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Modernising SEG as we reach our 15th birthday "We will not plough through farmland" says PM answering new homes question Big Garden Birdwatch 23 - 25 Jan Help SPC secure Public Right of Way status for Saltford's historic 'greenway' SPC writes to Leader of BaNES Council and the Secretary of State re. housing numbers BaNES reports on its efforts tackling climate and nature emergencies SPC submits objection response to Saltford development options in the Local Plan UK food production and food security at risk, says All-Party Parliamentary report More news in our news archive >> SEG is now on InstagramJanuary 2026
With effect from 10th January 2026, SEG is now on Instagram. If you are on Instagram, do find us and follow us. Here's the link to SEG's page on Instagram >> As many of you will already be aware, SEG also has its own page on Facebook >> Modernising SEG as we reach our 15th birthdayJanuary 2026
2026 is a milestone year for Saltford Environment Group as SEG will be 15 years old in the spring. SEG cannot afford to stand still in this ever-changing world. SEG's Executive Committee has therefore been planning how to ensure SEG can remain relevant and be more easily sustained for future years. The Executive Committee's objectives for 2026 are to simplify how SEG operates in a more sustainable, resilient way by minimising administration, to focus more on serving the wider community than a formal membership list; make greater use of modern communications, especially social media; protect SEG's "community benefit" assets like the website and the History of Saltford project. In particular, SEG shall continue to work closely with community organisations and representatives including Saltford Community Association, Saltford Parish Council, and our Saltford Ward Councillors. At its first meeting for 2026 on 5th January, in recognising this need to adapt and modernise, SEG's Executive Committee unanimously agreed a new and revised constitution to help us deliver our new way forward. It can now be found from this link on our About Us page >> Members of the local community and beyond can follow us on Facebook, so if you are on Facebook please do follow us there. Also, look out for our news items in Saltford Association Community News (SCAN) that is delivered to every Saltford household, and regularly visit our website. Sometimes we have vacancies on our Executive Committee, so if you are interested in joining the committee, contact our Chairman for advice. We are particularly interested in people with experience in modern IT and marketing techniques. SEG shall, of course, continue to back local projects including those we helped set up like the Saltford Fairtrade Group, Saltford Wombles and Saltford4Nature. Our Green Belt Campaign will continue to be developed too as protecting the Green Belt and the countryside surrounding our village from development is the biggest local environmental challenge currently facing our community. SEG's Executive Committee is very grateful to everyone who has been supportive of SEG since its inception 15 years ago in 2011. As we move forward, we hope this support will continue and grow. "We will not plough through farmland" says PM answering new homes questionJanuary 2026 During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday 7th January, in response to the question from Wendy Morton, MP for Aldridge-Brownhills (Cons), "Does he accept that his housing target can be met without destroying our farmland and countryside by reusing empty homes and brownfield land, or is that yet another promise that he never meant to keep?", Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer replied "We will not plough through farmland; we will make sensible proposals to build houses." Information source: Hansard PMQs 7th Jan 2026. Big Garden Birdwatch 23 - 25 JanJanuary 2026
Big Garden Birdwatch is for everyone, whether you're a complete beginner or a birding expert. Simply count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park for one hour between 23 and 25 January 2023.
Across the UK last year, over 590,000 people took part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2025, counting 9.1 million birds! House Sparrows took the top spot, but counts of these chirpy birds are down by 60% compared to the first Birdwatch in 1979 and Song Thrush counts are down by 83%. In fact, we've lost 38 million birds from UK skies in the last 60 years. With birds facing so many challenges, it's more important than ever to get involved in the Birdwatch. Every bird you do - or don't - count will give us a valuable insight into how garden birds are faring. Taking part is easy and this is a great chance to sit back, relax and watch birds and other wildlife for an hour - and to encourage younger members of your family to develop an interest in the local wildlife. By taking part, you'll find out all about the fascinating wildlife that flutters, crawls and hops in your garden, balcony or local area. And with a simple hour of mindful watching, you could have an hour to yourself, too. Full details including resources and ideas with tips on making your garden an attractive place for birds to visit can be found on the RSPB website from this link:- RSPB Birdwatch. You can also find more information on social media using the hashtag #BigGardenBirdWatch. Don't forget that taking a wildlife-friendly gardening approach, including the provision of water, rather than putting out copious amounts of bird food, is much more beneficial to birds and other wildlife as it helps to re-introduce the natural features that are much reduced due to habitat loss and intensive farming methods. It can be a more helpful approach than disrupting or unbalancing different bird populations through heavy food provision that favours some species over others. Growing native species of plants in your garden, mowing your lawn less, and not removing dead leaves etc. from your flower beds in the autumn and winter that provide winter habitat and a food source for insects, can help sustain a healthier local birdlife. Help SPC secure Public Right of Way status for Saltford's historic 'greenway'
December 2025 Saltford Parish Council (SPC) is beginning the process of applying for a Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO) to formally recognise the well-used 'greenway' path - running behind the Bird in Hand pub, and linking Mead Lane with the LMS bridge beside the Bristol to Bath Railway Path - as an official Public Right of Way (PROW). Although widely used for decades, the greenway is not currently recorded as a PROW on the Definitive Map held by BaNES Council. SPC views that the greenway has been omitted in error. The Definitive Map and Statement is a legal document, and any change to it can only be made through a formal legal process. To apply for a DMMO and put this right, SPC requires strong supporting evidence to be submitted alongside its application. SPC has been advised that it needs to gather at least 25 signed User Evidence Forms from residents who have used the path over the past 20+ years as part of its DMMO application. Securing PROW status will help protect this historic route, ensure continued public access, and hopefully strengthen SPC's ability to oppose unsuitable proposals affecting the greenway in future. SPC views, and SEG strongly agrees, that formally recognising the greenway as a Public Right of Way on the Definitive Map will help:
Please visit SPC's website from the following link to see how you can download, complete and submit a user evidence form to support this important request for our village: SPC 'Greenway' DMMO page >> Your evidence is essential! SPC writes to Leader of BaNES Council and the Secretary of State re. housing numbers
December 2025 At Saltford Parish Council's monthly meeting on 2nd December, SPC agreed to write to the Leader of BaNES Council and the Secretary of State with regards to SPC's Local Plan Options Consultation response and the issue of Bath's World Heritage Status. The letters expressed SPC's support for BaNES Council's request for a lower housing target due to Bath's UNESCO World Heritage City status. Both letters referenced Saltford as an example of how the current high target could be harmful to local communities. SPC said that it is aware that tourism and economic activity has grown for Liverpool since Liverpool lost its UNESCO World Heritage status in 2021 due to the city taking its development decisions itself to meet the city's needs. The Parish Council therefore respectfully requested that BaNES Council includes development options in the Local Plan for development where it is needed and is appropriate for the social and economic needs of Bath, in Bath. The text of the two letters (sent on 8th December) can be found on SPC's website from this link to the SPC website >> 'Do It Fair'
November 2025 This year's theme for Fairtrade Fortnight was 'Do It Fair', and the Saltford Fairtrade Group were keen to share this important message both before and during the event. We'd like thank everyone who stopped by for a chat at our stall during the SCA's Open Morning for Affiliated Groups on September 13th. Our message was clear: farmers worldwide are really struggling with climate change and getting paid too little for their crops. By choosing Fairtrade products wherever you can, you're making sure these farmers receive a guaranteed price for their goods, plus a yearly bonus to help their cooperative. Fairtrade also lends a helping hand by assisting farmers to farm sustainably and adapt to climate change by introducing new methods. Thank you for your generous support! A massive thank you also goes out to everyone who came along to our wonderfully busy and buzzing Fairtrade Coffee Morning on October 3rd. The money we raised will be donated to the Fairtrade Foundation - brilliant stuff! We'd also like to thank our local Tesco for their kind donations towards our raffle, and a final big thank you to the SCA (Saltford Community Association) for their ongoing support for our group, and, most importantly, for backing Fairtrade by choosing Fairtrade products for their kitchen and bar. SEG also gets a big shout from us for supporting us and our web page and helping us manage our accounts. All your support means the world to us! We always welcome new and fresh ideas to spread the Fairtrade ethos. We are looking for one or two new members to join us, to help us with events, contribute to our meetings and help us retain Saltford Fairtrade Village Status. See our Fairtrade page on this website where you can also find our email address to contact us. Saltford Fairtrade Group BaNES reports on its efforts tackling climate and nature emergenciesNovember 2025 On 5th November, BaNES Council announced that carbon emissions per person in Bath and North East Somerset had halved over the last 20 years and continue to reduce steadily, according to a new climate and nature emergency report. The Annual Climate and Nature Progress Report will be presented to Cabinet on Thursday 13 November. It sets out work underway and planned to tackle both climate and nature emergencies. The council claims to be leading the way nationally with work including:
Emissions from the council's own buildings and estate have almost halved over just the last nine years. This has included new solar panels on Bath Sports and Leisure Centre. There are also plans to upgrade Carrswood Adult Day Centre and the Civic Centre in Keynsham with solar and/or heat pumps, which will reduce carbon emissions and buildings running costs. The revised Local Plan will be informed by a new Greener Places Plan, also being considered by Cabinet on 13 November. This will play a key role in ensuring Bath and North East Somerset has a more sustainable, nature-rich and climate resilient future. It includes ambitious targets for green spaces, including tree cover. Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Bath and North East Somerset, said: "We are a leading council for our work to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies - this is one of our core priorities and influences every decision that we take. Our commitment remains as strong as ever and there is a huge amount of positive action and so much to celebrate in this report. "Working in partnership is critical and I want to thank the wide range of organisations, groups and individuals who have contributed to the progress that we are making towards a low carbon, district." SEG COMMENT SEG welcomes and supports this progress and the promise of more to come from BaNES Council, but is aware that the declared aim for Bath and North East Somerset to be more nature positive and climate resilient will not fit with building new homes to meet the Government's high housing targets on Green Belt land including farmland. Building new homes closer to centres of employment, e.g. Bath or a new Garden Town, so that employees can walk or cycle to work, will help protect natural habitats and reduce rather than increase net carbon emissions from commuter traffic, the congestion of which harms air quality, has a negative economic outcome, and lowers the quality of life for everyone affected. A long-term genuinely sustainable development approach to where new houses in Bath and North East Somerset are built is what is badly needed as BaNES Council considers where to permit and encourage the building of new houses in the forthcoming Local Plan. SPC submits objection response to Saltford development options in the Local Plan
November 2025 At its monthly meeting on 4th November Saltford Parish Council resolved its detailed response to the BaNES Council Local Plan options consultation 2025. In summary, SPC objected to proposals at the three 'options' sites in Saltford as presented in the consultation. SPC firmly stated the clear, detrimental impact that further development would have on residents' quality of life, the Green Belt, and local infrastructure. SPC's response also included that any future housing development in Saltford or Keynsham would be unsustainable due to existing severe congestion on the A4 Bath Road. SPC's response is published on its website; the response can be found from this link >> It is important that as many residents as possible respond to the consultation by the deadline of 14th November - don't leave it to others to respond. Our Parish Council has worked hard on this issue, submitting during the past two years detailed planning evidence including landscape assessments for why Saltford's Green Belt is so valuable to residents and visitors. It is now time for members of the community to back the Parish Council and submit their responses. SEG has provided a guide to help you access the consultation directly and make your effective response with planning reasons for why Saltford's precious Green Belt, that benefits rural and city dwellers alike, should not be developed. To access the guide, see our October news story "SEG Guide for responding to the Local Plan Options Consultation 2025". UK food production and food security at risk, says All-Party Parliamentary reportNovember 2025 A new study report, Feeding Britain sustainably to 2050 - the 30:50:50 mission (3.11.2025), from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture (APPGSTA), Feeding Britain sustainably to 2050 - the 30:50:50 mission, states that without a renewed focus on productivity and innovation, domestic food output could drop by 32% by 2050, or 39% per capita, at current growth rates. APPGSTA is calling for the government to adopt a 30:50:50 framework aimed at boosting UK agricultural output by 30% while cutting the sector's environmental footprint by 50% by 2050. APPGSTA chair George Freeman MP warned: "Despite favourable growing conditions, world-class agri-science, and a highly professional farming sector, UK agricultural productivity growth has stalled. Across successive governments, fragmented support policies, inconsistent regulation and a failure to translate scientific advances into practice have constrained progress." He said, "Defra's own research indicates that current farm policies will reduce or displace domestic food production. Without radical policy reform, the UK risks further erosion of its food self-sufficiency and growing reliance on imports at a time when geopolitical instability and climate extremes threaten global food supply chains... The challenges of population growth, climate change, war and global instability demand a joined-up, cross-government response." The report's recommendations included:
SEG comment: FURTHER INFORMATION The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture (APPGSTA) website can be found from this link >> Worried about your home heating and energy costs?
For previous news stories from SEG visit our
Current areas of local volunteer assistance sought by SEGWhilst our partner organisations such as Saltford Wombles (for tackling litter), Saltford4Nature (for making for Saltford's green public spaces more pollinator friendly) and the Fairtrade Group always welcome volunteer assistance, SEG sometimes has specific roles or posts that need filling. Here are the current vacancies:- Updated January 2025 Executive Committee: Want to help steer SEG?SEG is seeking new Executive Committee members to help steer and develop SEG's role in the community as we address the environmental concerns of our local community. If you think you might like to get involved and join our Executive Committee (enthusiasm and a "can do" attitude is more important than expertise!), please contact our Chairman, Phil Harding, for an informal non-committal chat. The Executive Committee only meets 4 times a year and its working method is more about sharing ideas and getting things done in a friendly and productive atmosphere than being bogged down with time-consuming administration. Website skills wanted!Our website is a popular resource for our local community which means that in addition to keeping it relevant we want to make sure it continues to function as it should. If you live in or near Saltford, care about your local environment and have current knowledge of website design and might be interested in using your IT skills for a bit of IT volunteering to help us behind the scenes please get in touch with our Chairman by email to philharding27@gmail.com for a no-obligation chat on possible volunteer help.
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Contact UsAll general & urgent (e.g. Press) enquiries by email to our Chairman please from whom SEG's postal address, if required, can be obtained on authenticated* request *(to avoid junk mailing etc.). CONTACTS: Chairman: Phil Harding
Website Editor is Phil Harding but see website editorial/contact info. below BEFORE contacting SEG about this website Secretary: Vacant post Treasurer: Andrew Stainer
SEG Green Belt Campaign: Contact our Chairman (contact details above) Saltford Station Campaign: Chris Warren
Saltford Fairtrade Group:
History of Saltford Saltford Wombles is independent of SEG but contact details can be found on our Less Waste page. Saltford4Nature community gardening group is a sub-group of SEG; contact details can be found on our Gardening page. Cookies and Privacy Policy Statement SEG respects the privacy of visitors to our website. We do not use cookies to collect personal or other data about visitors to our website; the only data we collect via our ISP's hosting service, and without the use of cookies, is the number of visits to each of our web pages but not who the individual visitors are. *EDITORIAL POLICY including SEO, web design and marketing for www.saltfordenvironmentgroup.org.uk As a general rule our editorial content is sourced locally in Saltford and NE Somerset or from reputable non-commercial organisations based in the UK. Will Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), website design, "content providers" and other similar companies please note that this website has all the SEO ranking, social media links, and smartphone compatibility that it requires to meet its specific objectives and enquiry emails on this topic including link requests will not receive a reply to save your time and ours. SEG is not a commercial enterprise therefore companies that produce bespoke marketing materials or sponsored editorial content should also note that marketing emails or requests for placing links to other websites* will not receive a reply as it is our policy not to reply to marketing emails of this nature unless they are from a Saltford-based organisation seeking to assist SEG. *SEG is not in a position to authenticate the accuracy and legitimacy of third party websites and/or third party editorial content.
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