Gloucestershire #MyCommunityandMe

Taking pride in where you live and getting involved in the local community I feel really help make a place feel like a home. If you do not respect what you have then are you really going to be happy over the long term? That’s why I am glad that we have settled in Gloucestershire because it really has a great community feel. Therefore, I thought I would join in with the #MyCommunityAndMe campaign from Slater and Gordon Lawyers, to tell you about some of the things I love most about where we live.

Why Gloucestershire is a Great Location

We live in a friendly little medieval town in Gloucestershire, which has lots of heritage mixed in with modern life. Situated right next to the Cotswolds and a short drive on the M5 in either direction will take you to Birmingham or Bristol; and easy access by train, coach or road to London. There are a great range of child care options in Gloucestershire with good nurseries, primary schools and support groups for new parents: Before moving on to secondary schools where Gloucestershire homes seven super-selective grammar schools. You do not have to leave Gloucestershire for entertainment – as it is the location of The Battle of Tewkesbury and The Medieval Festival; Tall Ships Festival at Gloucester Docks; Gloucester Cathedral (where there was filming for Harry Potter); The Beatrix potter Museum; Tewkesbury Abbey (with its award winning Touching Souls tea room), Gloucester rugby at Kingsholm; and The Roses Theatre (the last stage for Eric Morecambe) to name a few.

How Gloucestershire is a Great Place for Community

It’s not just where the area is located that make it great but the people in it. I wanted to share with you some of the many reasons that I think that Gloucestershire has a great community: There are plenty of ways to get involved in the local community with a lot to do for the young and old alike. Clubs for children include Youth Club, Scouts, Brownies, Boys Brigade, Sea Cadets, Football, Rugby, Martial Arts, Athletics, Drama, and Dance. For adults there are several running clubs, knitting club, coffee groups and much more. The best place to find what you are looking for are on the various Facebook groups – which also offer a variety of ways to help and support the local areas.

Tewkesbury in Bloom

It is so wonderful when out and about to see all the effort put in to making the area look nice when in Tewkesbury. A voluntary run organisation help enhance the local environment, fostering community spirit and raising the profile of the town by entering the RHS Britain in Bloom competition annually. These unpaid volunteers have done a fantastic job and scored 186 out of a maximum 200 points overall for 2017. They achieve this through crowdfunding (such as for the flower tribute at The Cross) and sponsorship (with many local businesses contributing) for the town centre floral displays including tubs, hanging baskets, coronets and boats. Jackie Dean from Bluebell Florist also runs clubs and workshops to encourage people to enjoy flower arranging and gardening.

Ways to Help Support the Local Area

People in Gloucestershire care about one another and I love that recently someone in Tewkesbury has arranged a free bus service to pick up the elderly from their homes in order for them to go shopping! Other ways that they help support is by shopping local – with markets being held regularly. To help your local area you should use local shops and theatres too. Gloucestershire helps give back to the area with local charities too: Such as Gloucestershire Young Carers. Obviously it goes without saying but look after your area by keeping things tidy – pick up litter and do not pick the flowers. Gloucestershire is a lovely area and local groups arrange litter picks and people report things (such as a park being vandalised) and people are vigilant.

Have you visited Gloucestershire, what do you love? And what do you love about your local area?

‘Post written in collaboration with Slater and Gordon’