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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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Anyone interested in working in a polling station ahead of the 2027 Gloucestershire Council elections is invited to visit Stroud District Council's mock polling station at Ebley Mill on Tuesday 22 September from 4pm to 6pm.

The drop-in information event will give participants the opportunity to experience first-hand what polling station staff do on election day. Visitors can practise issuing a ballot paper, learn which forms of photo ID are accepted, and ask questions of elections officers.

It is suitable for people who have never worked in a polling station before, as well as experienced polling station staff looking to refresh their knowledge. 

The practical information session comes ahead of elections on 6 May 2027 for the new Gloucestershire Council, which will bring together services currently delivered by Gloucestershire County Council and the county's six district, borough and city councils - including Stroud District Council - into a single organisation. 

Stroud District Council sets up 105 polling stations during elections, serving more than 97,000 voters. To support this, the council typically recruits around 435 temporary polling station staff.

Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm on election day, and staff work for approximately 16 hours to set up, run and then close the station. Presiding Officers must be able to drive, as they are responsible for transporting ballot boxes to the count venue at the end of the day.

In 2026, fees were £215.20 for a Poll Clerk and £304.20 for a Presiding Officer. These rates are agreed across Gloucestershire and are subject to change for the May 2027 elections. Training will be provided for all successful applicants before the election.

Kathy O'Leary, Chief Executive and Returning Officer for Stroud District Council said:

"Working in a polling station is an exciting opportunity to get involved in the democratic process, and polling station staff report that they really enjoy the experience.

"Whether you've never worked at an election before or have previous experience, I encourage you to come along to our information event and find out more about the roles available and the important contribution polling station staff make to ensuring elections run smoothly."

The event will take place at:

• Stroud District Council,  Ebley Mill,  Ebley Wharf,  Stroud,  GL5 4UB
• Tuesday 22 September, 4pm to 6pm

Those arriving by bike can use the lockable cycle racks at the entrance to the building. Free visitor parking is available on site in the SDC staff car park (turn right at the mini roundabout).  

For more information about polling station roles and to apply to become a Poll Clerk or Presiding Officer, visit the Elections staffing page on the Stroud District Council website: Elections staffing

More information about Gloucestershire Council can be found here:  Future Gloucestershire : Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation in Gloucestershire.

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