Amplify Stroud
@amplifystroud.com
Voice of the Valleys. Long-form slow news and journalism from the Five Valleys of Stroud District. Art, Culture, Politics, Society, Activism, Resistance
DATELINE: 2 FEBRUARY 2026
WRITER: ROBIN LAYFIELD
TOPIC: “I AM THE WATER, THE WATER IS ME” — BLESSING THE FROME
On Sunday 1 February people came to Rodborough Fields from all over Stroud to mark the Celtic festival of Imbolc and to join in the blessing of the river Frome.
WRITER: ROBIN LAYFIELD
TOPIC: “I AM THE WATER, THE WATER IS ME” — BLESSING THE FROME
On Sunday 1 February people came to Rodborough Fields from all over Stroud to mark the Celtic festival of Imbolc and to join in the blessing of the river Frome.
"I am the water, the water is me" — Blessing the Frome
On February 1st 2026, a group of around 80 people gathered on Rodborough Fields to celebrate imbolc - the first signs of Spring - and to bless the river.
amplifystroud.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:22 PM
DATELINE: 2 FEBRUARY 2026
WRITER: ROBIN LAYFIELD
TOPIC: “I AM THE WATER, THE WATER IS ME” — BLESSING THE FROME
On Sunday 1 February people came to Rodborough Fields from all over Stroud to mark the Celtic festival of Imbolc and to join in the blessing of the river Frome.
WRITER: ROBIN LAYFIELD
TOPIC: “I AM THE WATER, THE WATER IS ME” — BLESSING THE FROME
On Sunday 1 February people came to Rodborough Fields from all over Stroud to mark the Celtic festival of Imbolc and to join in the blessing of the river Frome.
THANK YOU
~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to everyone that has put pen to paper and taken the time to write one or more articles for Amplify Stroud over the course of 2025.
You have all written such interesting articles and hopefully you have more to share.
~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to everyone that has put pen to paper and taken the time to write one or more articles for Amplify Stroud over the course of 2025.
You have all written such interesting articles and hopefully you have more to share.
December 28, 2025 at 11:37 AM
THANK YOU
~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to everyone that has put pen to paper and taken the time to write one or more articles for Amplify Stroud over the course of 2025.
You have all written such interesting articles and hopefully you have more to share.
~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to everyone that has put pen to paper and taken the time to write one or more articles for Amplify Stroud over the course of 2025.
You have all written such interesting articles and hopefully you have more to share.
In her latest post for Amplify Stroud, Emma Kernahan tells us about her experiences at the Trinity Rooms Community Hub, from joining in Christmas Dinner to seeing ghosts of the past when it was a World War 1 hospital ward.
amplifystroud.com/the-ghost-of...
amplifystroud.com/the-ghost-of...
The Ghost of Christmas Future
Sometimes I wonder if the Dickens family ever imagined they would still be flitting through the minds of so many millions of people, so far into the future.
amplifystroud.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:24 PM
In her latest post for Amplify Stroud, Emma Kernahan tells us about her experiences at the Trinity Rooms Community Hub, from joining in Christmas Dinner to seeing ghosts of the past when it was a World War 1 hospital ward.
amplifystroud.com/the-ghost-of...
amplifystroud.com/the-ghost-of...
Reposted by Amplify Stroud
The Cracker Barrel thing was THIS YEAR. We have three more years of this shit. Anybody who makes it to 2028 without looking like Nosferatu will be required by the state to start a skincare brand.
December 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The Cracker Barrel thing was THIS YEAR. We have three more years of this shit. Anybody who makes it to 2028 without looking like Nosferatu will be required by the state to start a skincare brand.
Nikki Laine interviews Ayoob "Ginge" Moolla about Rising Stars FC after 50 years of growth of the club.
A group of young boys come to the UK in the Summer of 1966. They go to the park at the weekends to play cricket but they become obsessed with football.
amplifystroud.com/50-years-of-...
A group of young boys come to the UK in the Summer of 1966. They go to the park at the weekends to play cricket but they become obsessed with football.
amplifystroud.com/50-years-of-...
50 Years of Rising Stars FC — Nikki Laine interviews Ayoub Moula
A group of young boys come to the UK in the Summer of 1966. They go to the park at the weekends to play cricket but their heads are turned by the nationwide obsession with football.
amplifystroud.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Nikki Laine interviews Ayoob "Ginge" Moolla about Rising Stars FC after 50 years of growth of the club.
A group of young boys come to the UK in the Summer of 1966. They go to the park at the weekends to play cricket but they become obsessed with football.
amplifystroud.com/50-years-of-...
A group of young boys come to the UK in the Summer of 1966. They go to the park at the weekends to play cricket but they become obsessed with football.
amplifystroud.com/50-years-of-...
EMERGENCE RE-STOCK — THE CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE TEXTILE WASTE
SHALIZE NICHOLAS | EMERGENCE RE-STOCK
OCTOBER 2025
UK households throw away around 300,000 tonnes of clothing each year, with much ending up in incineration or landfill.
amplifystroud.com/emergence-re...
SHALIZE NICHOLAS | EMERGENCE RE-STOCK
OCTOBER 2025
UK households throw away around 300,000 tonnes of clothing each year, with much ending up in incineration or landfill.
amplifystroud.com/emergence-re...
Emergence Re-Stock — the Campaign to Reduce Textile Waste
UK households throw away around 300,000 tonnes of clothing each year, with much ending up in incineration or landfill. Emergence Re-Stock aims to change this.
amplifystroud.com
October 22, 2025 at 11:50 AM
EMERGENCE RE-STOCK — THE CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE TEXTILE WASTE
SHALIZE NICHOLAS | EMERGENCE RE-STOCK
OCTOBER 2025
UK households throw away around 300,000 tonnes of clothing each year, with much ending up in incineration or landfill.
amplifystroud.com/emergence-re...
SHALIZE NICHOLAS | EMERGENCE RE-STOCK
OCTOBER 2025
UK households throw away around 300,000 tonnes of clothing each year, with much ending up in incineration or landfill.
amplifystroud.com/emergence-re...
MUSIC IS THE KEY TO RADICAL RESISTANCE
TIM LEZARD | STROUD LOVE MUSIC / HATE RACISM
OCTOBER 2025
As Italian Ska Punk renegades LOS FASTIDIOS prepare to return to Stroud to play at the Prince Albert on Monday October 27, Tim Lezard catches up with Elisa and Enrico in Verona.
TIM LEZARD | STROUD LOVE MUSIC / HATE RACISM
OCTOBER 2025
As Italian Ska Punk renegades LOS FASTIDIOS prepare to return to Stroud to play at the Prince Albert on Monday October 27, Tim Lezard catches up with Elisa and Enrico in Verona.
“Music is the Key to Radical Resistance” — Los Fastidios
Italian anti-fascist ska punk heroes Los Fastidios are returning to Stroud this month for what promises to be a second sold-out gig in two years.
amplifystroud.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:17 AM
MUSIC IS THE KEY TO RADICAL RESISTANCE
TIM LEZARD | STROUD LOVE MUSIC / HATE RACISM
OCTOBER 2025
As Italian Ska Punk renegades LOS FASTIDIOS prepare to return to Stroud to play at the Prince Albert on Monday October 27, Tim Lezard catches up with Elisa and Enrico in Verona.
TIM LEZARD | STROUD LOVE MUSIC / HATE RACISM
OCTOBER 2025
As Italian Ska Punk renegades LOS FASTIDIOS prepare to return to Stroud to play at the Prince Albert on Monday October 27, Tim Lezard catches up with Elisa and Enrico in Verona.
COMMON GROUND
OCTOBER 2025
NIKKI OWEN
I blinked through the sunlight dancing in the trees, feeling, in that moment, at one with the world. Until I saw it. There, attached to a pole on a caravan, flapping in the cool breeze like a sharp slap: an England flag.
amplifystroud.com/common-ground/
OCTOBER 2025
NIKKI OWEN
I blinked through the sunlight dancing in the trees, feeling, in that moment, at one with the world. Until I saw it. There, attached to a pole on a caravan, flapping in the cool breeze like a sharp slap: an England flag.
amplifystroud.com/common-ground/
Common Ground
I blinked through the sunlight dancing in the trees, feeling, in that moment, at one with the world. Until I saw it. There, attached to a pole on a caravan, flapping in the cool breeze like a sharp sl...
amplifystroud.com
October 10, 2025 at 9:44 AM
COMMON GROUND
OCTOBER 2025
NIKKI OWEN
I blinked through the sunlight dancing in the trees, feeling, in that moment, at one with the world. Until I saw it. There, attached to a pole on a caravan, flapping in the cool breeze like a sharp slap: an England flag.
amplifystroud.com/common-ground/
OCTOBER 2025
NIKKI OWEN
I blinked through the sunlight dancing in the trees, feeling, in that moment, at one with the world. Until I saw it. There, attached to a pole on a caravan, flapping in the cool breeze like a sharp slap: an England flag.
amplifystroud.com/common-ground/
GLOUCESTER WELCOMES REFUGEES
In the wake of anti-refugee protests outside the Ibis hotel in Gloucester, an upcoming gathering in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers is planned for Sunday 5 October.
amplifystroud.com/gloucester-w...
In the wake of anti-refugee protests outside the Ibis hotel in Gloucester, an upcoming gathering in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers is planned for Sunday 5 October.
amplifystroud.com/gloucester-w...
Gloucester Welcomes Refugees
A peaceful, non-confrontational gathering will be held in Gloucester on Sunday 5 October to show support for people seeking asylum and challenge attempts to stoke division and racism.
amplifystroud.com
October 1, 2025 at 11:04 PM
GLOUCESTER WELCOMES REFUGEES
In the wake of anti-refugee protests outside the Ibis hotel in Gloucester, an upcoming gathering in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers is planned for Sunday 5 October.
amplifystroud.com/gloucester-w...
In the wake of anti-refugee protests outside the Ibis hotel in Gloucester, an upcoming gathering in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers is planned for Sunday 5 October.
amplifystroud.com/gloucester-w...
Stop Rosebank — More than just a Bad Deal for the UK
At 500m barrels, Rosebank is the UK's largest undeveloped oil field. It lies about 80 miles north-west of Shetland. The Norwegian Energy giant Equinor has partnered with Israeli owned Ithaca Energy to...
amplifystroud.com
September 20, 2025 at 11:08 AM
DATELINE: 10 SEPTEMBER
TITLE: STROUD FESTIVAL OF COMMONING
WRITER: CHIKARA SHIMASAKI
Chik breaks down the Festival of Commoning taking place in Stroud on 14 / 15 September.
amplifystroud.com/stroud-festi...
TITLE: STROUD FESTIVAL OF COMMONING
WRITER: CHIKARA SHIMASAKI
Chik breaks down the Festival of Commoning taking place in Stroud on 14 / 15 September.
amplifystroud.com/stroud-festi...
Stroud Festival of Commoning - a weekend of collaborative ideas and action
Stroud becomes a hub for rethinking community, economy, and democracy this September.
amplifystroud.com
September 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
DATELINE: 10 SEPTEMBER
TITLE: STROUD FESTIVAL OF COMMONING
WRITER: CHIKARA SHIMASAKI
Chik breaks down the Festival of Commoning taking place in Stroud on 14 / 15 September.
amplifystroud.com/stroud-festi...
TITLE: STROUD FESTIVAL OF COMMONING
WRITER: CHIKARA SHIMASAKI
Chik breaks down the Festival of Commoning taking place in Stroud on 14 / 15 September.
amplifystroud.com/stroud-festi...
amplifystroud.com/introducing-...
Introducing Na'amod
June 2025
Na'amod is a growing movement of British Jews that openly rejects the narrative of complete unswerving support for Israel. Na'amod is calling for an end to the Occupation and an end to the practice of Apartheid by the State of Israel.
Introducing Na'amod
June 2025
Na'amod is a growing movement of British Jews that openly rejects the narrative of complete unswerving support for Israel. Na'amod is calling for an end to the Occupation and an end to the practice of Apartheid by the State of Israel.
Introducing Na’amod
Local activist Jeremy Green interviews Colin Levine from the Gloucestershire branch of Na'amod to get his perspectives.
amplifystroud.com
June 30, 2025 at 11:19 AM
amplifystroud.com/introducing-...
Introducing Na'amod
June 2025
Na'amod is a growing movement of British Jews that openly rejects the narrative of complete unswerving support for Israel. Na'amod is calling for an end to the Occupation and an end to the practice of Apartheid by the State of Israel.
Introducing Na'amod
June 2025
Na'amod is a growing movement of British Jews that openly rejects the narrative of complete unswerving support for Israel. Na'amod is calling for an end to the Occupation and an end to the practice of Apartheid by the State of Israel.
“WE NEED OUR FARMERS TO BE ARTISTS” — Nick Hayes & Emma Kernahan at NeoAncients
“IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING OF a moment for me to cover a conversation between Emma Kernahan and Nick Hayes at day two of the NeoAncients festival 2025 on a sunny weekend in Stroud.”
— Roma Robinson | The RYSE
“IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING OF a moment for me to cover a conversation between Emma Kernahan and Nick Hayes at day two of the NeoAncients festival 2025 on a sunny weekend in Stroud.”
— Roma Robinson | The RYSE
“We need our farmers to be artists” — Nick Hayes and Emma Kernahan
IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING OF a moment for me to cover a conversation between Emma Kernahan and Nick Hayes at day two of the NeoAncients festival 2025 on a sunny weekend in Stroud.
amplifystroud.com
May 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
“WE NEED OUR FARMERS TO BE ARTISTS” — Nick Hayes & Emma Kernahan at NeoAncients
“IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING OF a moment for me to cover a conversation between Emma Kernahan and Nick Hayes at day two of the NeoAncients festival 2025 on a sunny weekend in Stroud.”
— Roma Robinson | The RYSE
“IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING OF a moment for me to cover a conversation between Emma Kernahan and Nick Hayes at day two of the NeoAncients festival 2025 on a sunny weekend in Stroud.”
— Roma Robinson | The RYSE
Reposted by Amplify Stroud
Toxic pesticide levels found in tampons 40 times higher than legal limit for water
Toxic pesticide levels found in tampons 40 times higher than legal limit for water
Glyphosate, an herbicide linked to cancer, is also abundant in the United States.
www.motherjones.com
May 30, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Toxic pesticide levels found in tampons 40 times higher than legal limit for water
Reposted by Amplify Stroud
After my post on vaccinating my children when they were babies, I got asked to have ‘nuanced’ convos with antivaxxers.
No.
I’m not platforming lies that led to the drop in vaccines, sick children with lifelong impacts and dead children.
Vaccines save lives and protect health.
Period.
No.
I’m not platforming lies that led to the drop in vaccines, sick children with lifelong impacts and dead children.
Vaccines save lives and protect health.
Period.
May 30, 2025 at 11:15 AM
After my post on vaccinating my children when they were babies, I got asked to have ‘nuanced’ convos with antivaxxers.
No.
I’m not platforming lies that led to the drop in vaccines, sick children with lifelong impacts and dead children.
Vaccines save lives and protect health.
Period.
No.
I’m not platforming lies that led to the drop in vaccines, sick children with lifelong impacts and dead children.
Vaccines save lives and protect health.
Period.
Reposted by Amplify Stroud
absolutely badass tool!
Is it hot right now in the UK?
New interactive website allowing anyone to explore live temperatures hour-by-hour across the UK, and whether they are cool, warm or hot relative to normal.
istheukhotrightnow.com
Built by @roostweather.bsky.social.
New interactive website allowing anyone to explore live temperatures hour-by-hour across the UK, and whether they are cool, warm or hot relative to normal.
istheukhotrightnow.com
Built by @roostweather.bsky.social.
May 30, 2025 at 8:59 AM
absolutely badass tool!
Reposted by Amplify Stroud
Her happiness is dependent on their compassion and skills - yet the average pay for care workers is £11 an hour, less than you earn at a supermarket
➡️ Read more: trib.al/AvLWu6m
➡️ Read more: trib.al/AvLWu6m
May 13, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Her happiness is dependent on their compassion and skills - yet the average pay for care workers is £11 an hour, less than you earn at a supermarket
➡️ Read more: trib.al/AvLWu6m
➡️ Read more: trib.al/AvLWu6m
MAY 2025
TATTIE BAKER | THE RYSE
NEOANCIENTS — THE PEOPLE’S PYRAMID
“Something that struck me about the speakers was how rascally they seemed, like they had never lost their sense of play. Call it a mischievous twinkle in their eyes.”
— Tattie Baker
amplifystroud.com/2025-05-neoa...
TATTIE BAKER | THE RYSE
NEOANCIENTS — THE PEOPLE’S PYRAMID
“Something that struck me about the speakers was how rascally they seemed, like they had never lost their sense of play. Call it a mischievous twinkle in their eyes.”
— Tattie Baker
amplifystroud.com/2025-05-neoa...
NeoAncients — The People's Pyramid
Something that stuck me about the speakers was how rascally they seemed, like they had never lost their sense of play. Call it a mischievous twinkle in their eyes.
amplifystroud.com
May 13, 2025 at 6:47 AM
MAY 2025
TATTIE BAKER | THE RYSE
NEOANCIENTS — THE PEOPLE’S PYRAMID
“Something that struck me about the speakers was how rascally they seemed, like they had never lost their sense of play. Call it a mischievous twinkle in their eyes.”
— Tattie Baker
amplifystroud.com/2025-05-neoa...
TATTIE BAKER | THE RYSE
NEOANCIENTS — THE PEOPLE’S PYRAMID
“Something that struck me about the speakers was how rascally they seemed, like they had never lost their sense of play. Call it a mischievous twinkle in their eyes.”
— Tattie Baker
amplifystroud.com/2025-05-neoa...
Reposted by Amplify Stroud
Helping people imagine lives without car dependency. Exciting to see this from @gregmarsden-leeds.bsky.social and crew
environment.leeds.ac.uk/faculty/news...
environment.leeds.ac.uk/faculty/news...
Leeds residents to design alternatives to car ownership
A multimillion-pound project to encourage people in Leeds to design and try an alternative to private vehicle ownership has been announced by researchers.
environment.leeds.ac.uk
May 8, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Helping people imagine lives without car dependency. Exciting to see this from @gregmarsden-leeds.bsky.social and crew
environment.leeds.ac.uk/faculty/news...
environment.leeds.ac.uk/faculty/news...
May 2025
KIRSTY DONNELLY — DRY STONE WALLER
Words: Alyssa Pearce | Photos: Alexander Caminada
“Stroud is a maker's paradise and always will be and there are lots of women doing amazing things creatively but it is the crafts that are seen as inherently male.”
amplifystroud.com/2025-05-kirs...
KIRSTY DONNELLY — DRY STONE WALLER
Words: Alyssa Pearce | Photos: Alexander Caminada
“Stroud is a maker's paradise and always will be and there are lots of women doing amazing things creatively but it is the crafts that are seen as inherently male.”
amplifystroud.com/2025-05-kirs...
Kirsty Donnelly — Dry Stone Waller
Stroud is a maker's paradise and always will be and there are lots of women doing amazing things creatively but it is the crafts that are seen as inherently male.
amplifystroud.com
May 8, 2025 at 12:08 PM
May 2025
KIRSTY DONNELLY — DRY STONE WALLER
Words: Alyssa Pearce | Photos: Alexander Caminada
“Stroud is a maker's paradise and always will be and there are lots of women doing amazing things creatively but it is the crafts that are seen as inherently male.”
amplifystroud.com/2025-05-kirs...
KIRSTY DONNELLY — DRY STONE WALLER
Words: Alyssa Pearce | Photos: Alexander Caminada
“Stroud is a maker's paradise and always will be and there are lots of women doing amazing things creatively but it is the crafts that are seen as inherently male.”
amplifystroud.com/2025-05-kirs...
Reposted by Amplify Stroud
Brilliant to eliminate Energy Star, a program that costs $32m but delivered $40b in annual savings. None other than the US chamber of commerce tried to save it as a model of business/government partnership. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/06/c...
E.P.A. Plans to Shut Down the Energy Star Program
www.nytimes.com
May 6, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Brilliant to eliminate Energy Star, a program that costs $32m but delivered $40b in annual savings. None other than the US chamber of commerce tried to save it as a model of business/government partnership. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/06/c...
MAY 17 & 18
CHARTIST FESTIVAL
STUART BUTLER | RADICAL STROUD
This May marks 200 years since the Chartist uprising where 5,000 people gathered on Selsley Common in Stroud to call for 6 basic demands of democracy.
CHARTIST FESTIVAL
STUART BUTLER | RADICAL STROUD
This May marks 200 years since the Chartist uprising where 5,000 people gathered on Selsley Common in Stroud to call for 6 basic demands of democracy.
Stroud to hold Chartist Festival
On 17 & 18 May 2025, 200 years on from the gathering of 5,000 people on Selsley common, there will be a festival to commemorate the event.
amplifystroud.com
May 7, 2025 at 7:53 AM
MAY 17 & 18
CHARTIST FESTIVAL
STUART BUTLER | RADICAL STROUD
This May marks 200 years since the Chartist uprising where 5,000 people gathered on Selsley Common in Stroud to call for 6 basic demands of democracy.
CHARTIST FESTIVAL
STUART BUTLER | RADICAL STROUD
This May marks 200 years since the Chartist uprising where 5,000 people gathered on Selsley Common in Stroud to call for 6 basic demands of democracy.
