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Saltford Environment Group
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Most popular pages or topics: Fairtrade - Green Belt - History (Saltford) - Saltford4Nature - Wildlife - Wombles |
Saltford in the spring sunshine
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See us on Facebook or Instagram STOP PRESS! The Crest Nicholson planning application to build a new housing development on our Green Belt by Manor Road has been made. You can read about it and use our response guide in the news story below 'Save Our Green Belt' postersYou can choose and download either of these 3 poster images as a pdf (A4 size) to print off yourself and display in your front window:-
(Click on these news links or scroll down the page)
St Mary's Churchyard - A peaceful haven for nature Large surplus of new homes built in England since 2000, but for whom? 2026 Big Garden Birdwatch results & latest guidance on feeding birds seasonally and safely SEG's postcard to the Prime Minister Family Coffee Morning - Wednesday 15th April Latest timetable for BaNES draft Local Plan Withies Green reminds us that the local Green Belt is at risk Annual Saltford Dawn Chorus Walk, 19th April More news in our news archive >> Crest Nicholson applies to build up to 90 houses on Saltford's Green Belt - SEG's guide can help you respond
May 2026 On 1st May, Crest Nicholson applied to BaNES Council for outline planning permission to build up to 90 houses on Saltford's precious Green Belt, on the fields/paddocks south of Manor Road opposite Saltford School's rear entrance (see picture). The previous attempt by Crest Nicholson in 2013 to obtain planning permission to build 99 houses on this parcel of land led to over 400 objections from residents submitted to BaNES. In 2013 BaNES refused planning permission. After a local campaign & the appeal inquiry in August 2013, the appeal was dismissed in March 2014 by the Secretary of State & planning permission was refused. The paddocks were confirmed as important Green Belt. This is a speculative application to develop land additional to current BaNES draft Local Plan options for development. You can download response guide (below) from SEG to help you make an effective OBJECTION response if you care about protecting the Green Belt that surrounds our rural village. The deadline for responding to BaNES Council is 5 June 2026 - make sure you submit your response before then. Don't leave it to others to respond - the more objections submitted, the greater the likelihood of stopping this unwelcome attempt to develop land in our Green Belt. If permitted, other attempts to destroy the Green Belt landscape we value for wildlife & for our health & well-being are inevitable. You can download the guide here (in word, click on blue link) or if this is easier for you, the guide is also reproduced below this link to our guide:-
Text from our guide (including link to application for responding):- To see the planning application on the BaNES website visit this link: shorturl.at/LKA5B 1. Enter the planning application reference no. 26/01700/OUT in the search box (make sure there are no spaces) & click on SEARCH. 2. Click on the application. The first page for the planning application will appear. Click on the "Comment on this application" link button. 3. Read the "Before you start" advice then click the "Start now" button & follow the instructions. In your own words give planning reasons why you object to the proposed development. Your reasons could include points from this list:- Traffic congestion & increasingly frequent grid-locks in Saltford on the A4: Our residential side-roads and back-lanes have become severely blocked at peak times due to the level of new developments by or near the A4 in recent years. As a result, residents now already feel trapped in their own village for large parts of the day. Recent new housing developments in the area mean our residential roads have become "Park and Ride" car parks for users of the main bus services to Bristol and Bath. Loss of this green open landscape area will be harmful to residents' health and well-being. Access to the Bath Road A4 and bus services will be past the adjacent primary school's rear entrance, along the walk/ride-to-school route, and via residential roads already badly affected by peak time congestion and parking. This area cannot take any more vehicular traffic. New homes here will not be affordable. Saltford is rural & not a centre of employment. New affordable homes should be built in Bristol & Bath close to the predicted jobs. I support the Parish Council's application for a protective landscape designation for this area of our rural setting which has been accepted by BaNES Planning Officers. I agree with the Parish Council's assessment in January 2025 that this land is not Grey Belt; it is undeveloped land in the Green Belt. In March 2014 the Secretary of State determined that this land was not suitable for development which, if permitted, would result in an unacceptable reduction of the Green Belt in that area and would represent "considerable harm". This site is not in the draft Local Plan and as such this application should be refused. Therapy animals for people with mental and physical health needs are kept and used in the paddocks for health support work commissioned by social services. The therapy provided is a very valuable service to the wider community. ~ St Mary's Churchyard - A peaceful haven for natureMay 2026
Like many churchyards in England's rural villages, St Mary's churchyard forms a small and peaceful haven where visitors can experience nature and wildlife. Insects abound, especially in areas where grasses have been uncut and allowed to grow tall. Several species of bees and hoverflies provide a gentle background hum on warm spring and summer days whilst the Purple Hairstreak butterfly, for example, is attracted to the large oak tree that itself provides an important eco-system used by many species of birds, mammals, invertebrates and fungi. Yew trees are known to be favourite habitats for Britain's smallest bird, the Goldcrest, and the churchyard's large Yew near the entrance is no exception, providing food and cover for many species of the birds that we regularly observe in our gardens - and Tawny Owls too. Slow-worms, hedgehogs, foxes and Little Owls are other noteworthy visitors to the churchyard. On late summer evenings, bats can be seen feeding on moths and other insects around the trees and church tower. Old stone walls, and other exposed stonework, are often colonised by plants and other wildlife in a similar way to cliffs and scree. The churchyard's boundary wall, due to the traditional use of lime mortar, provides good habitat potential for specialised plants so it is worth watching out for interesting flora there in the summer months.
SOURCE: From an article published on our Gardening page. Large surplus of new homes built in England since 2000, but for whom?April 2026 According to ONS published data, from 2000 to 2025 England's housing stock grew by 4.5 million whilst England's population grew by 7 to 8 million. England's average household size is 2.35 persons/household (English Housing Survey 2021-22). Thus, 4.5 million new homes times 2.3 persons per household provides new capacity for 10.35 million persons, representing a built capacity "surplus" for 2.35 million persons more than the population growth. Where is the "need" claimed by the Government for 1.5 million new homes by 2029? Surely the need now is for new homes to be affordable and near centres of employment, not developer-led housing developments in the Green Belt and green field sites away from employment, creating more commuter traffic, reduced habitat for nature and less food security from English/British sourced and farmed produce? If the 1980s privatisation of social housing (right to buy) created a reduced affordable housing stock, forcing more households into the private sector, creating long-term supply challenges, where is the strategic approach in planning policy to correct this anomaly? Land and its ability to provide a healthy environment that also supports ecology is a fundamental need that underpins the economy, but it is a finite resource. Its care and its development should be based on sustainable development principles and not lost to short term political fixes or for temporary economic growth benefiting a few landowners or developers but worsening everything else including the nation's health and economic well-being for the future. 2026 Big Garden Birdwatch results & latest guidance on feeding birds seasonally and safelyApril 2026
The results for the 2026 Big Garden Birdwatch held on the weekend of 23 - 25 January are now published by the RSPB. The top ten most commonly observed birds across the UK are listed below. The list is (change on last year shown in brackets):- 1. House Sparrow (n/c)
Top spot goes to the House Sparrow for the 23rd year running despite a drastic decline in the UK over the past 50 years, recently estimated as dropping by 71% between 1977 and 2008 with large falls in both rural and urban populations; so much is this decline that they are on the UK Red List for birds. This year, over 650,000 nature lovers counted 9,473,932 birds. More information on the results of the 2026 Birdwatch can be found on the RSPB website. You can also find more information on social media using the hashtag #BigGardenBirdWatch. One way to help garden birds is by encouraging insects. Why not let a patch of your garden grow wild this spring and summer? A full list of the 103 birds that are presently of regular occurrence in Saltford with ID links to the RSPB website for each species can be found on our Wildlife page >> FEED BIRDS SEASONALLY & SAFELY According to the RSPB, research has shown a worrying decline in some of our much-loved garden birds due to a disease called trichomonosis. This is a highly contagious disease and can spread where birds gather in large numbers such as at bird feeders. Greenfinches, for example, have dropped by over 65% in the last three decades - and you may have seen this decline yourself. Back when the Big Garden Birdwatch started in 1979 Greenfinches were at number seven in the top ten birds seen. This year they were down to number 18. We can help stop the spread of disease among garden birds by making two simple shifts to how we feed birds. Put simply: Feed seasonally. Feed safely:- 1 May to 31 October
1 November to 30 April
Feed safely Busy bird feeders can become hotspots for disease. To help keep birds healthy, it's vital to keep things clean - which is why the RSPB has strengthened its existing hygiene guidance. The RSPB recommend you: Clean your bird feeders and water baths at least once a week. Good hygiene is essential. Be sure to also clean away any old food or droppings from beneath feeders. Place your bird feeders in a different spot every week. This will help to prevent any build-up of potentially contaminated debris underneath. If you have more than one feeder, put them in different areas to reduce the number of birds in one place and the mixing of different species. Avoid putting feeders under places where birds roost, such as under trees. This will help to avoid contamination through droppings. Don't use bird feeders with flat surfaces, such as bird tables, window feeders and feeders with trays. Research has confirmed that there's a higher risk of disease spreading on flat surfaces, where contaminated food can collect. Feed in moderation. Make sure all the food you put out is eaten within one to two days. Adjust the amount you offer based on demand to avoid overfeeding. Keep food as dry as possible. Damp food allows disease to survive and spread. Choose feeders that prevent rain getting in and limit condensation. Change water in bird baths daily. Only offer water if you're able to change it every day and make sure it's tap water. A pond is the best way to provide birds and other wildlife with water. Help birds find their own food. One of the best ways to support garden birds in the long-term is to help them find their own food. So fill your outdoor space with bird-friendly plants - such as sunflowers, teasels and ivy. These help provide natural food sources for birds. Acknowledgement: RSPB, April 2026 SEG's postcard to the Prime MinisterApril 2026
To mark the National Day of Action for Nature, Parks and Green Spaces on Saturday 18th April organised by the Community Planning Alliance, SEG has posted the above postcard via our wonderful community Post Office to the Prime Minister so that it arrives by the 18th. Here is the text from our postcard:- Dear Prime Minister The Green Belt is the countryside next door for 30 million people; its protection is essential for supporting nature, our health and well-being, and the nation's future food security. The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment; it is not the other way round. Building homes near employment, not in the countryside and rural areas, is sustainable development in its truest sense. Homes for Everyone has proved the national housing target can be met without destroying the Green Belt. Please will you keep your promise to take a brownfield-first approach, to protect sensible use of the Green Belt, and that only genuine brownfield sites such as disused petrol stations and abandoned car parks will be developed, and there will be no "ploughing through farmland" to build the new homes the nation needs? Please ensure planning decisions on new housing developments are not made by developers whose interests are different from local communities that have to live with the consequences of poor planning decisions. We look forward to your response. Yours sincerely Saltford Environment Group #DayOfAction #NatureDayOfAction #VoteForNature Family Coffee Morning - Wednesday 15th AprilMarch 2026
Family Coffee Morning The Saltford Fairtrade Group has organised a Family Coffee Morning from 10.30am - 12.30pm on Wednesday 15th April at Saltford Hall (Avon Room) in Wedmore Road. Free Admission for: Children's craft activities and face painting, Tea, Coffee & Cake. Donations welcome. Latest timetable for BaNES draft Local PlanMarch 2026 A new government policy that will be introduced later in 2026 aims to reduce the ability of local authorities to set standards or policies that duplicate or conflict with the national approach. In future all district-wide development management policies that are used in determining planning applications across BaNES must align with the national framework. Where there is a policy conflict, national policy takes precedence over local policy. The effect of that new government policy is to slightly delay the emergence of the BaNES draft Local Plan. Here are the new target dates announced recently by BaNES Council (all subject to change):- 21 May - A report on the Local Plan will be presented to the Council's Climate Emergency and Sustainability Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel. 10 June - The Draft Local Plan will be discussed at a special Cabinet meeting, where members will be asked to approve it to go forward for public consultation. Late June (TBC) - If the Draft Local Plan is approved, a six-week public consultation regarding the soundness of the plan will begin in late June giving residents and stakeholders another opportunity to review and comment on the Draft Local Plan. Autumn (TBC) - Subject to consideration and approval by Council, the Draft Local Plan and consultation responses will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination. Following examination and assuming the Local Plan is found 'sound' it will proceed towards adoption. Once adopted, the Local Plan will guide planning decisions across Bath & North East Somerset until 2043. Withies Green reminds us that the local Green Belt is at riskMarch 2026
This is a reminder of the current threat to our Green Belt from a planning system that overrules the wishes of local communities that want to protect their natural habitats, rural landscapes, and green open spaces. The top photograph is the Green Belt in Keynsham (East) between Saltford and Keynsham known as 'Withies Green'' in May 2022 and below as it is today (14 March 2026). If you don't want any more Green Belt to be lost to development, thus threatening wildlife habitat, our health and well-being, and our future food security, make sure you follow SEG on social media and revisit our website regularly to see what SEG and others are doing to protect Saltford's Green Belt - and put one of our posters in your front window. Thank you. SEG highlights why the Green Belt is unnecessarily put at riskMarch 2026
SEG has written to our MP asking him to take a robust stand for nature, parks and green spaces and that new homes should be built near employment and not in the countryside that benefits everyone - city and rural dwellers alike. Points made by SEG in our letter of 3rd March 2026 included:-
Footnote: In addition to SEG's letter to our local MP, due to our serious concerns over the threat to Saltford's Green Belt from proposals to reform the planning system - the National Planning Policy Framework, on 7th March 2026 SEG also responded to the Government's consultation (16.12.2025 - 10.3.2026). The text of SEG's reponse can be downloaded from this link >> (pdf opens in new window). Annual Saltford Dawn Chorus Walk, 19th AprilMarch 2026
The annual Dawn Chorus Walk in Saltford will be held again this year. The Keynsham Branch of the Avon Wildlife Trust will be listening to, and watching, the birds get up after a night's roosting for this year's Dawn Chorus Walk on Sunday 19th April, starting at 4.30am at Saltford Shallows car park. This is a great way to learn how to identify from their songs the many birds that are found in Saltford. Songs of all common species will be pointed out and their identification features clarified. The walk will be along part of the railway path cycle track (and back). Warm, waterproof clothing is advised and bring binoculars for once it gets light. This event is free but an optional donation to support Avon Wildlife Trust funds would be appreciated. For further information and to confirm your attendance, contact Dave Sage on mobile 07899--716068 the week before the event. 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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