work remains.

The Hollies care home in Dursley will host a free food festival on August 7, featuring residents’ favourite puddings, a barbecue, mocktails, live music and activities for children. The event is part of Care UK’s nationwide A Taste of Home campaign and is intended to bring residents, families and neighbours together while showcasing care-home life. Advance booking is encouraged.

Thornbury Art Club’s annual summer exhibition is running at Thornbury Methodist Hall through Sunday, featuring local artists working in a range of styles and media. A themed Wayfinders walk led by Councillor Chris Bloor will also explore art in local churches and chapels, including stained glass and sculpture, with information available through the Thornbury Afoot website.

South Gloucestershire will host a free Summer of Socks programme during July and August, featuring acrobatic performances, sock-themed trails and hands-on workshops across towns including Chipping Sodbury, Thornbury, Yate, Hanham, Kingswood and Staple Hill. The community arts and sustainability project, delivered by Can't Sit Still and funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and Arts Council England, will focus on creativity, clothing repair and reuse, and bringing families back to local high streets.

Yate Town Council has exchanged contracts with the church and diocese to purchase Tudor Cottage, the town's former 1840s village school and schoolmaster's house. The deteriorating building is planned for refurbishment as an extension of Yate Heritage Centre and a wider community hall. Residents are being invited to contribute memories, photographs and ideas at a public consultation event to help shape its future.

Thornbury Town Council held a Meet Your Councillor community drop-in session at Collester Way Park, giving residents an opportunity to ask questions, share ideas and learn about council services and projects. Families also took part in free activities. Following the event’s success, the council plans to organize additional outreach sessions alongside its monthly drop-ins at Thornbury Town Hall.

The Rose and Crown pub in Pucklechurch is preparing to host the fourth annual Pucklefest, a three-day event featuring live music, food, family entertainment and activities from Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 2. The programme includes bands, solo performers, a drag act, children’s entertainment, a puppet and magic show, a choir, an inflatable rodeo sheep and a possible fire-engine visit, subject to emergency call-outs.

The Plough micropub in Charfield has completed a mural on its gable end depicting an orange sunset over farmland, a tractor and wheat motif. Manager Steve Golding says the artwork has drawn positive comments and gives the pub a distinctive identity. The venue, which opened in 2019 in the former Plough Inn, operates as a community-focused micropub offering local beers and ciders.

Dursley’s Old Spot Inn is hosting a week of activities including a Sip and Paint evening, a live rock covers performance by The Stokes, Cam Beer Festival celebrations and a Sunday roast with live music from Ken Lush. Festival ticket holders will receive 10% off lunch, while festival tokens can be used for a discount on real ale.

Stroud District Council has received several planning applications in the district. Mr Chew is seeking permission to redevelop Field Row Cottage on Dursley Road in Cambridge with extensions, garage conversion and a rear dormer, near railway land. NCR has applied to install an ATM and associated non-illuminated signage at 26 Silver Street in Dursley, within a conservation area and near listed buildings. Public consultation on the Dursley applications is open until August 13.

Several roads and a public footpath in South Gloucestershire are scheduled to close temporarily for utility, crossing, transport and infrastructure works. Closures affect Dyers Lane in Iron Acton, Westerleigh Road in Yate, New Road in Stoke Gifford, Weir Lane in Marshfield, Beach Lane in Bitton and footpath LIA/33/10 in Frampton Cotterell. Drivers and pedestrians should follow signed diversions, allow extra travel time and check the council’s roadworks map because dates and durations may change.

Former Castle School student Tom Elderton received the University of Cambridge Prize for the 2026 Environmental Project for his research on mineral precipitation linked to acid mine pollution in the Italian Alps. He studies natural sciences at St John’s College and is completing a research internship at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences focusing on microbial ecology, eddy dynamics, and the biogeochemistry of Bermuda’s coral reef systems.

Two areas in the Stroud district will face upcoming travel disruption due to scheduled works. A section of Church View in Alkington will have rolling no‑stopping restrictions from July 22 to allow heavy goods vehicle access for a construction project, potentially lasting until February 2027. Hill Road in Dursley will be fully closed on July 27 and 28 for Severn Trent Water works, though the order permits closure for up to 18 months if required. Both locations will maintain pedestrian and emergency access, with signed alternative routes provided and further information available from Gloucestershire Highways.

Recent planning applications submitted to South Gloucestershire Council include multiple residential extensions, loft conversions, an agricultural storage building in Awkley, a wraparound extension with a glass balustrade in Alveston, and tree works in Marshfield and Thornbury. Several proposals aim to provide additional living space, while others address structural additions such as garages, annexes, or the discharge of archaeological conditions.

A 24‑hour Relay for Life event at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex brought together community teams, survivors, families and volunteers to raise funds for Cancer Research UK, marking its 20th anniversary in Yate with nearly £700,000 raised over two decades. The gathering celebrated life, honored loved ones and highlighted ongoing efforts to fight cancer, accompanied by photographs credited to Rich McD.

A series of events is scheduled at the Old Spot Inn in Dursley, including traditional Morris dancing, performances by folk duo Dead Dog Cider, a charity quiz supporting the Gloucestershire Scout Jamboree, a Sip & Paint session led by Hannah, and live music from Bristol band The Stokes to close the month.

South Gloucestershire Council is hosting a free Summer, Sorted event at Yate Shopping Centre on August 6 to offer families cost‑saving advice and ideas for low‑cost summer activities. Council staff and partner organisations will provide guidance on affordable outings, at‑home activities, free bus travel for children, and budget‑friendly meals, along with information on financial support and local assistance services. The Yate session is one of several similar events planned across South Gloucestershire.

Thornbury’s long‑running volunteer litter‑picking group reports worsening waste issues and is seeking additional helpers. The team meets monthly at The Swan pub to clear hotspots around the town, supported by members who also pick independently. With more than 200 bags collected since January 2026 and concerns over overflowing bins, the group invites new volunteers to join monthly sessions and access details through the My Thornbury community website.

GL11 community hub celebrated its 25th anniversary with a family fun day featuring live music, food, games, children’s activities and storytelling. Residents from Cam and Dursley attended, and a raffle included a sought‑after family ticket to Giffords Circus. The event thanked the community for its support and is part of a series of activities planned for the anniversary year.

A new water refill station has been installed at Long Street Car Park in Dursley along the Cotswold Way through a collaboration between the Cotswold Wardens and Dursley Town Council. Representatives highlighted its value for walkers and visitors during warm weather, and local contractor Dave Hill completed the installation.

A community gardening group in Thornbury encourages residents to grow their own food amid rising interest driven by higher food prices and import uncertainties. Operating under Sustainable Thornbury, the group holds monthly meetups, shares seeds and skills, offers fermentation lessons, and organizes garden visits. It also contributes to local food policy through participation in South Gloucestershire Council’s Local Food Partnership. New members of any experience level are invited to join, with details available on the Sustainable Thornbury website.

Repair and maintenance work on the M48 Severn Bridge has introduced a temporary 30mph speed limit, a contraflow system and scheduled overnight closures, with traffic diverted via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge during night-time shutdowns. The order covers a section spanning parts of South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire and may remain in force for up to 18 months. National Highways advises motorists to plan for delays and check for live updates, with exemptions provided for emergency and special forces vehicles and signage in place to mark restrictions and closure points.

Volunteers from Thornbury in Bloom are preparing the town for Britain in Bloom judging as the group marks its 35th anniversary. Teams have replanted displays, created new floral features and cleared streets despite incidents of vandalism. Residents and businesses are supporting the effort by helping maintain public spaces. The group, which operates year‑round and has earned numerous awards, aims to secure another Gold medal as a tribute to the community’s ongoing commitment.

An ecological survey at Bristol Memorial Woodlands recorded two jewel beetle species and the nationally scarce pear shortwing beetle, indicating rising biodiversity since the land was converted from farmland into a memorial woodland. Ecologist Rupert Higgins attributes the rare species’ presence to habitat restoration, including new woodland, regenerating grassland, and revitalized ponds and streams. The site is now the only location in the Bristol region with two jewel beetle species, and further increases in wildlife are expected as the ecosystem matures.

CAM Everlands Primary School held its Everfest 2026 summer fair, featuring food, games, emergency service displays and community activities. Organised by volunteers and supported by local businesses, the event attracted families and raised funds for future school projects. School leaders praised the strong turnout, good weather and community spirit.

Hundreds of visitors attended Winterbourne Medieval Day at the 14th‑century Medieval Barn, enjoying combat displays, live music, historical demonstrations, children’s activities, crafts, and food. The event, rooted in a tradition dating back to a 1393 royal charter, drew more than 600 attendees and raised funds to support maintenance of the heritage site.

Yate Rocks marked its 20th anniversary with a weekend of live music, dance performances, family activities and a mass choir finale at Kingsgate Park. The festival featured numerous local performers, children’s activities and community groups, and concluded with a combined choir performance. The mayor praised the event’s atmosphere and talent, while long‑serving event manager Rob Goodwin was honoured on his retirement. Organisers confirmed the festival will return in 2027.