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LATEST NEWS :-

Big Butterfly Count 2024 results reveal lowest numbers on record

Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) and Moths

New Government housing target for BaNES 'unrealistic', says BaNES

There are more dwellings per head now than 50 years ago

Saltford Calendar 2025

SPC seeks stewardship approach to land use planning (NPPF reforms)

BaNES annual Climate and Nature Progress Report reveals good progress on cutting CO2 emissions

Storm Overflows Map

Protect the Green Belt to help ensure self-sufficiency in food doesn't drop further

Coffee Morning - Friday 18th October

Fairtrade Fortnight 2024

Big Butterfly Count (12 Jul - 4 Aug)

Landscape and Heritage Sensitivity Assessment of Saltford South of the A4

The astonishing life of Saltford's Admiral Kelly

More news in our news archive >>

Big Butterfly Count 2024 results reveal lowest numbers on record

October 2024

Speckled Wood (photo: Elzabeth Cooksey)
- a butterfly to look out for in October

The sad news from Butterfly Conservation's annual Big Butterfly count this year (2024) is that the results reveal a huge and concerning decline in butterfly numbers, with the average number of butterflies spotted per 15-minute count the lowest in the 14-year history of the Big Butterfly Count, and over 9,000 counts were logged as seeing no butterflies at all.

While the weather has had a huge impact on our butterflies and moths this year, this is a further blow to populations which have already been devastated by habitat destruction and fragmentation, climate breakdown and pesticide use. That is why Butterfly Conservation has declared a Butterfly Emergency and is sending an open letter to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, calling for the Government to declare a 'Nature Emergency' and, as a first step, to ban butterfly-killing neonicotinoid pesticides once and for all, with no exceptions.

If you would like to add your name today and demand that the Government take urgent action for butterflies and moths before it's too late click on this link to the Butterfly Conservation emergency campaign web page.

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Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) and Moths

October 2024

Moths are a vital, yet often overlooked, part of the ecosystem that supports all life. However, they are threatened by light pollution. Many of our moth species are in decline; many species have either decreased in abundance or have contracted their range over the past fifty years.

Habitat loss or deterioration is likely to be a major factor in this decline but another factor that is increasingly known about is the potentially harmful impact of Artificial Light at Night (often referred to as 'ALAN') on moths.

It has long been known that many moth species are strongly attracted to artificial light, yet this behaviour is potentially dangerous for the moth. It is not known for sure why moths fly towards light. What is certain is that moths originally existed in an environment in which the only regular source of bright light at night was the moon; our modern world in which ALAN is ubiquitous, therefore represents a challenge to moths. This can lead to harm in several ways.

Most obviously, bright lights can attract large numbers of moths which can become trapped or exhausted. As well as the moths that die as a result of getting trapped within the lighting structure, a further issue is that predators quickly learn that the lamps concentrate moths and this may lead to higher-than-normal levels of predation, at least on a local scale. Bats can often be seen hunting over lamps, whilst songbirds learn that in the morning there will be moths resting on the walls near to lamps, often on surfaces against which their natural camouflage is ineffective.

Moths drawn towards an artificial light source may spend less time or have less energy to find food or to breed. Furthermore, if nocturnal activity is stimulated by light levels falling below a particular level - which appears to be the case for many moth species - then moths that have spent the day resting in the vicinity of night-time lighting may fail to become active at all.

Moths may be the most obvious victims of ALAN but they are certainly not alone. A variety of other insects including beetles, flies and others including birdlife are attracted to light and may suffer in similar or other ways to moths.

HELP PROTECT MOTHS BY REDUCING YOUR LIGHT POLLUTION!

Whilst there are good reasons for ALAN, such as for safety and security, many lights could be turned off or controlled with presence detection or timers with very little inconvenience to people and to the great benefit of moths and other nocturnal wildlife (as well as to astronomers!). If a light isn't necessary, get rid of it!

Careful design and installation including shielding that directs lighting directly downwards can also reduce impacts to nocturnal insect.by reducing the amount of light that is spilling beyond the area that needs to be illuminated. Choose warmer colour temperature lights than cooler lights as the warmer ones are considered to be less disruptive to nocturnal insects.

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you would like to see what you can do to reduce your personal contribution to light pollution and help keep ALAN indoors, a free guide is available from Butterfly Conservation from this link.

Reference source
The above information was based on an online blog article by Jonathan Wallace, ornithological and conservation researcher and environmental consultant, 14.9.2024, and from Butterfly Conservation.

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New Government housing target for BaNES 'unrealistic', says BaNES

October 2024

According to a press release (1.10.2024) from BaNES Council, six key issues to enable housing reform in Bath and North East Somerset have been set out in a letter sent to the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner.

BaNES Council leader, Councillor Kevin Guy, has written to the Deputy Prime Minister welcoming the Government's commitment to tackling the housing crisis but warned the housing target set for BaNES is 'unrealistic'.

In July the Government set out new mandatory housing targets which would see a significant uplift in the housing numbers that BaNES needs to plan for, increasing from the current 717 houses per annum to 1,466 per annum. The purpose of this increase is to address historic shortfalls in housing delivery and meeting housing needs*.

Councillor Guy's six issues that need to be addressed were:-

• We need to agree how our unique situation will be taken into account in advance of rewriting our Local Plan. We are asking that government facilitates timely conversations between the local authority, appropriate government departments/agencies and UNESCO to discuss the relationship between World Heritage Site status and planning for sustainable growth in the city.

• We also need to consider a more flexible regional cross boundary approach with our neighbouring authorities.

• We are also calling for more funding for affordable homes - more than 70 per cent of BaNES' assessed housing need in the city of Bath is for those who cannot afford market housing.

• We must invest in the necessary infrastructure such as transport, utilities, flood defences, health and educational facilities.

• We are also concerned about wider planning reforms, here in BaNES we currently have nearly 2,100 homes with planning permission that are stalled. Unlocking delivery of them would require radical reforms.

• Finally, we need to build capacity. Relatively modest investment in local and regional skills and capacity up front is a vital precondition to increasing housing supply.

The letter concluded with Councillor Guy making the following point "Over the last 13 years sound local planning policies have helped deliver nearly 10,000 new homes in BaNES and we want to ensure over the next ten years the right homes in the right places are built. We want to work with the government on becoming a trailblazer for new ideas and policy changes that will deliver high-quality, sustainable and affordable housing in our area."

*NOTE: See SEG's previous news article: There are more dwellings per head now than 50 years ago.

SEG COMMENT

Whilst BaNES is right to challenge the new Government's unrealistic housing targets, it is disconcerting that BaNES Council has made no mention of the natural environment and not made the most important and very relevant point to the BaNES area, and across England. This is that planning targets for new housing developments should take account of food security and supporting ecological recovery.

In other words, areas like BaNES that have a high concentration of land that is used, or can provide ecosystem support, for food production should not be imposed with housing targets that would lead to the loss of such land.

Allied to that is the essential need to support the health and well-being of city and rural dwellers alike by protecting the Green Belt.

As Saltford Parish Council said in its response to the national planning reforms consultation last month:-

   "Land-use planning should be part of a long-term process so that it delivers sustainable development on a more permanent basis and that takes account of environmental priorities which, as is widely acknowledged, underpin all other sustainable development goals, i.e. economic and social outcomes".

Until both our national and local governments grasp that fundamental point and develop long-term land-use strategies at the national and local level, the planning mistakes of recent decades will continue to be replicated. The implications for the nation's natural environment, food security, social well-being and the economy will be highly damaging and permanent.

Local Plan 2022-2042 timetable
SEG understands that the timetable for the new BaNES Local Plan will now be revised so that BaNES can consider new and further site options for development before producing a draft Local Plan. Further consultations are therefore likely to arise.

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There are more dwellings per head now than 50 years ago

October 2024

Recent quote from CPRE, the Countryside Charity, on facebook:-

   "In 1971 there was almost one dwelling for every 3 people in the country. Today, there is about one dwelling for every 2.25 people, meaning we actually have more homes per capita right now than we did 50 years ago (ONS Data).

   The housing crisis is a crisis of affordability. Labour's pledge for 1.5m new homes must prioritise affordable housing built in the right locations - not rushed developments lacking social infrastructure.

   Let's commit to building on brownfield sites first which can deliver over 1.2 million homes where they're needed most, while protecting our green space for future generations."

This situation, highlighted by CPRE, shows that new Government housing targets should only be for affordable homes on brownfield sites near sources of employment and the GREEN BELT should be protected for preserving our future food security and assisting nature's recovery.

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Saltford Calendar 2025

September 2024

The 2025 edition of the popular Saltford Calendar featuring some stunning photographs by local photographers is available from c.13th September from Saltford Post Office* at £8 each.

As in previous years the calendar has been produced by Saltford Community Association and Saltford Environment Group. All net proceeds will be split between SCA, SEG and the Saltford Community Library and Post Office to help further their work supporting the community.

By purchasing your copy or copies (it makes a great gift!) you are helping support the community, including helping to keep the Post Office open, whilst celebrating the village and its rural setting.

*Saltford Post Office is open 9am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm on Monday to Friday. The Shop & Library (but not P.O.) is also open Saturday 9am - 12 noon.

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SPC seeks stewardship approach to land use planning (NPPF reforms)

September 2024

A field in Saltford South used for growing food

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is consulting on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This is in the context of introducing a new definition of "grey belt" land for development, that is land in the Green Belt comprising Previously Developed Land and any other parcels and/or areas of Green Belt land that make a limited contribution to the five NPPF Green Belt purposes, and to enable the setting of mandatory housing targets by Government on Local Planning Authorities, like BaNES Council, to increase the delivery of new housing.

At its monthly SPC meeting on 3rd September, Saltford Parish Council resolved its consultation response for submission to the Government.

In summary, SPC made the case in its response, which SEG fully endorses, that this updating of the NPPF provides a much-needed opportunity for the Government to move land-use planning to more of a "land stewardship approach" so that planning the provision of land for new housing will improve, not reduce, the nation's future food security and that strongly support ecological recovery without a negative outcome for the open green spaces that are so important to the health and well-being local communities.

The addition of a (new) sixth purpose to the list of Green Belt purposes "to protect agricultural land and/or eco-systems that help underpin the UK's food security" would underline such a commitment to better, more sustainable, land-use planning.

Other key points made in the SPC response included:-

• the proposed "one-size fits all" baseline approach of 0.8% growth of existing housing stock per annum for every LPA does not fit with sustainable development principles and taking a longer-term holistic approach to the nation's needs and aspirations would be preferable;

• planning (for new developments) should take account of food security and supporting ecological recovery;

• any expansion of the definition of Previously Developed Land should include a time limit, such as "developed at least 15 years previously to the date of application", to avoid incentivising the creation of unauthorised or informal developments made in the short-term as a gateway to Green Belt development that would otherwise be inappropriate;

• SPC was concerned that decision making on allowing Green Belt development to help meet the Housing Delivery Test could be unduly influenced by a number of factors including vested interests, corruption, and short-termism;

• any decisions for land to be taken out of the Green Belt to allow development, must pass a vigorous test over and above "very special circumstances" (clear examples of which should be given in the updated NPPF). The test should include that grey belt/PDL must have been previously developed over a long period of time (at least 15 years) and the land in question should not be providing an important ecological function or meet any of the NPPF's purposes of the Green Belt as well as "to protect agricultural land and/or eco-systems that help underpin the UK's food security";

• in view of the ecological emergency, the natural environment should always gain and never be the loser in land-use planning decisions;

• it is the local community that has to live with the consequences of inappropriate development including over-development and should, through its elected representatives on Town or Parish Councils, have the opportunity to identify and designate for protection locally important and sensitive landscapes;

• new developments - including new Garden Cities/Towns - must come with public green spaces such as sufficiently large public parks to protect the health and well-being of new and existing communities;

• land-use planning should be part of a long-term process so that it delivers sustainable development on a more permanent basis and that takes account of environmental priorities which, as is widely acknowledged, underpin all other sustainable development goals, i.e. economic and social outcomes;

• the (updated) NPPF should place a requirement on the Local Planning Authority to give due consideration of landscape designation requests submitted by local communities in its land-use planning decisions and plan-making processes.

In SPC's view, that last point is particularly important for communities that have demonstrably absorbed significant volumes of development that have reduced recreational and open green space for residents and consequently drastically reduced the quality of life for those communities.

To add yet further developments in those degraded areas exacerbates the problems already created, whereas a new Garden City/Town approach can avoid ongoing damage to existing communities and ensure town planning is done correctly and holistically, rather than the current piecemeal incremental approach of adding new developments to existing communities already under extreme pressures.

SPC's full response and an Executive Summary can be found on the SPC website from this link >>

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BaNES annual Climate and Nature Progress Report reveals good progress on cutting CO2 emissions

September 2024

According to a recent press release from BaNES Council based on its annual Climate and Nature Progress Report, the Council has seen a 39% reduction in emissions between 2005 and 2023 and a 36% reduction in the council's own emissions between 2016/17 and 2023/24 according to a new climate and nature emergency progress report.

Progress on decarbonising council operations has included the installation of air source heat pumps, LED lighting and rooftop solar on two care homes, resulting in estimated annual carbon savings of approximately 100 tonnes CO², and the opening of Keynsham Recycling Hub with a 3800m² rooftop solar PV array.

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) awarded a B score for progress on tackling the climate emergency and the UK Council Climate Action Scorecards saw BaNES Council ranked seventh of all UK local authorities and first in the Buildings and Heating section.

The enforcement of minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES), has seen the improvement of more than 70 privately rented homes enabling a saving of more than 125 tonnes CO².

Roughly a third of emission in BaNES come from electricity and gas use in domestic buildings, so retrofitting existing buildings to improve their energy efficiency and decarbonising electricity and heating sources are crucial. The council is a key partner in the WECA Retrofit West programme providing grant funding and free advice and the second phase of Solar Together West of England, a group buying scheme offering residents and local businesses an easy way to invest in solar panels and battery storage, will result in around 280 installations of solar panels to add to the 1MW of installed capacity from the first round in 2021, with a third phase about to be launched.

Decarbonising transport remains a challenge due to the rural-urban nature of the BaNES district and the combination of changes needed to policy, behaviour and technology, but BaNES Council claims progress has been made on creating an environment that makes it easier to travel by public transport or active travel. More than 148,000km have been clocked up on the ebike/scooter trials since September 2023, 21 bike hangars have been installed with a further 20 consulted on and a new electric bus service operated by community-interest company The Big Lemon now links Bath city centre, the University of Bath and the Royal United Hospital.

For the first time the report includes progress against the Ecological Emergency Action Plan. It notes that the council is working closely with local communities to deliver action for nature and highlights a collaboration between Somer Valley Rediscovered and Youth Connect South West to deliver short course on bushcraft and film and editing skills in nature video creation as well as a Green Social Prescribing offer for adults in Somer Valley that has provided over 1,000 hours of well-being activities led by expert facilitators to support mental and physical health.

The adoption of a Biodiversity Net Gain policy, a year before it was made mandatory in January 2023, secured 74 'biodiversity' units between May 2021 and February 2024, allowing the restoration of 23 ha of grassland and BNG funding has allowed the enhancement of 0.5 ha of bramble scrub at Charlcombe Meadows.

The Climate and Nature Progress Report will be presented to the Council Cabinet on 12th September.

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Storm Overflows Map

August 2024

The Weather Station on SEG's website (top RH side of home page) now includes a link to Wessex Water's Storm Overflows Map from their Coast & Rivers Watch service.

This usefully shows if the river is at risk from storm drain overflows and thus contamination from raw sewage. Once you are on the map, zoom in to find the river at Saltford.

Further information on storm overflows from Wessex Water can be found from this link >>.

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Protect the Green Belt to help ensure self-sufficiency in food doesn't drop further

August 2024

Today (14th August), is the day which the larder would run empty if the public only ate UK food from 1st January. This underlines why we need to protect the nation's Green Belt including in Bath and North East Somerset.

Further information on food security from this link to the Farming UK website: Farming UK - self sufficiency news item.

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Coffee Morning - Friday 18th October

August 2024

Please join us for our next coffee morning from 11am on Friday 18th October in the Avon Room at Saltford Hall in Wedmore Road. All are welcome to come along for a tea, coffee and cake.

A friendly welcome awaits you, and it's a chance to try some Fairtrade products as well as taste some delicious cakes made with Fairtrade ingredients.

Saltford Fairtrade Group

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Fairtrade Fortnight 2024

August 2024

Fairtrade Fortnight runs this year from September the 9th to the 22nd and marks 30 years since Fairtrade products first hit the shelves.

Look out for National and Local campaigns as well as special promotions of Fairtrade Products in stores such as the Co-op. By choosing Fairtrade products you can not only make a change, but you can also be the change #BeTheChange, just look for the logo.

Saltford Fairtrade Group

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Big Butterfly Count (12 Jul - 4 Aug)

July 2024

Common Blue, Painted Lady and Gatekeeper. © Elizabeth Cooksey

The Big Butterfly Count is a UK-wide citizen survey aimed at helping us assess the health of our environment simply by counting the amount and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) we see.

Sir David Attenborough is President of the charity Butterfly Conservation that runs this important annual count, and Chris Packham and Nick Baker are joint Vice Presidents.

This year's big butterfly count is from 12 July to 4 August and could be something to also get younger members of the family engaged in over the summer holidays. Participants choose a place to spot butterflies and moths. Watch for 15 minutes. Then record which species they see. You will be able to submit records throughout July and August.

There's even a free smartphone app for the big butterfly count (and/or a handy butterfly ID chart to download) so that you can carry out and submit your count all in one go while out and about watching butterflies. Details at this link >>.

SEG's wildlife page has photographs of all 25 butterflies that occur and have been observed in Saltford in recent years - see wildlife page - butterflies.

More information can be found on Social Media via the #BigButterflyCount hashtag.

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Landscape and Heritage Sensitivity Assessment of Saltford South of the A4

July 2024

Salford South © Phil Harding 2024

At its meeting on 2nd July 2024, to support its request for a landscape designation to protect the landscape setting of Saltford, and also to highlight this area's importance, Saltford Parish Council (SPC) resolved to adopt the document titled 'Landscape and Heritage Sensitivity Assessment of Saltford South of the A4' that was produced by SPC's Planning Policy Working Group during June 2024.

The sensitivity assessment of Saltford South of the Bath Road (A4) looks at these different aspects:

• landform,
• openness and enclosure,
• 'natural' character,
• landscape pattern and time depth,
• historic features,
• settlement form and edge,
• recreational value,
• perceptual character,
• visual character, and
• the setting of the Cotswolds National Landscape.

The new 'Landscape and Heritage Sensitivity Assessment' paper can be found on SPC's website from this link.

As this document is of significant importance to the community whilst forming a historical record, SEG has also archived and made available a copy in SEG's History of Saltford Project - Document Library.

Note: SPC's Planning Policy Working Group is working on a continuous basis towards achieving a landscape designation for Saltford South of the A4, with recommendations made by the working group discussed and resolved at full council meetings. SEG will keep its members informed of progress on our website.

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The astonishing life of Saltford's Admiral Kelly

July 2024

On Monday 22nd July there will be an opportunity in Bath to hear about the astonishing life of Saltford's Admiral Kelly, the 19th Century naval officer who played a dangerous and influential role in helping to end the African slave trade. During his incredible naval career, as senior officer of the West Africa Squadron from 1818 to 1822, Kelly led and undertook perilous anti-slavery naval patrols intercepting the ships of privateer slave traders.

Some of his men were murdered by slave traders or died from Yellow Fever, but over 300 slaves were liberated by the 22-gun sloop (a warship with a single gun deck) he commanded, and many more by the West Africa Squadron.

Saltford Environment Group's Chairman, Phil Harding, who researched the life and exploits of Admiral Kelly and has revealed previously unknown or forgotten aspects of Admiral Kelly's naval career, will share and describe what he discovered.

DATE: Monday 22nd July.
TIME: 7.30pm-9.00pm.
VENUE: Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, Queens Square, Bath.

Details and tickets from this link: BRLSI - Admiral Kelly.

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Worried about your home heating and energy costs?
Check out our Energy page for energy saving tips, sources of advice, grants and more.
 

For previous news stories from SEG visit our

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Current areas of local volunteer assistance sought by SEG

Whilst 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 July 2024

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 members at the local level. 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 members and others 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 Us

All general, membership & 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.).

HOW TO JOIN SEG: If you live, work or have a particular interest in Saltford & wish to join our email membership list please send an email to our Chairman. Please include your name, address & contact telephone number in your email application. NOTE: We provide information about membership including our simple code of conduct for members and personal data protection by SEG on our "About Us page".

CONTACTS:

Chairman: Phil Harding
philharding27@gmail.com (Tel: 07814--720763)

Website Editor is Phil Harding but see website editorial/contact info. below BEFORE contacting SEG about this website

Secretary: Vacant post

Treasurer: Andrew Stainer
andrew.stainer@outlook.com

SEG Green Belt Campaign: Contact our Chairman (contact details above)

Saltford Station Campaign: Chris Warren
cherokee1883@live.com

Saltford Fairtrade Group:
saltfordfairtrade@hotmail.co.uk

History of Saltford
Project Curators: Phil Harding & Andrew Stainer (contact details above).

Saltford Wombles is independent of SEG but contact details can be found on our Less Waste page.

Saltford4Nature community gardening group is 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.

Do you care about the village of Saltford, its environment, wildlife and future as a thriving, more sustainable community? Then join us and also follow us on facebook. See our 'About us' page for how to join (membership is free!).

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SUPPORT FROM BUSINESS:
We welcome support from local businesses to help cover our costs and keep membership free for our members. If your local business would like to support SEG (e.g. a logo + link on this page is very inexpensive), please contact our Chairman (see above for contact details).