FIVE companies have signed up to support the Stroud Valleys Project appeal and the charity hopes that more will follow suit.

Stroud Auctions from Bath Road Trading Estate, Stroud Brewery, Brockworth based Days Cottage - who are regulars at the Farmers' Market - Stroud Nature, who organise the Festival of Nature, and Red Kite - environment consultants, all pledged money to the charity's appeal.

SVP chief executive Clare Mahdiyone said: "We are delighted that these local companies are supporting us in this way and see the value in sustainability and helping to look after the local environment.

"We are hoping that this is just the start and more will follow their example."

Besides supporting the work that SVP does looking after green spaces and helping local people learn about the environment, companies can benefit in other ways.

"We run team building days for companies where the staff get to go out into the countryside to build a pond, put in a kissing gate or help clear overgrown land so wildlife can flourish, " explained Clare.

"We also have company teams take part in our sponsored bike ride in the summer," she added.

So far SVP has raised £8,000 of the £25,000 target.

"If 34 companies gave us £500 each we would make our total," said Clare.