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SEG Home > News List > 2017 News Archive
2017 News ArchiveThe latest stories are on our home page. As this is an archive some older links may no longer connect due to changes in web page URL addresses etc.
We started the year by publishing a new photographic image of the oldest painting of Saltford c.1728. (A larger image can be seen in our Online Museum.) Click on each story link or scroll down the page (most recent appears first):-October - December 2017The Future of Saltford Post Office and Saltford Library Big Garden Bidwatch 27 - 29 January Saltford School earns recognition for promoting sustainable travel "Living in harmony: Food, health and planet" - Keynsham, 6th December Highlighting the dangers of discarded dog poo bags Fairtrade Christmas Shopping On Your Doorstep! - It's Easy How much is Bath & NE Somerset built on? HELAA: SEG makes case to B&NES that our Green Belt is not appropriate for development Heritage Centre to be open on 25th November (10am-12 noon) Saltford Carthaginian Coin at the SEG AGM and Social Event (16th Oct) July - September 2017Give cyclists space when passing Help Waitrose support Saltford Heritage Centre Wake up & smell the coffee! Chatham House report on food security 2nd August is 2017's Earth Overshoot Day The Rose-ringed Parakeet in Saltford Saltford School needs your green fingers The big butterfly count (14 July to 6 August) B&NES Council's Placemaking Plan adopted - Saltford's Green Belt safe but for how long? Saltford Primary School receives Active Travel Award Massive increase in homes approved for green belt Proposed enhancement of Keynsham Leisure Centre Extreme heat and the need for Parliament to do more on climate change April - June 2017July Break for the Upcycling Craft Group Water Space Project wins Royal Town Planning Institute award Waitrose and its customers support SEG B&NES feasibility study for a 'Bath tram' Saltford Calendar 2018 now available Toxic Giant Hogweed warning and reminder The history of railways at Saltford Saltford Heritage Centre opens for Saltford Festival Come and see the new Heritage Centre Rural 19th Century painting of Saltford revealed River Avon heritage walks, 10-21 June 2017 General Election - local candidates back Saltford Station New West of England Mayor backs re-opening of stations & protecting green fields A Plastic Ocean - screening in Keynsham, 16 June Waitrose green tokens for SEG in May Saltford Festival 2017 (10-18 June) Veteran Tree Identification Training Free-ranging deer affecting wild bird populations New River Avon Trail information board in Saltford Appreciating Saltford's ecology Saltford Conservation Area consultation (5 June - 14 July) B&NES Draft WaterSpace Study and proposals affecting Saltford 2017 Big Garden Birdwatch results: House Sparrow remains top News stories in January - April 2017 newslettersWe moved away from a regular monthly newsletter format to a rolling news service after the April 2017 newsletter. April 2017 NewsletterFuture SEG website development - can you help? Newsletter - a move to something more flexible Next Wombles litter pick (8 April) Get Ready for Easter the Upcyling Way (13 April) The parasitic Toothwort flowering in Saltford Annual Saltford Dawn Chorus Walk, 30th April Festival of Nature, 8 - 25 June New parking restrictions for Saltford A4 traffic through Saltford down 12% Mayoral Candidate backs the reopening of Saltford station March 2017 NewsletterDiscovering Roman Saltford: Geophysics survey report published Litter: Wombles (11 March) and tackling everyday litter Great British Spring Clean - Blitz it by Bike - cycle path clear up (4 March) Get Ready for Easter the Upcycling Way (24 March) Plans for Keynsham High Street one-way trial Saltford Heritage Centre: SPC backs PCC Healthy sustainable food in the West of England Incentive to recycle more as waste collections go fortnightly in November Opportunity to coordinate local habitat project February 2017 NewsletterCan you help SEG find this 1860 painting? Are you or your organisation a keen recycler? A chance to star! New opportunity to coordinate local habitat project January 2017 NewsletterSEG publishes image of the oldest painting of Saltford Saltford Heritage Centre: Starting to take shape Sale of last remaining 2017 Saltford Calendars Get involved with the Big Garden Birdwatch 2017 (28-29 Jan) Saltford Upcycling Craft Group, 12th Jan SEG responds to JSP and JTS consultations SEG responds to B&NES Core Strategy consultation by highlighting local Green Belt policies Potential for Saltford station as an additional stop being tested Standing room only at the Saltford bypass public meeting B&NES wins British Food Fortnight's 2016 competition Fairtrade & Traidcraft together at Saltford Christmas Market News stories start here (most recent appears first):-October - December 2017The Future of Saltford Post Office and Saltford LibraryThe following announcement by email was made by Saltford Community Association (SCA) on 21 December 2017:- As many will know, the Post Office is due to close on December 23rd 2017 and there are no plans to re-open it at its present location or at any of the adjoining shops in Saltford. Furthermore, the cutbacks in B&NES Library Services mean that the Saltford Library is also likely to be closed in a year or so. Both the Post Office and the Library are important local community assets and the Saltford Community Association (SCA) has been looking at ways in which both might be kept open. The SCA has been working hard over the last few weeks, since McColls pulled out, to find a way to stop the Post Office closing this week. Regrettably this has not proved possible but an option for the future has emerged. The most promising future option is for both the Post Office and Library to be located in the present library building and discussions with Post Offices Ltd, B&NES Library Services and the Parish Council in this respect have been positive. A viable option appears to be the following:
The operation of the joint Post Office/Library would need to be as a Community Interest Organisation or as a subsidiary charity to the SCA. There would need to be a management committee, again formed from volunteers, who were responsible for the Post Office business, the library and for the building. The need for financial support from the local community is a key feature, as is the need for a volunteer force to form the management committee and to staff the library. Note that in this proposal, the future of the Post Office and the Library (the source of available space) are closely linked. The proposal has been discussed at meetings between trustees of the SCA, Post Offices Ltd, B&NES Library services and representatives of the Parish Council. It was discussed further at a meeting of the management committee of the SCA on December 13th, when it was resolved to try to carry it forward. However, it was made clear that the new management team for the joint Post Office/ Library would have to be formed from individuals other than the current SCA trustees and members of the SCA management committee, who are already fully committed to maintaining the present activities of the Association and whose contribution would be limited to coordinating the initial setting up of the scheme. The purpose of this email is therefore to ascertain whether there is sufficient interest in the local community and businesses for the required volunteers for the proposed management committee and for library staffing to come forward, and on a continuing basis. If this is not the case, it is the view of the SCA that there would cease to be a Post Office and a local library branch in Saltford. If you feel strongly about this issue and wish to indicate your willingness to help and in what capacity, please would you get in touch with the SCA by January 15th via email on chair@saltfordhall.co.uk or phone the SCA Office on 01225 874081. We will then arrange a meeting in the New Year of all those prepared to help. John Davies (Hon Chair, SCA) December 2017 Big Garden Bidwatch 27 - 29 January
The RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch will be from 27 to 29 January 2018. It's 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 or local area. And with a simple hour of mindful watching, you could have an hour to yourself, too. Details including a free pack can be found on the RSPB website from this link:- RSPB Birdwatch. December 2017 Saltford School earns recognition for promoting sustainable travelSEG is delighted to report that on 21 November Saltford Church of England Primary School received the top prize as The Primary School of The Year 2017 in B&NES for their work on promoting sustainable travel at the school. This was during an award ceremony in Swindon when the school collected its Modeshift STARS Silver Award. We reported in July how the school had become the first in the B&NES area to achieve a Modeshift STARS Silver Award (free active travel breakfasts for those who walk, scoot or cycle to school; new bike racks and scooter pods; bikeability training etc.). The school is currently working towards achieving a Gold Award and would like as many children, parents and carers as possible to support their weekly WOW days (Walk on Wednesday). The school encourages parents and children to walk, scoot or cycle to school whenever possible. November 2017 "Living in harmony: Food, health and planet" - Keynsham, 6th DecemberIs it possible to choose a diet which is good for our own personal health, but also protects the environment and helps prevent climate change at the same time? The speaker at this evening event orgainsed by Transition Keynsham will be Patrick Holden who has over 40 years experience on this topic. Former director of the Soil Association (for 15 years), Patrick is now chief executive of the Sustainable Food Trust. Patrick is passionate in his desire to connect the health of people with the health of our farms, their soils, plants and animals and ultimately the planet we call home. The event will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 6th December at The Space, Keynsham. See www.keynshamtickets.cloudvenue.co.uk for tickets (£5.50, under 18's £1 or £6 and £2 on the door). Followed by a Fairtrade drinks Reception. November 2017 Highlighting the dangers of discarded dog poo bags
The above photograph of a notice posted on facebook highlights the dangers that arise from the irresponsible actions of a small minority of dog owners. If you see someone throwing their dog poo bags into the hedge in Saltford perhaps you could refer them to the implications highlighted by this notice. November 2017 Fairtrade Christmas Shopping On Your Doorstep! - It's Easy
We look forward to seeing you on December 2nd at the Saltford Christmas Fair in Saltford Hall where we will have a large variety of Traidcraft artisan gifts for sale. Every gift has a story of hope for the craftsman and their families, turning lives around with a guaranteed income. From stocking fillers to beautiful glasses, for young and old, there is a gift for everyone. The Christmas Fair is a fun day out for all the family with a great Fairtrade cafe serving tea and coffee and all the lovely 'Saltford Hall Specials' which we all know and love. It's a lovely way to get you in the mood for Christmas. But there is more - you don't even have to leave home - all the lovely Traidcraft gifts along with festive foods, great everyday tea and coffee and a few surprises like jars of curry sauce can be found on line. There will be details of this along with Traidcraft catalogues at the Fair but if you want to get ahead we have an easy way to get you started. Orders are free of delivery if over £50 but the Saltford Fairtrade Group has started a once monthly service when you can put in your order of under £50 and it will be delivered centrally to Kath. Payment can be made upfront and goods can be delivered or collected. It takes around 5 days to be delivered and orders go in on the 4th Thursday in the month - EASY. Take a look at the Traidcraft website (www.traidcraft.co.uk) to find out what Fairtrade really looks like, 'it's not just coffee, tea and bananas'. Ring Kath on 01225 344066 to find out more. Happy shopping everyone. November 2017 How much is Bath & NE Somerset built on?
On 9th November 2017 the BBC posted on its website research findings which show exactly how the land is used in each local authority area. For B&NES the following data is revealed:- Built on
Green urban
Farmland
Natural
The four categories are drawn from 44 different land use codes used by the Co-ordination of Information on the Environment (Corine) project initiated by the European Commission in 1985. The data has been produced with the help of Dr Alasdair Rae from the University of Sheffield. Whilst B&NES has above the UK average of farmland (81%) compared to the UK average (57%), it is the small percentage of natural or semi-natural land (heathland, natural grassland etc.) that remains in B&NES at just 5% compared to 35% nationally. Natural land is important for providing eco-system support/habitat (e.g. hosting the biodiversity necessary to enable pollination) that enables crops to grow on farmland. This shortage of natural land underlines the case for not building on the Green Belt in our area. Natural land and the scope for recreating more is too precious if we are to have any reasonable prospect of food security in the future and for supporting the continuing existence of healthy and diverse wildlife. Leaving wild areas for nature to flourish in our gardens is one small way we can help to reduce the deficit. The BBC web page containing the data is at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41901294. November 2017 HELAA: SEG makes case to B&NES that our Green Belt is not appropriate for development
B&NES Council is carrying out a Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) review and SEG submitted its response to the B&NES report on 9th November 2017. HELAA is required in order to identify and assess land that could be considered for allocation in the Local Plan (previously known as the Core Strategy Review) that will cover the period 2016-2036. The primary purpose of the Local Plan 2016-2036 is to identify and allocate sites to meet the housing and economic development requirements established by the West of England Joint Spatial Plan (JSP). The council undertook a call for sites (CFS) between January and March 2017 requesting land to be identified and submitted to the council for assessment through the HELAA process. Anyone could submit land for consideration, but part of the assessment relates to the availability of the land and therefore land normally needs to be owned by someone who is willing to develop it or to sell the land to a third party who is willing to do so. Apart from availability, it was stated that the assessment would consider both the suitability and the achievability of land. As SEG predicted, developers have identified Green Belt land on the south and west side of Saltford that they would like to build on. SEG and the Parish Council have responded accordingly, SEG on 9th November, and both responses were strongly against such development for a range of planning and sustainable development reasons including traffic congestion, new developments should be close to the sources of employment to reduce the need to travel for commuting and that it is unsustainable to build on the Green Belt which would be contrary also to national planning policy (known as NPPF). Furthermore at the public meeting held at Saltford Golf Club on 1 December 2016 the Leader of B&NES Council, Tim Warren, said that the "current B&NES administration had no intention to allow housing development on Saltford's Green Belt in the Joint Spatial Plan". You can download SEG's response here:- SEG HELAA response 9.11.2017 (pdf, opens in new window). November 2017 Heritage Centre to be open on 25th November (10am-12 noon)
Saltford Heritage Centre will be open during the St Mary's Christmas Market on Saturday 25th November from 10am until 12 noon. The Heritage Centre, on the first floor of the Church Hall, Queen Square, Saltford BS31 3EL, is only opened for special occasions and school visits so this is a rare opportunity to pay it a visit and see some of the displays illustrating and describing Saltford's amazing past. We have produced some new information display panels since the opening of the Heritage Centre in June. Refreshments will be available at the Christmas Market where, in addition to visiting the Heritage Centre you will be able to browse craft and market stalls organised by St Mary's PCC. For more information on the market or to book a stall contact the Rector, Daile, on 01225-355910. November 2017 Anyone for Guerrilla Pruning?
You may have heard about Guerrilla Gardening, the "improvement" of public spaces by planting shrubs and flowers without the permission of the local authorities that own them. Such action can have legal consequences and is something Saltford Environment Group would frown upon as there are so many non-native alien plants, shrubs and trees sold in Garden Centres and other outlets that have virtually no ecological value or can be damaging to the natural environment. But what about Guerrilla Pruning? When I was working in Bristol the wife of a colleague almost lost the sight in one eye as a result of a simple encounter with a house plant. She had only very lightly scratched her eye but the resulting bacterial infection was so serious she was in very real danger of losing the sight in the affected eye. How often do we just walk round the many brambles, branches and other vegetation that overhang our footpaths in Saltford, sometimes stepping into the road to avoid them? We might think that we wish the householder or B&NES Council would do something about it but why not on your regular walks carry some secateurs in your pocket and snip off the offending twig, branch or bramble? It's all too easy to blame the householder, landowner or B&NES Council but that doesn't save the sight of a child or person who accidentally walks into offending vegetation. I regularly walk my young grandson to school in Keynsham and the footpaths have been so overgrown with dangerous brambles etc. that I now take a pair of secateurs with me and snip off anything overhanging the footpath putting the cut branch back within the property boundary. According to gov.uk one can trim branches up to the property boundary. This small action is much to the interest and amusement of my grandson but is to the gratitude of older school children walking to Wellsway School and young Mums who are fed up with snagging their clothing or getting wet brushing against the branches on rainy days as they push their pushchairs down narrow hitherto overgrown footpaths. Of course we could complain to B&NES Council or the householder, but if a child loses the use of an eye when we could have easily helped prevent such an unfortunate accident it would be on our conscience that we saw a problem with an easy solution and left it to someone else to sort out. Perhaps other folk in Saltford would like to become Guerrilla Pruners too? And if your garden vegetation is intruding onto public footpaths, please think of others and prune it back. Phil Harding, Chairman, Saltford Environment Group November 2017 Saltford Carthaginian Coin at the SEG AGM and Social Event (16th Oct)
One of the oldest coins found in Britain from the Iron Age, the Saltford Carthaginian Coin (300-264 BC) will be available for members to see at our AGM alongside some new history project display panels we are have created (for the Heritage Centre). Commencing at 7.30pm on Monday 16th October at The Crown Public House, our 15-minute AGM will be followed by a social time to enable members to get to know SEG's Committee members and find out more about what we do. Soft drinks and nibbles will be provided; alcoholic drinks will be available to purchase from the bar, of course. We have sent the agenda and further details of the event to members by email. October 2017 July - September 2017Give cyclists space when passingB&NES Council, in partnership with Avon & Somerset Police, is launching a campaign aimed at improving the safety of cyclists. A highly visible display on a bus is to be used to raise awareness of the space motorists need to give cyclists when overtaking. It serves as a reminder that our roads are as much for cyclists as they are for cars, vans and lorries. The Council reports that over the last five years there has been a significant reduction in the number of people injured in road traffic collisions across Bath and North East Somerset. However, the number of cyclist casualties has remained relatively consistent over this period. Commenting on the campaign, Chief Inspector Kevan Rowlands, Head of Road Safety at Avon and Somerset Police, said: "Since the beginning of 2017 we've received more than 350 reports of near misses, which suggests that people aren't aware of how much space they should leave when overtaking, or perhaps choose to ignore this advice. Anyone failing to leave enough space puts cyclists at risk and could be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention." September 2017 Help Waitrose support Saltford Heritage Centre
Waitrose in Keynsham has kindly offered SEG a green token 'Community Matters' box for the SEG/PCC Saltford Heritage Centre project in September. When shopping at Waitrose in Keynsham during September please show us your support by taking a green token from the person serving you at the till and putting it in our box (don't mind asking for a token if they forget to offer you one!).
The more tokens we get the larger our share of the £1,000 split between three community organisations/schemes in the monthly collection. More information about the Heritage Centre can be found here: Saltford Heritage Centre Thank you! September 2017 Climate change data dashboardIf you ever want to see or use a visualisation of climate data, have a look at the Carbon Brief's data dashboard. Interactive graphs based on information from a group of global datasets include temperature, carbon dioxide, sea ice and sea level rise. Here's an example:
Click here for the: Data Dashboard from Carbon Brief. August 2017 Wake up & smell the coffee! Chatham House report on food security
The following is from the Chatham House Report "Chokepoints and Vulnerabilities in Global Food Trade" (Rob Bailey and Laura Wellesley, June 2017):- "Global food security rests upon international trade in a handful of crops. Maize, wheat, rice and soybean together provide around two-thirds of the world's harvested crop calories. While production of these crops is concentrated in a few 'breadbasket' regions, demand is ubiquitous and reliance on imports is rising." "Population growth, shifting dietary preferences and growing demand for biofuels are driving up demand for grain - for food, animal feed and fuel. Global crop production will need to double by 2050 to keep pace with this demand. But a combination of biophysical and socioeconomic factors - including heat stress, water scarcity, declining soil fertility, soil erosion, intensive cultivation practices and poor nutrient management - is slowing global growth in crop yields. These supply challenges are heightened by the fact that opportunities for the expansion of cropland are limited: agriculture already uses 12 per cent of the world's ice-free land; should this share surpass 15 per cent, we risk triggering abrupt, potentially catastrophic environmental change." Whilst the report looks at chokepoints, critical junctures on transport routes through which exceptional volumes of trade pass, it also highlights the fact that "climate change is increasing the threat of disruption. It will increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather, leading to more regular closures of chokepoints and greater wear and tear on infrastructure. Rising sea levels will threaten the integrity of port operations and coastal storage infrastructure, and will increase their vulnerability to storm surges. Climate change is expected to aggravate drivers of conflict and instability. It will also lead to more frequent harvest failures, increasing the risk of governments imposing ad hoc export controls." It is reports like this that remind us of the fundamental importance of protecting our Green Belt from the short term economic gain but long term economic loss of development on land of such increasing value (that is value in its widest sense). Who can accurately predict when reduced food security, food scarcity and rising food prices will start to impact on the nation's social and economic well-being? Our Green Belt does much more than support our quality of life, so important for good mental health whether we live close by it or gain recreational access to it from our towns and cities. At a more basic level it supports our food security as the rest of the world will struggle to feed itself let alone supply food to meet our needs, currently approximately 40% (net) of the food we in the UK consume (source Defra). It follows that in addition to its current purpose its future role will become ever more important for future generations. In addition to helping to absorb heavy rainfall and reducing soil erosion during flash floods (an increasing occurrence as a result of climate change), it would appear from the lack of attention from our politicians that its key role for supporting the UK's food security is still underestimated. Whether Green Belt land itself is or can be used for food production, it has an equally important role of supporting food production on neighbouring farmland that relies on surrounding natural habitats that support pollinating insects and the wider ecosystem necessary for a healthy environment that sustains all life forms. It is that important ecological purpose of supporting food security in an uncertain future that organisations like SEG need to communicate as the dangers posed by climate change to our food security become ever more apparent. FOOTNOTE August 2017 2nd August is 2017's Earth Overshoot Day
The "Blue Marble" full Earth image photographed by the Apollo 17 space mission (7.12.1972). Released during a surge of interest in environmental issues, this was the first complete image ever seen of our planet and was widely seen as a depiction of Earth's frailty, vulnerability, and humanity's need to live within the planet's 'carrying capacity'. Earth Overshoot Day this year is calculated to be Wednesday 2nd August. Earth Overshoot Day is the day on which humanity's resource consumption for the year exceeds the Earth's capacity to regenerate those resources that year. The day creeps up the calendar year after year, as our global Ecological Footprint expands further beyond what the planet can renew and the world's human population continues to grow unhindered. Just as a bank statement tracks income against expenditures, Global Footprint Network measures a (growing) population's demand for and ecosystems' supply of resources and services. These calculations then serve as the foundation for calculating Earth Overshoot Day. Each city, state or nation's Ecological Footprint can be compared to its biocapacity. If a population's demand for ecological assets exceeds the supply, that region runs an ecological deficit. A region in ecological deficit meets demand by importing, liquidating its own ecological assets (such as overfishing), and/or emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. At the global level, ecological deficit and overshoot are the same, since there is no net import of resources to the planet. We maintain this deficit by liquidating stocks of ecological resources and accumulating waste, primarily carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Earth Overshoot Day is hosted and calculated by Global Footprint Network, an international think tank that coordinates research, develops methodological standards and provides decision-makers with a menu of tools to help the human economy operate within Earth's ecological limits. The concept of Earth Overshoot Day was first conceived by Andrew Simms of the UK think tank New Economics Foundation, which partnered with Global Footprint Network in 2006 to launch the first global Earth Overshoot Day campaign. At that time, Earth Overshoot Day fell in October. WWF, the world's largest conservation organisation, has participated in Earth Overshoot Day since 2007. Further information can be found from www.overshootday.org (the information source for this article). August 2017 The Rose-ringed Parakeet in Saltford
The number of species not native to Britain which are at large in the wild is increasing. Some introduced species seem a natural fit to Britain, such as the Little Owl Athene noctua, but others are obviously alien. Perhaps the most extreme bird in the latter category is the Rose-ringed (or Ring-necked) Parakeet Psittacula krameri: no native species looks or sounds at all similar to a parrot. The last few years have seen annual occurrences of the Rose-ringed Parakeet in Saltford and neighbouring towns. For example, in 2016 a single young bird roamed widely around Saltford's residential area during August - October. The species' UK population is increasing dramatically, so such visits might become more frequent. The species may even settle here. Recent visitors to London's parks are likely to have seen, or at least heard, flocks of parakeets, but it is only 50 years ago that the species began breeding regularly in the wild in Britain. Only the 1980s was the species accepted onto the British List of Birds (which, for introduced species, includes only those with self-sustaining populations). Roosts of thousands now occur in some areas in and around London. In the British Trust for Ornithology's Bird Atlas 2007-2011 the Rose-ringed Parakeet has one of the most distinctive maps: its main range neatly outlines the London urban area, and small areas of some other cities are also occupied. Most of the rest of the country has few or no records - the Atlas recorded no colony closer to Avon than west London. The Avon Ornithological Group's annual Avon Bird Report shows a small number of records of free-flying Rose-ringed Parakeets in Avon in most years over the last two decades (1996 - 2 sites; 1997 - 2; 1998 - 4; 1999 - 0; 2000 - 1; 2001 - 0; 2002 - 0; 2003 - 3; 2004 - 4; 2005 - 2; 2006 - 4; 2007 - 1; 2008 - 6; 2009 - 0; 2010 - 6; 2011 - 3; 2012 - 2; 2013 - 4; 2014 - 3; 2015 - 6). It is usually impossible to tell for any given individual whether it is a direct escape (including an intentional release) from captivity, or a bird bred in the wild. However, the lack of any large increase in the species's prevalence in Avon over the last 20 years suggests that most of the Rose-ringed Parakeets in Avon in this period are direct escapes. Were they from the wild population, a dramatic increase would have been expected. The small, though distinct, upturn in number of sightings since 2009 might suggest that some wild-born birds may now be occurring, as it is implausible that the numbers escaping would rise in this way. However, with the species' increasing appearance in the national news (including a number of horror stories of its possible effect on various crop yields), perhaps people are simply more likely to report those they find, than formerly. The Rose-ringed Parakeet's establishment in Britain is probably not good news for the native bird and other wildlife species. It is unlikely that a species that lives at such high density will not have severe effects on some other species. The parakeet might drive declines in some hole-nesting species (tree-holes for birds of this size are typically in fairly short supply) and possibly in some of the species which depend upon garden bird feeding (bird-tables are the factor above all other that has allowed the parakeet to colonise the UK, an area in such climatic contrast to its native range of tropical and subtropical Asia and Africa). It is therefore particularly important to monitor the Rose-ringed Parakeet's distribution (and, presumably, spread) across England. SEG would be grateful to hear of any observations in and around Saltford, and would be particularly thankful to hear immediately upon sighting in the hope that the species can be confirmed (various other parrot species escape from time to time). Unlike most unusual bird visitors, among the most likely places to see a parakeet is in your garden or street. Author: Will Duckworth (SEG's Wildlife Adviser) August 2017 Saltford School needs your green fingers
Do you have GREEN Fingers?
If the answer is yes to any of those questions then Saltford School's GREEN TEAM needs YOU!! They are desperately seeking a team of volunteers who will either support and guide their new, enthusiastic Green Team during assembly times/lunch times or will potter happily by themselves to help maintain the school's Secret Garden. It could be by planting new shrubs, cutting overgrown plants or just giving a general spruce. Any time that you can spare would be greatly appreciated. If you, grandparents, relatives, volunteer groups, businesses or anybody could help please contact Mr Jenkins or Mrs Newark via the school office Tel: 01225 872185 or email: contactus@saltfordschool.org.uk. July 2017 The big butterfly count (14 July to 6 August)
The big butterfly count is a nationwide survey aimed at helping us assess the health of our environment. It was launched in 2010 and has rapidly become the world's biggest survey of butterflies. Over 36,000 people took part in 2016, counting almost 400,000 individual butterflies and day-flying moths across the UK. This year's big butterfly count is from 14 July to 6 August and could be something to also get younger members of the family engaged in over the summer holidays. There's even a free smartphone app for the big butterfly count so that you can carry out and submit your count all in one go while out and about watching butterflies. Details at www.bigbutterflycount.org. July 2017 B&NES Council's Placemaking Plan adopted - Saltford's Green Belt safe but for how long?
The Placemaking Plan was formally adopted by the Full B&NES Council on 13th July 2017. The Placemaking Plan complements the strategic framework in the adopted Core Strategy by setting out detailed development and design principles for identified and allocated development sites, as well as a range of policies for managing development and protecting valued assets across Bath and North East Somerset. The Council is in the initial stages of reviewing the Core Strategy which will then formally incorporate the Placemaking Plan to form a single Local Plan. This review is being undertaken alongside the emerging Joint Spatial Plan which covers the four West of England Unitary Authority areas. The Joint Spatial Plan will provide the strategic planning context for the new Bath and North East Somerset Local Plan to 2036. The following extract from the plan (Volume 5. Rural Areas) refers to Saltford and shows that "there are currently no exceptional circumstances to change the Green Belt boundary to enable housing to come forward":- Site Allocations 133. Saltford village meets the criteria of a Policy RA1 settlement. Housing development can come forward within the housing development boundary (HDB). However, opportunities outside the HDB are limited and will be considered in the context of Green Belt policy. There are currently no exceptional circumstances to change the Green Belt boundary to enable housing to come forward. 134. There are no site allocations in Saltford. Any potential site would be considered on its individual merits against national and local planning policy. However, consideration of the options for a Saltford bypass is included as part of a review of the A4 corridor where in paragraph 582 of Volume 1 (District-wide Strategy and Policies) the plan states that "the Council will also review the A4 corridor and, in particular, consider how best to improve the environment within Saltford and improve journey times and reliability between Bristol and Bath. This will include the options for a bypass of the village". In paragraph 607 the "Council recognises the need for further studies to assess the A4 Saltford bypass, and an east of Bath link designed to remove through traffic." The following extract, also from Volume 1, deals with re-opening a railway station at Saltford:- Rail Station at Saltford 612. The opportunity for re-opening a station at Saltford has arisen from work undertaken by the West of England on the MetroWest Project. This will provide an additional train service between Bath and Bristol each hour (in both directions) and the potential for an additional station as well. 613. A public consultation on the three potential options for the proposed station was completed in 2013 and the results considered by Cabinet in 2014 when it was agreed that, before deciding to progress to the next stage of Network Rail's Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) process, further work should be undertaken to see if there were a location for a station which would have additional parking and better access from the A4. In addition confirmation that the new rail timetable could accommodate the station at Saltford is still needed. No timescale has currently been set for the delivery of the project; however progress is dependent on the successful completion of Phase 1 of the MetroWest project which is due for completion in 2019. 614. The next step will be to consider and identify a preferred option/site for the new station, which will require an estimated 200 parking spaces in order to be viable. However, it may need to be addressed as part of any future Local Plan review. SEG's position on the Green Belt and re-opening our station SEG will, alongside Saltford Parish Council, continue to lobby to protect our Green Belt from development and remains convinced that the existing station site offers the best option* for a re-opened station at Saltford whereas other options, e.g. to the west of Saltford, would entail a significant loss of Green Belt land, increase not reduce local traffic as commuters drive rather than walk to the station, and threaten the existing station at Keynsham which is ideally located for the new housing at Somerdale. *In January 2016 Saltford Parish Council at its monthly meeting noted "that while alternatives need to be considered as part of the Department for Transport's TAG (Transport Analysis Guidance) process and also to fulfil a past resolution of B&NES Council, there remains a consensus that the existing site is the preferred site option." That position has not changed. NOTE: The Placemaking Plan can be viewed at all the public libraries in B&NES including the mobile library and on the Council's website at www.bathnes.gov.uk/placemakingplan. July 2017 Saltford Primary School receives Active Travel AwardSaltford Church of England Primary School has become the first in the B&NES area to achieve a Modeshift STARS Silver Award. The School has introduced a number of measures to encourage cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable travel. These include free active travel breakfasts for those who walk, scoot or cycle to school; 'active ambassadors' to represent pupils and develop ideas to improve travel to school and poster competitions. New bike racks and scooter pods have been installed along with bikeability training for year 5 and 6 pupils. Modeshift STARS is a national scheme which recognises and encourages schools to increase levels of sustainable and active travel to improve the health and well-being of children and young people. Melissa Brook, has been leading on School Travel Plan work at Saltford Primary School, with support from School Travel Plan Officer at B&NES Council, Hannah Brittain. Melissa was delighted at the school's achievement. She said: "Working with the Council's School Travel Plan Officer has been a huge support to me and has helped us to implement lots of new initiatives at our school and record the evidence for these activities on the Modeshift STARS website. This has enabled us to achieve a Silver Award this year, for which we are truly thankful. To be the first school in B&NES to achieve this Silver Award made the recognition even more special. We are now planning to go for Gold! Indeed work is already underway!" This is great news for Saltford - our school deserves our support and congratulations with this achievement. Encouraging more of our children to walk or scoot/cycle to school can improve their health whilst also helping to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution in the village. July 2017 Massive increase in homes approved for green beltA total of 425,000 homes are now due to be built on the green belt, a jump of 54 per cent since March 2016, the biggest year-on-year increase in building proposed in the green belt for two decades. An analysis of local authority and city regional plans by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) reveals that more than 70 per cent of the homes are unaffordable to the people who need them. The CPRE warned that government funds are handsomely rewarding the development of green belt land that ministers promised to protect without delivering the much-needed affordable homes the cash was designed to encourage. CPRE director of campaigns and policy Tom Fyans said "Green belt is being lost at an ever faster rate, yet the type of housing being built now or in the future will do very little to address the affordable housing crisis faced by many families and young people." "We must not be the generation that sells off our precious green belt in the mistaken belief it will help improve the affordability of housing. The only ones set to benefit from future green belt development will be landowners and the big house builders, not communities in need of decent, affordable housing." Source: Huw Morris, The Planner, www.planningportal.co.uk (3.7.2017) July 2017 Proposed enhancement of Keynsham Leisure CentreSaltford residents seeking local leisure centre/sports facilities will wish to be aware that B&NES Council is holding a series of information sessions where they can find out more about the plans to refurbish Keynsham Leisure Centre at a cost of £10M. The proposed enhancement of Keynsham Leisure Centre includes:
The information sessions will take place at Keynsham Leisure Centre on: Wednesday 12 July, 2pm - 4pm; Thursday 13 July, 5pm - 7pm; and Friday 14 July, 9.30am - 11.30am. The refurbishment is expected to get underway this autumn with work carried out in phases so that the centre can remain open wherever possible with completion by early 2019. July 2017 Extreme heat and the need for Parliament to do more on climate change
According to the United Kingdom Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) at the University of Oxford, more people die as a result of extreme heat than from flood events, yet heatwaves rarely make the headlines. Excess mortality figures are often overlooked as they are not reported until sometime after the event. Furthermore, the latest report from the Committee on Climate Change highlights that progress on improving the UK's resilience to climate risks is stalling as a result of the lack of action from Parliament. The government is urged to strengthen adaptation action, with a focus on flood risks, risks to the natural environment and the risks to human health from increasing temperatures and heatwaves. The Committee on Climate Change reported to Parliament in June that the UK's transition to a resilient, low-carbon economy is in danger of being derailed by a lack of Government action on climate change. That inaction is making it difficult for businesses and the UK public to grasp the opportunities of the transition. CCC Chairman, Lord Deben, said: "The impact of climate change on our lives and those of our children is clearer than ever. The UK has shown global leadership on climate change, but progress will stall at home without urgent further action. New plans, for a new Parliament, are needed as a matter of urgency to meet our legal commitments, grasp the opportunities offered by the global low-carbon transition, and protect people, businesses and the environment from the impacts of a changing climate." Information on how you can make your home or business more resilient to a changing climate is on our Climate Change page. July 2017 April - June 2017July Break for the Upcycling Craft Group
Just to say that we will be taking a break in July and our next meeting will be on August 17th. Meanwhile dig out those old T shirts, any size any colour, you know the ones that don't fit because we all have our new summer figures (not) because we are making dog toys. If you don't have a dog they will make nice presents for the pooch of a friend or perhaps go to good homes via the PDSA or a dog rescue centre etc. We all know that dogs like entertainment and these will fit the bill nicely and may even stop a few chewed chair legs... We hope you are enjoying the sunshine and we look forward to catching up with everyone in August. Keep crafting. Frances and Tina June 2017 Water Space Project wins Royal Town Planning Institute award
We reported in April that the B&NES Draft Water Space Study that included proposals affecting Saltford was open for consultation until 22nd May 2017. The Water Space Project was the overall winner at this year's Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) South West Regional Awards for Planning Excellence, the ceremony took place at the Assembly Rooms in Bath on Wednesday June 7. The project was also recognised as one of the top 8 projects nationally in planning for the natural environment. In its formal response during May Saltford Parish Council welcomed publication of the B&NES Water Space Study draft report and made several comments on the report's proposals affecting Saltford. For example the proposed café kiosk and canoe hire station in The Shallows was thought by the Parish Council to be inappropriate as these would place an additional and potentially detrimental burden on this attractive peaceful location where space is limited. The Parish Council also felt that formalised mooring points in Mead Lane would radically change the appearance of the lane and detract from its role and appearance as a rural lane and North East Somerset riverside beauty spot enjoyed by a large and diverse range of stakeholders; detailed comments on the proposals were also made (e.g. the need for adequate spacing to provide a sufficient fire break between each moored boat). Progress on implementing the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to restrict overnight parking in Mead Lane was requested without further delay. Support was given for a small slipway in The Shallows but that it should be in the location currently used by kayak and canoe users for entering and leaving the river. The Parish Council repeated its previous request that local canoe clubs/associations be consulted on the slipway design prior to construction. For the proposed the Wessex Water Bridge, for linking the sewage treatment works across the river to the A431, the Parish Council reserved its formal position on this high cost scheme until it is brought forward as a serious project and in the context of a formal consultation in connection with a planning application. More information about the Water Space Project can be found at www.waterspacebath.org.uk. June 2017 Waitrose and its customers support SEG
This tranquil river scene reminds us why Saltford is worth looking after. Many thanks from SEG's Executive Committee to everyone who donated their green token to SEG's 'Community Matters' box when shopping at Waitrose in Keynsham during May. Our grateful thanks are due to Waitrose too; on 29th June they handed over to our Chairman a cheque for £350 which will be very useful for supporting our work in the local community.
June 2017 B&NES feasibility study for a 'Bath tram'B&NES Council is to undertake a preliminary study looking at the feasibility and potential of introducing some form of light rail 'tram' system in Bath. The decision to carry out the study comes in response to suggestions from the public, made over the past year, for a review to take place looking at the possible use of trams or a light rail system in the city. Improving the area's transport network is one of the Council's top priorities, and whilst the introduction of a tram system does not currently form part of the Council's formally adopted Transport Strategy, the authority has said it keeps an open mind to suggestions to improve transport that could be taken forward in future. As a result, this short scoping study will look at the feasibility of using a light rail system as a sustainable form of transport in the city. The feasibility study will be completed within this financial year (2017/18). Footnote from our history project:
June 2017 Saltford Calendar 2018 now available
"The Saltford Calendar 2018" featuring some stunning photographs submitted to the photographic competition for the Saltford Festival 2017 is now available to purchase. At just £6 each you can get your calendar(s) from Saltford Post Office or the SCA office at Saltford Hall any morning Monday to Friday. Alternatively email events@saltfordhall.co.uk. The production of an annual Saltford Calendar is a joint SCA/SEG initiative. Net proceeds will be split between SCA and SEG to help further their voluntary work supporting our local community. June 2017 Toxic Giant Hogweed warning and reminder
Members may recall that Giant Hogweed was discovered by SEG's wildlife adviser in 2014 by the side of the railway path between Saltford and Bitton. This particular clump has taken several attempts by B&NES to eradicate it but it is proving stubborn as it makes a re-appearance each year including in 2017 (we have reported this to B&NES) although it is a weaker plant than before as a result of repeated attempts to poison its root system. Last year a resident discovered three massive Giant Hogweed plants growing in her garden after using locally sourced mulch that contained the plant's seeds. This highly toxic non-native plant has to be treated with care and removed by specialists. As we have warned in previous news items, contact with its sap or its bristles can cause severe skin burns depending on individual sensitivity. It can sensitize skin to ultra-violet light (sunlight), leading to severe blisters, pigmentation and long-lasting scars; hospitalisation may be necessary. Affected skin may remain sensitive for several years. A minute amount of sap in the eye can lead to temporary or even permanent blindness. If you find Giant Hogweed growing in Saltford, please advise B&NES Council (Council Connect on 01225 39 40 41) as soon as possible - and let SEG know too. For your own safety DO NOT TOUCH or attempt to remove it yourself. When removed, under the Environmental Protection Act (1990) Giant Hogweed is classified as controlled waste. Anyone working amongst Giant Hogweed should wear protective clothing that covers the whole body including gloves, hood and face visor. More on Giant Hogweed can be found on our wildlife page. June 2017 SEG membership reaches 500!
During June and the Saltford Festival, our membership reached the 500 mark. A small percentage of our membership is from outside the village, but nevertheless over 10% of Saltford's 4,100 inhabitants are members of SEG.
The above image is of our poster that we displayed on our stall during the Saltford Festival's 'Old Village Day' (Sunday 11th June). June 2017 The history of railways at Saltford
On 12th June the leader of SEG's Saltford Station campaign Chris Warren gave an interesting and well-received talk on the history of railways at Saltford. Chris's talk was part of the Saltford Festival (10-18 June) that includes lunchtime talks on a range of topics for each weekday of the festival. You can download the text of his talk here: The history of railways at Saltford by Chris Warren (pdf). June 2017 Saltford Heritage Centre opens for Saltford Festival
Saltford's new Heritage Centre was open on the first floor (upstairs) of the Church Hall for the Saltford Festival 2017 on the afternoon of Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th June. The Bath Record Office roadshow was also in attendance for the 10th June showing old OS maps of Saltford, seal presses, and informative displays on the BRO's Saltford records whilst also giving an opportunity for residents to discuss historical research with a BRO archivist.
History was a key theme for the festival. The first opening of the Heritage Centre was preceded by a joint presentation by local resident and SEG's history team member Dick Bateman and Saltford Drama Club in St Mary's Church on "Life in 19th Century Saltford". On Monday 12th June SEG's Saltford Station campaign Chris Warren gave an interesting and well-received talk on "The History of Railways at Saltford" in the main hall at St Mary's Church Hall.
2017 is notable as being the 150th anniversary of the death of Admiral Benedictus Marwood Kelly, Saltford's famous resident. For the "Old Village Day" on Sunday June 11th, Saltford Drama Club member Kelvin Buck dressed up as Admiral Kelly and stood by the Admiral's Blue Plaque in front of Saltford House answering questions about the Admiral's life and directing festival goers to the Heritage Centre and other festival activities. Some 250+ people visited the Heritage Centre over the two days and the overwhelming reaction to the information displays and Saltford artefacts from the Roman, Medieval, Tudor and later periods was very positive. Old Church and School records were also made available for visitors to see for the launch. The Heritage Centre is a joint project from SEG and the Parochial Church Council. Now that it has had its first opening consideration will be given by SEG and the PCC as to how this community based project can be developed in a cost-effective manner in a way that is both beneficial and of great interest to local residents. For example, and subject to support from volunteers, the Heritage Centre could be opened for special community events whilst elements of its mobile and flexible display could support relevant events at other venues in Saltford. Further information on our website can be found from these links:-
June 2017 Come and see the new Heritage Centre
The emerging and early beginnings of the Heritage Centre will be open on the first floor (upstairs) of the Church Hall for the Saltford Festival 2017 on Saturday 10th June (2pm-4pm) when it will host the Bath Record Office roadshow (including activities for children) and on the 'Old Village Day', Sunday 11th June (12 noon - 4pm). The Heritage Centre opening on Saturday 10th June will be preceded by a presentation on "Life in 19th Century Saltford" by Dick Bateman and Saltford Drama Club - in St Mary's church at 1pm. That presentation followed by a visit to the Heritage Centre will be a great way to start discovering Saltford's interesting past. Discussions, planning and initial work for this volunteer run community resource have continued during spring 2017 so that the early beginnings of the centre - with some key displays - will be open for the first weekend of the Saltford Festival. June 2017 Rural 19th Century painting of Saltford revealed
Our history project has recently published a wonderful old painting (pictured above) of Saltford Lock and the Jolly Sailor Inn in our Online Museum. It is thought to have been painted in the early-mid 19th Century. You can see a larger version in our Online Museum on the 19th Century page >> May 2017 River Avon heritage walks, 10-21 June
A series of short and longer heritage walks along the River Avon "Sweet Waters: Legacies of Slave Ownership" have been organised as part of the Festival of Nature and the Bath Festival Fringe. These are:-
These 'performative' creative walks (free) will be on the theme of legacies of slave ownership on paths alongside the river to Bristol and Avonmouth gathering and networking thoughts, impressions and stories of those legacies. Walkers are encouraged to contribute and share their experiences, there will be opportunities to stop and reflect, write, sketch, make recordings and connect on social networks. The organiser Richard White (senior lecturer in Media Practise at Bath Spa University) plans to work with these for a future creative piece. Artists, poets, historians, naturalists and creatives of all kinds are very welcome but you need to book beforehand. Visit this website for full details including booking arrangements if you would like to participate: www.walknowtracks.co.uk/walks.html. More walks!On the subject of walks, SEG's history project has published 8 self-guided Walks of Saltford (link) whilst there are guided walks organised for the Saltford Festival in June:-
- see the Saltford Festival website (link) for details. May 2017 2017 General Election - local candidates back Saltford StationFor the 2015 General Election members will recall that SEG's station campaign, which takes a politically neutral stance, enjoyed support from the local Parliamentary candidates of all three main political parties for the objective to re-open the station on the existing site. We can report that this cross-party support has been repeated by the 2017 candidates for the 8th June General Election. In alphabetical order:-
Robin Moss (pictured above), the Labour Party candidate for NE Somerset has told SEG of his support for re-opening the station on the current site: "A project to take cars off the A4 and so improve air quality in the village must be supported."
Our local Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured above with Saltford Station campaign leader Chris Warren in 2015) has been a long term supporter for the re-opening of Saltford Station.
Showing her support for the re-opening of Saltford station is the Liberal Democrats' 2017 General Election candidate for NE Somerset, Manda Rigby, seen pictured here at the station site with Chris Warren. May 2017 New West of England Mayor backs re-opening of stations & protecting green fieldsThose backing our campaign to re-open Saltford station and our strongly held view that the Green Belt surrounding Saltford should be protected from development will wish to note that the West of England Plan in the election manifesto for newly elected West of England Mayor Tim Bowles includes two statements of particular relevance to Saltford:
The A34/46 Link Road in Tim Bowles' manifesto's West of England Plan of
if implemented has the potential to divert traffic between Southampton/Portsmouth and Bristol/Avonmouth away from the A4 through Saltford. May 2017 A Plastic Ocean - screening in Keynsham, 16 JuneThe Avon Wildlife Trust's Keynsham branch has organised a screening of the thought-provoking film "A Plastic Ocean" in Keynsham (Keynsham Community Space, 5 Temple Street) as part of Festival of Nature 2017 on Friday 16 June (doors open 6.45pm). This feature-length adventure documentary brings to light the consequences of our global disposable lifestyle. During its four-year production period, "A Plastic Ocean" was filmed in 20 locations around the world in beautiful and chilling detail to document the global effects of plastic pollution and introduce workable technology and policy solutions that can, if implemented in time, change things for the better. Producers Adam Leipzig (March of the Penguins) and Jo Ruxton (BBC Blue Planet) take you through the plastic journey from source to solution. The film features legendary broadcaster Sir David Attenborough and world renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle. You can see trailer here (link). Admission is £10 with proceeds supporting conservation in Avon. If you wish to see this film click on this external link for details: Event Brite. May 2017 Waitrose green tokens for SEG in May
Waitrose has kindly offered SEG a green token 'Community Matters' box again so when shopping at Waitrose in Keynsham during May please show us your support by taking a green token from the person serving you at the till and putting it in our box (don't mind asking for a token if they forget to offer you one!).
This has been a very helpful source of funding in the past so once again your support would be much appreciated. The more tokens we get the larger our share of the £1,000 split between three community organisations/schemes in the monthly collection. Thank you! May 2017 Saltford Festival 2017 (10-18 June)The biennial 9-day Saltford Festival this year will be the fourth festival that has become part of Saltford's tradition. Organised by Saltford Community Association this year's extensive programme of over 80 events is as varied as ever, including music, dance, poetry, drama, comedy, open gardens, exhibitions, talks and guided walks, competitions, and, of course, food and drink, with some new events appearing for the first time. HERITAGE & HISTORY AT THE FESTIVAL The emerging and early beginnings of the Saltford Heritage Centre, a joint project from SEG and St Mary's Parochial Church Council based at the Church Hall, will be open on Saturday 10th (2pm-4pm) when it will host the Bath Record Office roadshow (including activities for children) and on the 'Old Village Day', Sunday 11th (12 noon - 4pm). The Heritage Centre opening on Saturday 10th will be preceded by a presentation on "Life in 19th Century Saltford" by Dick Bateman and Saltford Drama Club - in St Mary's church at 1pm. 2017 coincides with the 150th anniversary of the death of our 19th Century local hero Admiral Kelly; so watch out for the "Admiral" appearing in uniform outside Saltford House (by his blue plaque) on the afternoon of the 'Old Village Day' (Sunday 11th). HELPING SEG We would welcome help from members at the festival on our stall(s) and at the Heritage Centre - check out this poster: SEG at Saltford Festival (pdf) - so if you think you can help for an hour or two on 10, 11 or 17 June please contact Frances on 07789--528843 to join the team. FURTHER INFORMATION Most events are free (including the Heritage Centre), but some are ticketed. Tickets are on sale at Saltford Post Office (Monday to Saturday), Saltford Hall (weekday mornings), Davies & Way, Saltford (Monday to Saturday), the Bar at Saltford Golf Club (every day), or via email to events@saltfordhall.co.uk. In addition to details appearing in the Festival Brochure delivered to each household in Saltford (with copies also available from Saltford Hall's Avon Room), the daily event programmes can be viewed on the Saltford Festival website: saltfordhall.co.uk/Festival.html. Saltford Festival is "FairTrade Friendly". May 2017 Veteran Tree Identification TrainingThe Forest of Avon Trust are looking for volunteers that are willing to receive some training in the recognition and recording of veteran trees and to then work on their own to survey their local area. This information will then be used to update the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Hunt website (link). This means the Forest of Avon Trust can then work with landowners to provide advice and information about grants to conserve these trees. If this interests you contact Anna Brunton, the Community Tree and Woodland Officer for the Forest of Avon Trust on tel: 0117--963--3383, email: woodlands@forestofavontrust.org. If a SEG member gains this skill and wishes to survey Saltford's trees, do contact SEG. April 2017 Free-ranging deer affecting wild bird populationsAccording to a new study in the Journal of Applied Ecology, huge deer populations in England are damaging the important natural habitat of many ground-nesting woodland birds. In 2008 Defra commissioned experts at Nottingham University to investigate the causes behind the decline of woodland birds in the UK. Ecology expert Markus Eichhorn in the University's School of Life Sciences worked with the British Trust for Ornithology to establish the implications for our woodlands of the large deer population (Roe, Red, Fallow, Water and Sika Deer, and Reeves's Muntjac). A combination of the absence of large predators, a decline in hunting and the sowing of autumn crops that provide winter food for foraging deer has enabled the deer population to expand to very high levels. Markus Eichhorn suggests that encouraging people to eat venison as readily as beef or lamb, so that wild venison appeared on our menus or in local butchers, could help reduce the deer population. However this concept might be too controversial for some despite the benefits for woodland habitat conservation and woodland birds. Just as UK woodlands are shaped and exist as they do as a result of human management, it comes down perhaps to a choice of which species we value most, woodland birds or free-ranging deer, and whether a sensible balance can be achieved through human intervention... Information source: britishbirds.co.uk (2017) April 2017 New River Avon Trail information board in Saltford
The Avon Frome Partnership erected a new River Avon Trail information board at the western end of Mead Lane in Saltford (see photograph) on 20th April. The board includes information and images on the historical significance of this section of the River Avon from information published by SEG's History of Saltford project. Managed by the Avon Frome Partnership, the River Avon Trail runs from Pill in North Somerset to Pulteney Bridge, Bath. The trail's total length is about 23 miles and incorporates a series of individual walks, some circular, on the paths along or near the river. Further information about the trail can be found on the River Avon Trail website at www.riveravontrail.org.uk - downloadable walks (including circular walks) can be found in the "Resources" section of the website. April 2017 Appreciating Saltford's ecology
With spring now well advanced and summer approaching, we become increasingly aware that our gardens and the countryside surrounding Saltford support a fascinating variety of wildlife that is so essential for maintaining nature's balance and providing a natural beauty that is a pleasure to behold.
Our wildlife page has a huge range of information, advice, tips and links to other information providers to help you gain a better knowledge and understanding of the natural world that we enjoy here in Saltford and to enable you to play a part, however small, in supporting the provision of wildlife friendly habitat.
From our list of the bird species regularly observed locally (with a link to their individual ID page on the RSPB website) and the butterflies that occur in Saltford, to trees that are ecologically appropriate to our village, rare and important plants, or advice on identifying non-native invasive plants found in Saltford, our wildlife page has something of interest for everyone. Check it out from this link: wildlife page >>.
Getting directly involved with habitat restoration: If you want to help restore some of our local habitat, SEG is looking for a new volunteer to be our railway path habitat restoration project coordinator as our existing coordinator, who did a great job getting things organised, has had to step down due to other commitments. This local project has seen some notable successes:
The area needs some concerted effort over the next 2-3 years to prevent the area from reverting back to scrub and trees: obscuring views and shading some of the rare sun-loving plants that have so recently returned. This work is likely to involve:
This is a great opportunity for someone with good organisational skills to help deliver a really exciting project: restoring a rare and beautiful habitat and bringing members of the community together through fun, practical activities. No prior experience of wildlife conservation projects is required and there will be plenty of opportunities to learn more about the rare and beautiful plants and animals which would otherwise disappear from our area, to make new friends and learn new skills along the way. We are looking for someone with a can-do attitude and the enthusiasm to engage with volunteers and provide more of a social side to this worthwhile activity. If this opportunity to manage and develop a small yet interesting and local outdoor project appeals to you, to express an interest please contact our Vice-Chairman Chris Warren (email cherokee1883@live.com). The project has its own webpage: link >> April 2017 Saltford Conservation Area consultation (5 June - 14 July)
B&NES Council is undertaking a review of the 35 Conservation Areas in the District in line with the latest guidance from Historic England. Eventually, the Council will have a 'Conservation Area Appraisal' for each of its designated areas. The Appraisals define the Conservation Area boundaries and analyse the special architectural and historic interest of the area. They identify specific features which contribute towards an area's character, such as: historic buildings and buildings which are locally significant, important green and open spaces, significant views, natural elements such as trees and waterways, and features which help make an area locally distinct. The consultation by B&NES Council on the draft "Saltford Conservation Area Boundary Character Appraisal and Management Proposals" will be held from 5 June - 14 July. This will include a drop-in event at St Mary's Church Hall on Weds 7th June from 12 noon to 8pm. The draft proposals document is due to be posted on the B&NES Council website in June at www.bathnes.gov.uk/CACA-saltford. Any queries about this consultation should be addressed to B&NES Council (Email: conservation_andplanning@bathnes.gov.uk Tel: 01225--477083). Further general information on Conservation Areas in B&NES can be found on the B&NES website from this link. April 2017 B&NES Draft WaterSpace Study and proposals affecting Saltford
The River Avon corridor is undergoing significant redevelopment of brownfield sites, and is the focus for major new development in Bath. The WaterSpace project launched by B&NES Council in March 2015 has gathered data, mapped information, and generated ideas to work with the community and public, private and voluntary bodies to identify 35 projects and project ideas to revitalise the waterways. Projects incorporating a range of proposals for three areas of Saltford are:
There is also a proposal for a new access road (and bridge across the river) to the Wessex Water sewage treatment works to connect the site to the A431. Comments are sought on the draft study report online between 6th April 2017 and 22nd May 2017. The draft report can be found on the B&NES website from this link: WaterSpace Study. April 2017 2017 Big Garden Birdwatch results: House Sparrow remains topOver 8 million birds were counted in the 2017 Big Garden Birdwatch held on the weekend of 28/29 January. The top ten most commonly observed birds across the UK were (2016 position in brackets):- 1. House Sparrow (1)
This year saw an increase in the numbers of birds visiting gardens. The RSPB say that regularly feeding the birds has a big positive impact, as well as other actions such as putting up a nest box or gardening with nature in mind. They wish to thank everyone who is giving nature a home in their garden: with more birds visiting gardens this year, there's a reward for your efforts. This year's Big Garden Birdwatch saw a downturn in sightings of Blue Tits, Great Tits and Coal Tits - all down by at least 10% on last year's figures. The weather during the breeding season can have a big impact on these small birds. Last year's prolonged wet spell meant there were fewer caterpillars about for feeding their young. It's likely that this led to fewer younger birds surviving than usual, meaning there were fewer seen in gardens. You can see the 2017 Big Garden Birdwatch results on the RSPB website from this link: Big Garden Birdwatch. If you are interested in learning more about the birds that are regularly observed in Saltford, these are listed on the right hand side of our wildlife page and each bird species listed is a link to full details on the RSPB website. Information source: RSPB April 2017 April 2017 NewsletterFuture SEG website development - can you help?Our website has become a very popular resource for our members and others, with over 2,000 unique visitors per month, typically opening over 5,000 pages. Using a relatively simple design and basic html approach, it has grown organically since 2011 into an extensive library of articles, themes, links etc. Thinking of our ongoing ability to maintain and develop our website we are looking for someone who could give some time to support our Chairman Phil Harding with the html website in the short term, and potentially help us to transfer the site across to a new system such as WordPress in the future, as well as maintaining and developing our presence on social media. Do you have the relevant experience, interest and time to get involved? If so, please get in touch with our Secretary at mail@deborahwilkes.co.uk to talk further. You'll be at the heart of SEG's activities and a valued member of our team of volunteers. Newsletter - a move to something more flexibleThe popularity and success of our website has made us realise that having a monthly newsletter might not be the most time-effective way to make sure you can access the information you want. All news articles appear on the website front page, as an open and ongoing newsletter, so we are planning to move away from a rigid practice of issuing newsletters every month. You can take a monthly or more regular dive into the website whenever it suits you. We are grateful for suggested website contributions we receive from members and we of course continue to welcome those from you. When we do have particular news, for example on issues affecting Saltford's Green Belt or our campaigns, we will still email you, and we'll send occasional news alerts or newsletters. So, this is our last monthly newsletter in this format, but we look forward to keeping in touch. Please contact our Secretary Debbie Cini at mail@deborahwilkes.co.uk with your comments on this, or any input for the website. Your photographs of Saltford
Don't forget to submit your Saltford photographs (themes: people, landscape, historical, fun, and/or events) to Saltford Community Association for consideration for the exhibition at the festival and the 2018 Saltford Calendar. This is free to enter for amateur photographers with prizes for "Young photographer" and "Comedy photo". Entries should be jpeg files (up to 10Mb) and sent to John Davies email j.j.davies@bath.ac.uk (tel: 01225--344976) by no later than Monday 8th May. Next Wombles litter pick (8 April)
The next Saltford Wombles' litter-pick will be on Saturday 8th April (meet 9.30am at The Little Coffee Shop, Manor Road) - weather permitting. New participants are always welcome so if you haven't taken part in one of our litter-picks before, why not come along and see how satisfying it is to clear away unsightly litter? If you want to get involved with Saltford Wombles contact Julie Sampson by email to: juliebsampson@gmail.com or tel: 01225--874603 or 07807--671--267. Get Ready for Easter the Upcyling Way (13 April)Following our Upcycling Craft Group's Easter theme we will be polishing up the nests and rabbit jars we made in March. We all enjoy creating and as a group welcome any other ideas you may have and would like to try out. Look us up on our Facebook page, 'Make it Magic' to add your ideas and thoughts, or ring Frances so we can communicate everything to the group. Don't worry if you haven't got the basics like glue etc. as we always have a supply and all share what we have and skills. Everyone welcome just come along on Thursday April 13th (NOTE CHANGE OF DATE), 7 - 9pm at Signs of Saltford workshop, 559 Bath Road, Saltford. Look us up on our Facebook page 'Make it Magic' to see the kind of things we do. If you would like to find out more, have a chat with Frances on 07789--528834. Frances and Tina are looking forward to meeting you. The parasitic Toothwort flowering in Saltford
Most plants generate their food using the energy from sunlight, and this ability is unique to plants; no animals or fungi can make food. A number of plants are semi-parasitic, photosynthesising some of their own food but taking the rest from other plants; Mistletoe (Viscum album) is an example conspicuous in Saltford. A special few have lost all ability to make their own food, feeding like fungi. Also like fungi, they can be invisible above ground for 11 months of the year; but most fully parasitic plants flower and set seed, briefly, in the open air. Coming across such plants' anaemically pale above-ground parts can be an exciting moment. The most notorious British fully parasitic plant is Ghost Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum), which can go for decades without being seen anywhere in the country. More predictable in its appearance, but still a special find in most places, is Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria), a relative of foxgloves and toadflaxes. Toothwort is locally distributed in lowland Britain, being rather scarce in our area: the 2000 Flora of the Bristol region traced records from only 72 (of the approx. 1500) 1km squares in the former county of Avon. Many years can pass between its appearances in Saltford. This year, 2017, several clumps have come up in Saltford Mead, in the large field beside the River Avon on the Saltford bank immediately upstream of Swineford Lock (i.e., the third field downstream from the Jolly Sailor). These plants can be viewed from the public footpath along the bank, growing under the row of trees planted in the mid 1980s. The spikes grow straight out of the ground up to about six to eight inches high; at this time of year (early spring) there is little other fresh vegetation at this height. This, combined with the spikes' denture-like appearance, renders them conspicuous. There are no confusion species: the only close relative growing in Britain, the introduced Purple Toothwort (Lathraea clandestina), looks very different. Photographs of both can be found readily on the internet; search using the scientific name Lathraea to avoid confusion with the unrelated American plant Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata), a close relative of various British species here called bittercresses. Toothwort is most associated with Hazel (Corylus avellana). Surprisingly, although there are some Hazels in this strip of trees, the Toothwort clumps are not close to large Hazels. Either, they are tapping into the roots of other species, or Toothwort roots spread a long distance through the soil. Please do not attempt to find out; it is illegal to dig out Toothwort in England without the landowner's permission. British Toothwort flowers remain at their gruesome best only briefly. Anyone wishing to view these plants should not delay a visit. Article by Will Duckworth. Annual Saltford Dawn Chorus Walk, 30th April
If you are able to get yourself up early, why not join our friends at the Keynsham and Saltford Branch of the Avon Wildlife Trust for a few hours listening to, and watching the birds get up after a night's roosting? This year's Dawn Chorus will be held on Sunday 30th April 4.30am - 8.00am, starting at Saltford Shallows car park. This really 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 follow the railway path cycle track towards Bath, and back again along the river. Wrap up warm as it can be very cold that early. Binoculars and a bird identification guide will be helpful for once it gets light. Above all you need good ears to be able to pick out the 30+ different species the annual walk normally finds! A hot flask of your favourite beverage is recommended. For further information and to confirm your attendance, contact Dave Sage on mobile 07899--716068 the week before the event. Festival of Nature, 8 - 25 JuneEstablished in 2003, the Festival of Nature is the UK's biggest free celebration of the natural world. The Festival began as a two-day showcase of interactive activities and live entertainment across Bristol's Harbourside, and in recent years has grown to include an ever-expanding programme of events across the city and region throughout the summer. Festival of Nature now includes free flagship family events in Bristol, Keynsham and Bath, as well as a range of fringe activity across the West of England. More information can be found online at www.festivalofnature.org.uk. New parking restrictions for SaltfordB&NES Council has prepared an order under provisions contained in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will introduce variations to restrictions in Keynsham and Saltford. For Saltford this is to introduce no parking at any time in lengths of Beech Road, Manor Road, Tyning Road and Rodney Road and the removal of no parking at any time in lengths of Manor Road. According to B&NES the "order will come into operation on 30th March 2017 and a copy, together with a map and a Statement of the Council's Reasons for making the order may be inspected at The One Stop Shops at Manvers Street, Bath, The Hollies, Midsomer Norton and at the Civic Centre, Market Walk, Keynsham during normal office hours." "Any person who desires to question the validity of, or any provision contained in the order on the grounds that it is not within the powers of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or on the grounds that any of the relevant requirements of that Act has not been complied with in relation to the order, may within six weeks after the date on which the order was made, apply to the High Court for this purpose." A4 traffic through Saltford down 12%
There has been a drop of 12% in the total number of vehicles travelling on the A4 Bath Road since the peak of 2002. Traffic count data from B&NES Council of the weekday average total number of vehicles in 24 hours on the A4 at Saltford from 1998 to 2016 was made known at the Saltford Parish Council meeting on 7th March. The data is shown below. Very little traffic passes along the A4 between 8pm in the evening and 6am in the morning. Not surprisingly, traffic volumes normally peak daily between 7am and 8am and between 4pm and 6pm. On Fridays the morning traffic builds up more slowly. A4 Bath Rd, volumetric 24 hr, 5-day average Both directions combined. 1998 29911
Mayoral Candidate backs the reopening of Saltford station
West of England Regional Mayoral Candidate Stephen Williams (Lib Dem, formerly MP for Bristol West and coalition government minister) visited Saltford on 6th March 2017 to discuss his backing for the reopening of the railway station at Saltford as part of the MetroWest project. He is pictured here (centre) at Saltford station site with Chairman of Saltford Parish Council and station campaign leader Chris Warren (left) and Adrian Betts (right), Chairman of Saltford Parish Council's Planning Committee. March 2017 NewsletterDiscovering Roman Saltford: Geophysics survey report published
On 6th February 2017 SEG published the final report complete with expert analysis from our colleagues at Bath and Camerton Archaeological Society (BACAS). SEG assisted BACAS complete the geophysics search for a Roman dwelling in November 2016. Below is a geophysics image from day 2 of the survey; as can be seen there is evidence of a major building (villa?) measuring up to approximately 70 metres in length and 40 to 50 metres in width that appears to have been discovered. This discovery in the parish of Saltford of a major structure that is probably Roman is a first for recorded history in modern times.
To the left (west) of the building are two large ditches running east-west. These might be for retaining livestock, irrigation or some other purpose. As described in the final 2016 report, in the north western corner of the field an area of magnetic disturbance appears to indicate a structure but magnetometry has not provided a clear image. A trackway running up the west side of the field is also visible over part of its length. There also appears a pair of short, intense strong lines on the east side of the field, approximately 45 metres in from the field margin. It is not obvious what these represent, possibly the sides of a washing pool. In the east portion of the field, a series of east - west lines, unevenly spaced, may be part of an earlier field system, perhaps medieval.
LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) imaging was introduced for the 2016 survey report (courtesy of Andy McGrandle of BigAnomaly). This usefully provides complementary information in the form of landscape archaeology revealing many features of archaeological interest in the surrounding fields including evidence of an earlier and ancient field system, possibly Roman, and other features (mounds and other structures). SEG is very grateful to the landowner, Adam Stratton, for allowing access to the field, to BACAS for carrying out this geophysics survey, for the assistance of survey volunteers from BACAS and SEG named in the report and to Andy McGrandle of BigAnomaly for the LIDAR imagery. SEG is now in the early stages of discussing with BACAS the next steps for revealing more about this important find. You can find the final survey report that includes technical data and imaging in the "Roman Saltford" section of our Online Museum. Litter: Wombles (11 March) and tackling everyday litter
The next Saltford Wombles' litter-pick will be on Saturday 11th March (meet 9.30am at The Little Coffee Shop, Manor Road) - weather permitting. If you haven't taken part in a litter-pick before, why not come along and see how satisfying it is to clear the litter that spoils our village? We would like to thank everyone who already takes the care and trouble to pick up litter when they see it in Saltford. One way we can all help to discourage litter is to remove it when it appears so that litter in our village is the exception, not the norm. We want to encourage everyone to remove litter from the pavements at and near their own properties so that together we can make a difference in keeping our village cleaner and tidier. Many residents already do this as a matter of course but the more of us who do this, the less there will be to pick up. Information about Saltford Wombles and street volunteers, individuals or families who remove litter from the area where they live or regularly walk, is on our "Less Waste" page. If you want to get involved contact Julie Sampson by email to: juliebsampson@gmail.com or tel: 01225--874603 or 07807--671--267. P.S. The provisional date for the Wombles April litter pick is Saturday 8th April (meet 9.30am at The Little Coffee Shop, Manor Road). Great British Spring Clean - Blitz it by Bike - cycle path clear up (4 March)Organised by one of our members, Simone Burke, volunteers from the Environment Agency Bristol Office's Bike Users Group along with anyone who wants to join in (fellow cyclists, community members and residents) are doing a Blitz it by Bike - cycle path litter clear up. This will start at the Bristol entrance on St Philip's Rd, 10am, Saturday 4th March and working "Blitzing it by Bike" to Warmley Waiting Rooms Café. Keen cycling members interested in this can find details from this external web link. Get Ready for Easter the Upcycling Way (24 March)THE DATE FOR OUR EASTER SESSION HAS CHANGED TO 24th MARCH (previously 23rd) What can you do with a balloon, odds and ends of wool, jam jars and shredded paper? Well, how about an Easter egg with sweets in, a paper nest for Easter eggs or chicks and an Easter bunny sweet jar? If you have any odds and bods of knitting wool or thin twine/string and a jam jar with a lid please bring them along, we will have some if you haven't and we all share. We will have the eggs, balloons, shredded paper and some jam jars so don't worry if you haven't got any. The only other item needed is a bowl that can be lined with cling film to use as a frame to make your nest on. Everyone welcome just pop in on Friday March 24th (NOTE REVISED DATE), 7 - 9pm at Signs of Saltford workshop, 559 Bath Road, Saltford. Look us up on our Facebook page 'Make it Magic' to see the kind of things we do. If you would like to find out more about our Upcycling Craft Group, have a chat with Frances on 07789--528834. Frances and Tina are looking forward to meeting you. Saltford Photo Exhibition
Saltford Community Association is inviting all local residents to participate in the photo exhibition for the 2017 Saltford Village Festival that is being held in June. This is free to enter for amateur photographers with prizes for "Young photographer" and "Comedy photo". Photographs must be taken in Saltford and suitable photographs will also be considered for the 2018 Saltford calendar. Entries can cover one or more of these themes:
Entries should be jpeg files (up to 10Mb) and sent to John Davies email j.j.davies@bath.ac.uk (tel: 01225--344976) by no later than Monday 8th May. Our village in the 1950s
SEG has recently published in our history project's Online Museum key extracts from "Our Village", the 1959 un-illustrated brochure produced by Saltford W.I. 58 years ago. Published on 10 February 1959 this was compiled by six members of Saltford Women's Institute with "knowledge gained from various sources" and was kindly loaned to SEG by long-term resident Margaret Stabbins whose mother had been a W.I. member in the 1950s. This provides a rare description of 1950s Saltford, a village "pleasantly situated on the South bank of a particularly picturesque portion of the River Avon" and where "steep, winding paths and curious old streets and lanes combine to give it a romantic attractiveness which one cannot fail to appreciate." Furthermore Saltford had "a quaint old world appearance due in a measure to its position on the slopes of a hill and to the almost medieval character of some of its habitations." Below are just a few edited extracts concerning the village and the river from this quaint historical record:- THE VILLAGEThe village has not been altered for many years, the chief characteristic feature being the rows of cottages built at angles off the road through the village. They have no back entrance or garden but have good front gardens. Most of the village people are engaged on railway maintenance at Keynsham, Bristol or Bath. Some are agricultural workers. At the cross roads in the village is the World War I Memorial, a dignified and simple Celtic Cross, surrounded by a tiny garden. Names have also been added of casualties in World War II. The main Bristol-London road, the upper end of Saltford, is now given to ribbon development, modern houses, many of which are dormitories for residents occupied in nearby towns. On each side, off the main road, there are Council houses of various types, about two hundred in all. These are planned and arranged to give space and beauty for the occupants. We have a very energetic Community Association, which is working hard to raise funds for a new Community Centre on the Sports ground. This is badly needed as the W.I. Hut is the only hall available for all the local activities. The only shops in the old village are a news agent a grocery store but a number of other shops and a post office line a portion of the main Bristol-Bath road and these satisfy most every-day needs. THE RIVERIt is a very pretty stretch of the river, with weirs adjoining both locks. Willow trees overhang into the river in places and here moorhens build their nests, such a charming picture they make when wee black, fluffy chicks are seen paddling about with their parents. Swans also nest on the banks and are equally delightful to watch, gliding down the river in single file, with a parent bird at each end of the line of young cygnets. They are far more aggressive when nesting or protecting their young and will readily attack at any unwarranted interference. There is plenty of fishing in season. The patient fishermen sit or stand all day, wet or fine, on the grassy banks and are sometimes rewarded with good catches of roach etc. At one time eels were caught in traps and sold in neighbouring towns. Water rats or voles are sometimes seen, searching for food. They are pretty creatures with furry, mud-coloured coats. A lovely sight is the kingfisher, its brilliant blue plumage and large beak catching the sunlight, making it into a flying jewel. During the summer months, especially at week-end, the river is alive with punts, rowing boats, canoes and similar craft, the main feature being the annual Saltford Regatta. Many clubs use the river, the Clifton Rowing Club among others, having their own boat-houses there. Sea scouts also make full use of the water for their nautical training and camp in the adjoining fields. The Shallows were so called because in olden times, before there were any weirs or locks, the tide came up to Saltford and where the road is low, there was a ford, or shallow place, where one could cross to the Kelston side of the river. A swift stream ran down the middle about a yard wide, which had to be jumped. The road is now very much higher than it was then, when it was often flooded. There was a flood path for foot passengers and it led through No. 2 Willow Cottages and up the field at the top of the Rectory. The door has been nailed up for a good many years but for a long time there was a strong piece of chain and a padlock on the inside of the stair door. FURTHER INFORMATION FROM THE FULL DOCUMENTThe document also describes the brass mill, the Jolly Sailor and other pubs, St Mary's church, the railway station, and some of the sporting activities including the golf club. You can download the full online document we have produced from this direct link:- "Our Village" (pdf opens in new window). For future reference it is in the Online Museum, 20th Century (page 2, "Miscellaneous"). Plans for Keynsham High Street one-way trialMembers may wish to be aware that B&NES Council has announced details of the one-way trial for Keynsham High Street. The trial scheme is in response to public support for the idea; residents in Keynsham wished to see an improved shopping experience, with reduced traffic making it quieter and less congested. If the trial is successful, it would enable permanent improvements to be made such as widening of the footways to give pedestrians more space. As part of the Keynsham, High Street trial, the following changes will take place:
Ashton Way will remain two-way to all traffic. If the trial is successful, implementation of a permanent one-way system would enable more significant changes to be made to the High Street in future. These could include widening of the pedestrian areas and additional street furniture such as more public seating. Construction is expected to start in Ashton Way on Monday 27 February, with the trial layout expected to come into effect in May. During the trial, B&NES will be undertaking a paper-based and online consultation process with the public about how they would like to see the space on the High Street developed. The project web page at www.bathnes.gov.uk/keynsham will feature news and updates regarding opportunities to get involved in this process. Saltford Heritage Centre: SPC backs PCC
At its February meeting Saltford Parish Council approved a grant of £1,000 to St Mary's Parochial Church Council towards the cost of redecorating and other related internal improvements in the church hall as a venue for hosting Saltford's Heritage Centre. The PCC has already started to make progress on decorating the hall and the financial assistance generously provided by the Parish Council demonstrates its support for this project to help Saltford as a community gain a better knowledge and appreciation of its heritage. As reported previously, SEG and the PCC are working together with the aim of having the early beginnings of the Heritage Centre ready for the Saltford Festival in June (2017). Healthy sustainable food in the West of EnglandIf we do not permit the Earth to produce beauty and joy, it will in the end not produce food either - Joseph Woodkrutch Those SEG members who are involved with public catering and food procurement/supply may wish to be aware that a West of England Food Procurement Group has been set up by the 4 West of England local authorities to provide leadership on healthy and sustainable food procurement. Membership includes procurement, catering and public health staff from the four West of England local authorities - Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset - along with representatives from local supply groups and other partners. The group works together to exchange information, share best practice and identify initiatives and actions to support healthy and sustainable food procurement across the West of England. If you want to know more visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/sustainablefoodprocurement where guidance, tools, local suppliers and information on awards to support healthy and sustainable food procurement can be found. Incentive to recycle more as waste collections go fortnightly in NovemberWith all waste or pollution, someone somewhere pays for it... Here is the latest informatiomn from B&NES Council on the change to fortnightly waste collections:-
Most households across Bath and North East Somerset will be changing to every other week collection for their rubbish from 6 November. B&NES will be providing a 140 litre wheeled bin for the storage and collection of rubbish. B&NES realise that one size does not fit all, so in a small number of cases where a 140 litre wheeled bin is not suitable for a property, or family situation, they may provide a larger bin or a re-useable rubbish bag to contain rubbish for collection. Recycling collections, including food waste will remain weekly and the emphasis from B&NES will be on encouraging everyone to use this weekly service to its full potential. From 9-13 March all households will be sent a personalised letter informing them how the changes will affect them - most letters will be included in the envelope with your Council Tax Bill. This letter will let you know whether B&NES has allocated your property a wheeled bin or re-useable rubbish bag for rubbish collection, and the frequency of your rubbish collection. The letter is for information and no response will be needed. If you are concerned that the container B&NES has allocated is not appropriate for your specific property, or if despite recycling all you can, you feel that your household will not manage with the allocated container you will be able to complete an online query form. Why are B&NES introducing the changes?1. To keep our streets cleaner Containing rubbish in a bin or re-usable bag will prevent animals and birds ripping open bags and making a mess which is unpleasant for everyone and costs us to clear up. 2. To recycle more B&NES have a very comprehensive recycling collection where you can already recycle 17 different types of household waste every week. We know that some residents can recycle more than they are currently doing - about 75% of a household's waste can be recycled using the current collections, but B&NES still find that over half of an average rubbish bag consists of items that could have been recycled. Local research shows that if you recycle all you can you will still have space left in your rubbish bin when collected every other week. The change will help to encourage everyone to use their food recycling collection - only about 50% of households currently use this. About a third of the waste in black sacks currently is food. 3. To save money Every lorry load of waste costs £1000 to dispose of whilst every lorry load of recycling earns an income of £100, so reducing the amount put out as rubbish is essential. You can find out more at www.bathnes.gov.uk/recycle. Opportunity to coordinate local habitat project
Just a reminder that Saltford Environment Group is looking for a new volunteer to be our railway path habitat restoration project coordinator as our existing coordinator, who did a great job getting things organised, has had to step down due to other commitments. This local project has seen some notable successes:
The area needs some concerted effort over the next 2-3 years to prevent the area from reverting back to scrub and trees: obscuring views and shading some of the rare sun-loving plants that have so recently returned. This work is likely to involve:
This is a great opportunity for someone with good organisational skills to help deliver a really exciting project: restoring a rare and beautiful habitat and bringing members of the community together through fun, practical activities. No prior experience of wildlife conservation projects is required and there will be plenty of opportunities to learn more about the rare and beautiful plants and animals which would otherwise disappear from our area, to make new friends and learn new skills along the way. We are looking for someone with a can-do attitude and the enthusiasm to engage with volunteers and provide more of a social side to this worthwhile activity. If this opportunity to manage and develop a small yet interesting and local outdoor project appeals to you, to express an interest please contact our Vice-Chairman Chris Warren (email cherokee1883@live.com). The project has its own webpage: link >> February 2017 NewsletterCan you help SEG find this 1860 painting?
This (old) monochrome print of a Constable style painting of the River Avon was amongst the Percy Sims collection of Saltford photographs. The late Percy Sims was the author of the well known 1976 book 'A History of Saltford Village'. The image is in our History of Saltford project's Online Museum but SEG would very much like to trace the actual painting so that we can photograph it in colour and thus share it in its full glory with residents and others. Do you know who has this particular painting? If so please contact SEG's Chairman. Imaginative FramesDo you have any old picture frames at the back of your cupboards? Then now is the time to get them out and dust them down. With a bit of imagination you can transform them into something beautiful for nothing. Modern, vintage, rustic - something for yourself, family and friends. Whatever you choose it will be unique. To find out how this can be done, bring along your finds on Thursday February 16th with anything you may wish to decorate your frames with. Buttons, old maps, newspaper, twine, ribbon, the list is endless. We will have some frames and as usual we share ideas and finds. Pop along and join Tina and Frances at Signs of Saltford, 559 Bath Road, Saltford where we meet in the workshop from 7-9pm. Our UPCYCLING CRAFT GROUP is free and fun for everyone, no experience needed. Phone Frances on 07789--528834 if you would like to find out more. Are you or your organisation a keen recycler? A chance to star!How do you do it in your home/school/workplace?B&NES Council need all kinds of resident recyclers to star in their campaign in 2017. Instead of using generic pictures, they want real Bath and North East Somerset residents! They want you to show how you recycle, to encourage others to recycle more, and to help people get ready for the change to every other week rubbish collections starting in November. They want your stories, photos, videos and recycling tips to share with others and are keen to hear from individuals and groups - including schools, families, housemates, work groups - and show how you do it in your home/school/workplace. They want to use your photos and stories mainly for their social media campaign. If there is anything unusual about how you recycle and/or you have a fun way to recycle or a humorous tale to tell please also get in touch with them by email wastecampaigns@bathnes.gov.uk - they welcome creative ideas. You can send your photos/stories/tips/videos to them or nominate recycling star(s). Don't buy it, Borrow It!Did you know that the average drill is only used for 13 minutes during its entire lifetime? Bath Borrow It has been set up by TimeBank Plus in Twerton and will offer people in B&NES the opportunity to borrow a range of useful items which are needed only for occasional use, such as tools, household and gardening equipment, catering utensils, camping items, children & baby equipment, etc. - it could be anything from a hedge trimmer to a sewing machine, a gazebo or a chocolate fountain! The Bath Borrow It project will provide a way to reduce waste and clutter, make better use of resources and help people to save money. Details can be found on the timebankplus.co.uk/wp/ website. They are currently advertising their Wish List of items for loan. The telephone number for enquiries is 01225--442813. New opportunity to coordinate local habitat project
Saltford Environment Group is looking for a new volunteer to be our railway path habitat restoration project coordinator as our existing coordinator, who did a great job getting things organised, has had to step down due to other commitments. This local project has seen some notable successes:
The area needs some concerted effort over the next 2-3 years to prevent the area from reverting back to scrub and trees: obscuring views and shading some of the rare sun-loving plants that have so recently returned. This work is likely to involve:
This is a great opportunity for someone with good organisational skills to help deliver a really exciting project: restoring a rare and beautiful habitat and bringing members of the community together through fun, practical activities. No prior experience of wildlife conservation projects is required and there will be plenty of opportunities to learn more about the rare and beautiful plants and animals which would otherwise disappear from our area, to make new friends and learn new skills along the way. We are looking for someone with a can-do attitude and the enthusiasm to engage with volunteers and provide more of a social side to this worthwhile activity. If this opportunity to manage and develop a small yet interesting and local outdoor project appeals to you, to express an interest please contact our Vice-Chairman Chris Warren (email cherokee1883@live.com). The project has its own webpage: link >> The Grey Herons in Saltford
Grey Herons (species name Ardea cinerea) can frequently be seen along the River Avon in Saltford - especially searching out fish near the weirs, and visiting gardens with ponds. This prehistoric looking bird with its dagger like bill, long legs and S-shaped neck is one of our most unmistakable all-year round residents. Their carnivorous diet consists principally of fish, but also small birds such as ducklings, small mammals like voles, and amphibians. After harvest, Grey Herons can sometimes be seen in our fields, searching out rodents. Similarly, after floods, they visit fields where various marooned fish and flooded land animals are easy pickings. The Grey Heron is not currently a threatened species; in fact it is increasing its range, and is now more abundant in Britain than it has ever been since monitoring of heronries began in the 1920s. This may be due to an increase in winter temperatures and less persecution. Over the last half-century herons have become noticeably less shy in Saltford, again probably reflecting lowered persecution. Here are some interesting facts about herons:-
Information sources: Saltford Weather Station
2016 was the hottest year globally on record, according to NASA, and of the 17 hottest years ever recorded, 16 have now occurred since 2000. We know that extreme weather events such as droughts, storms and floods together with changing weather patterns are becoming increasingly the norm. Members are reminded that SEG's Saltford Weather Station on our Climate Change page provides the 5-day local weather forecast, flood alerts, and a direct link to the constantly updated river level here in Saltford. January 2017 NewsletterSEG publishes image of the oldest painting of Saltford
SEG has published just before Christmas this fascinating painting for everyone to see as part of our history project. Many residents were dismayed to see this painting leave Saltford in 1993 after it had been in the Jolly Sailor for some 265 years. The original painting itself, oil on wood panel, was over 5 feet wide. We have scanned to a high resolution a small and rare photograph taken of the painting in the 1990s, digitally cleaned and colour corrected it, and the resulting image is now on SEG's website looking magnificent (the image above is a small version). The following describes the painting and its historical context and is from our Online Museum where you can see a much larger version of the painting:- ~ Measuring 167.2cm x 64.2cm (5' 5.75" x 2' 1.25") and dated at c.1728 by art experts and industrial archaeologists, this is the oldest known painting depicting a Saltford scene. The lock had been opened in 1727 when the Avon Navigation was opened linking Bath to Bristol. It is thought that the house became an inn, the Jolly Sailor, from the 1740s; the first recorded landlord, from 1749 to 1789, was Francis Hunt. Despite its simplicity and stretched perspective the painting is an important industrial and social historical record for the River Avon and Saltford. It provides a rare depiction of activity on the river soon after the locks had been built by Bristol-based civil and mechanical engineer John Padmore that allowed river traffic to bypass Saltford and Kelston weirs. As the somewhat grand house is central to the picture it is thought that this painting may have been commissioned by the mill owner at the time, Mr Faux. The painting depicts the miller's home (central building), the paper mill itself (left-hand building) that was also at one time a leather mill, the drying house (right-hand building), and the new Saltford Lock. In the central foreground is the lock island with steps, the original lock gates and beams. On the river can be seen a variety of boats including a wherry (left of picture, with square sail), passenger and other pleasure boats with red flags, small rowing boats, a cargo carrying barge with sail (centre within the lock) and a barge pulled by men (right). This was before landowners along the river permitted horses onto their land for pulling barges. Concerned that heavy horses would damage their land, horses for pulling barges were not allowed access. However, lobbying and a petition from local manufacturers along the river led to the passing of the Amendment Act of 1807 (47 Geo III c.129) that allowed for a horse towpath along the river. The painting shows a sense of prosperity for the Bath to Bristol area, sustained by the industrial activity of the many mills along the River Avon and the amount of river traffic including for pleasure use that had become possible by the new navigation as a result of the installation of locks. This new navigation enabled the river journey by wherry in 1728 of Princess Amelia the daughter of King George II from Bath to Hanham through Saltford - details of her journey can be found in our Online Museum as well as an account of the destruction of Saltford Lock by rioting Kingswood coal miners in 1738. ~ A larger version of the painting can be viewed in our Online Museum on the 18th Century page. Saltford Heritage Centre: Starting to take shape
Whilst the development and planning for the centre is still in its early stages, discussions and planning behind the scenes continue to take place for this volunteer run community resource. SEG should like to thank everyone who took the time to answer our short online survey from 14 September to the end of December 2016. Although the response rate was fairly low, and thus typical for surveys of this nature, the enthusiasm for the idea of establishing a Heritage Centre at the Church Hall in Saltford, for SEG's history project and the range of supportive ideas and comments were encouraging to read. All respondents were in favour and 98% would visit the centre at least once or twice a year with 38% interested in visiting the centre more than twice a year. Whilst SEG's Online Museum had the highest single preference (35%) for finding out about Saltford's history, those preferring the Heritage Centre or having no preference was 57%. Most respondents (36%) were in the 35-44 age range. These comments from the online survey are typical of the responses we have received: "Ideal venue for the local and wider community" "It's a great idea, for local people and for visitors" "It's important that the Heritage Centre doesn't become just a collection of artefacts... Outreach to our local schools and other cultural centres, e.g. the Brass Mill, would help keep it fresh" "SEG's history project is great; the heritage centre would complement the online material" We are in regular contact with the Parochial Church Council as plans unfold for the church hall's redecoration and other internal improvements, and we shall aim to keep residents and SEG members informed as plans develop further. We aim to have the early beginnings of the Heritage Centre ready for the Saltford Festival in June (2017). Sale of last remaining 2017 Saltford Calendars
SCA are selling the last remaining unsold calendars for half price (£3) from the SCA office on the 1st floor of Saltford Hall on weekday mornings from Tuesday 3rd January. If you missed out on getting a calendar or want some for friends and family you can take advantage of this special low price while remaining stocks last. As production costs have now been recovered future proceeds from this joint SEG/SCA initiative are split 50/50 between SCA and SEG to help further their voluntary work supporting the local community.
Get involved with the Big Garden Birdwatch 2017 (28-29 Jan)
In 2017 the world's largest wildlife survey, the Big Garden Birdwatch 2017, takes place over three days: Sat 28th - Mon 30th January. You can find out how you and your family can get involved on the RSPB website from this link ww2.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch. Facts from the 2016 Big Garden Birdwatch:-
Attracting birds to your gardenThe RSPB website gives lots of useful advice on how to make your garden more bird friendly and how best to attract wild birds into your garden. Our Wildlife page section on Birds also gives feeding tips and reminds members that feeding bread to wild birds is strongly advised against as the nutritional value of bread is relatively low for birds (an 'empty filler'), uneaten bread can attract rats, and a bird that is on a diet of predominantly or only bread can suffer from serious vitamin deficiencies, or starve. Saltford Upcycling Craft Group, 12th JanThe New Year brings a challenge and change of date for our first meeting in January. 1 - THE CHALLENGE
2 - ACTIONS:
3 - THE CHALLENGE BEGINS:
4 - SOMETHING ACHIEVED:
5 - TAKE HOME SOMETHING THAT IS TOTALLY UNIQUE AND MADE BY YOU Everyone is welcome to come along to our free, friendly craft evening; Tina and Frances always have the basic tools for you to use and bits and pieces to help you along. Do give Frances a ring on 07789--528834 if you would like to find out more about our group. We meet at: Signs of Saltford (works entrance), 559 Bath Road, Saltford, Thursday 12th January, 7-9pm. SEG responds to JSP and JTS consultationsSEG submitted its response to the West of England's consultation on the Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) and Joint Transport Study (JTS) on 10th December. NOTE: The deadline for submitting comments via https://www.jointplanningwofe.org.uk was 19th December. Some of the key comments included in SEG's response were as follows:- Joint Spatial Plan (JSP)The proposed JSP fails to empower or take account of the emerging role that WoE Councils could have in building housing themselves rather than private sector developers. WoE Councils would thereby determine timescales and location sequencing of their own choosing and in line with improved transport infrastructure. There is an insufficient emphasis on the urgent need to drastically reduce car commuting. Joint Transport Study (JTS)Insufficient investment in heavy rail solutions has been proposed whilst too high a priority is given to road building (that simply attracts more car use) despite the lack of space and the need to transfer commuting away from the car. Attention should be been given to investigate the possibility of additional use of the existing disused rail corridors in the region, for example the Avon Valley railway line currently shares the Bristol-Bath cycle path with cyclists. A study could be made to see if this could be extended in both directions to provide a modern LRT (Light Rail Tram/Train) alongside a cycle way. New road proposals represent poor value for money and can create new or worse problems further along the commuter route/corridor compared to improved public transport infrastructure for tackling peak time congestion. They can also have negative impacts on established communities without addressing the cause of bottlenecks. Saltford Environment Group shares Saltford Parish Council's opposition to the proposed bypass at Saltford for several reasons including loss of the Green Belt, the negative impact on the environment, local commerce, and the integrity of Saltford as a place. Furthermore it is important that the proposed bypass route shown as a blue line south of Saltford is removed from the next version of this JTS document. The publication of a route line/option or series of options will cause a housing blight for a significant proportion of Saltford that could last as long as the duration of the JTS period. A strategic look at all the transport options for Saltford and the surrounding area is required but does not need to show a Saltford bypass route on a map when there are no firm plans for a bypass and it is being considered as one of a number of traffic congestion mitigation measures. SEG questions the proposal to put an LRT scheme on an existing road corridor like the A4 through Saltford, particularly when other options that do not affect road space need to be considered first, e.g. an LRT sharing the Bristol-Bath cycle path with cyclists as partially happens now with the Avon Valley Railway. Investment in heavy rail can provide a better, longer term solution. An LRT scheme on the A4 through Saltford would reduce road space for existing car-based commuters when there are better transport solutions that can be delivered much more quickly such as re-opening Saltford station. SEG responds to B&NES Core Strategy consultation by highlighting local Green Belt policies
In response to the B&NES Council review of its Core Strategy and consultation on the proposed content, scope and programme for the Core Strategy Review for the period 2016-2036, SEG has submitted the following response on 7th December to the question "Do you have any specific observations to make on the Core Strategy review?" :- The public commitment on 1st December 2016 by the Leader of B&NES Council, Cllr Tim Warren, at the public meeting in Saltford about a proposed bypass that there was not any housing development planned for Saltford is welcomed by Saltford Environment Group (SEG). SEG also supports Cllr Tim Warren's opposition stated at that meeting to the use of any of Saltford's Green Belt land for housing development. Cllr Tim Warren's statement is in line with the fact that there is no political mandate or permission from the residents of B&NES or Saltford to allow any loss of the Green Belt to development. The ruling Conservative administration at B&NES Council was elected in May 2015 on a manifesto to defend the Green Belt from development. The Core Strategy Review should not therefore propose, suggest or even hint at housing development on any parcel of Green Belt land in Saltford as that would be contrary to the declared land use planning policy of B&NES Council. Following this initial consultation, from 7th November to 19th December 2016, the Core Strategy Review will allocate strategic sites at locations identified in the West of England Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) and other "development opportunities" will be identified and allocated - hence SEG's reminder to B&NES Council of the Council's own declared policies and the political commitments made by its elected members to the local electorate. B&NES Council will also take the opportunity to look again at other policy areas such as renewable energy targets and what infrastructure is needed to support additional development. Potential for Saltford station as an additional stop being testedAfter discussions and lobbying of B&NES Council the Saltford station campaign team learned on 1st December from B&NES Council's Divisional Director of Environmental Services that within the timetabling work for Metro West Phase 1 the potential for Saltford Station as an additional stop within this part of the GWR network is being tested. We shall report on this again when we hear further news. Standing room only at the Saltford bypass public meeting
Approx. 200 residents attended the public meeting at Saltford Golf Club on the evening of 1st December. This was arranged at short notice by Saltford Parish Council to give residents an opportunity to hear about the proposed bypass as illustrated in the West of England Joint Transport Study "Transport Vision" document which has a very short consultation period from 7th November to 19th December. On the panel stating their position on a bypass and taking questions from residents were Cllr Tim Warren, Leader of B&NES Council; Cllr Tony Clarke, B&NES Cabinet Member for Transport; Cllr Francine Haeberling, Ward Councillor for Saltford (Cons); Cllr Chris Warren, Chairman of Saltford Parish Council; and Duncan Hounsell, representing B&NES and Saltford Liberal Democrats. The meeting was chaired by independent chairman and Saltford resident, Dick Bateman. Cllrs Tim Warren and Tony Clarke were emphatic that the line on the map showing a bypass route south of Saltford was illustrative only and there were no plans for a bypass on any particular route around Saltford. It was being considered in only general terms at this stage as part of the mix of transport solutions to help alleviate the traffic congestion on the Bath-Bristol transport corridor as part of the Joint Transport Study which was intended to cover a 20 year period from 2016 to 2036. The majority of questions from the floor expressed concerns at the potential impacts on Saltford and the potential for infill housing on the Green Belt from a bypass. The need for evidence based information on the different options or solutions before the community was asked to express a firm opinion was also emphasised by several residents.
A number of residents in the audience and the panel members from Saltford asked for the next published draft of the transport vision to not include any indicative line for a Saltford bypass. It was strongly felt that any indicative line showing a possible bypass would put an unnecessary long term housing and planning blight on a large part of Saltford. Cllr Tim Warren promised to organise another public meeting in Saltford with the relevant transport officers present so that a more informed discussion could be held on the various transport options under consideration. He said that if the residents of Saltford do not want a bypass, then a Saltford bypass would not be built. He also said that the current B&NES administration had no intention to allow housing development on Saltford's Green Belt in the Joint Spatial Plan. Duncan Hounsell said the Liberal Democrats would seek to remove a Saltford orbital road from the proposed Transport Strategy when the opportunity arises should the proposal find its way into the final document. The timing on any future public meeting, whether hosted by the Parish Council or B&NES Council, would be dependent on timing with the next draft Joint Transport Study "Transport Vision" document. In the meantime the Parish Council would decide its response to the current consultation at its meeting on 6th December. The four west of England councils' (Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire) short consultation period on the Joint Spatial Plan and Joint Transport Study from 7 November to 19 December 2016 has been a cause for concern when the plans have such major implications. These plans set out a prospectus for sustainable growth to meet the area's housing and transport needs for the next 20 years. However there should be further opportunities to comment on future drafts of those plans. Residents can see the plans and comment online (but comment deadline was 19th December) at www.jointplanningwofe.org.uk. Written responses can be sent to: West of England Joint Planning Consultation, Corporate Research & Consultation team, Civic Centre, High St, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 0DR. B&NES wins British Food Fortnight's 2016 competitionSome good news for our area - B&NES Council has won the National British Food Fortnight competition for 2016. The British Food Fortnight competition acknowledged the most imaginative and inclusive celebrations of British Food across the nation. B&NES was named the unanimous winner due to the way it brought "the whole community together to celebrate all that is great about British food". Over 30 businesses and organisations in B&NES participated by hosting food festivals, cooking and growing courses and special local food promotions and menus. The Council launched a new online local food directory to enable residents and visitors to easily find and buy locally produced food and drink - there is a link to the new online B&NES local food map from our links page. A special British Breakfast lunch was also provided for primary schools prepared from healthy, locally sourced and organic ingredients, supporting children to celebrate British food traditions and local produce. The voting judges were: The Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom, MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Breige Donaghy, Director of Delicious Food, Co-op Food, Chef Raymond Blanc OBE, and Alexia Robinson, Founder of Love British Food. Congratulations to Sophie Kirk, Corporate Sustainability Officer (Food), and her colleagues at B&NES Council for achieving this award. Fairtrade & Traidcraft together at Saltford Christmas Market
The Saltford Fairtrade Group had their annual stall again at this year's Saltford Christmas Market on 3rd December, this time working alongside a local representative (Lyndsey Wright) who had on display Fairtrade products from Traidcraft. Traidcraft is claimed to be the UK's leading fair trade organisation. Their mission is to fight poverty through trade. Established in 1979, Traidcraft's unique structure - a UK trading company and a development charity working together - enables them to build long-term relationships with producers, support people to trade out of poverty and work to bring about trade justice. You can find out more about Traidcraft's work (and order their products) at www.traidcraft.co.uk or you can contact Lyndsey via her email fairtrade@stsaviours.org.uk and she will also be delighted to tell you more about their products and other Fairtrade companies and how to order from them. In addition to the Traidcraft display the Saltford group continued to promote Fairtrade and ran a small raffle which contained a mix of products some kindly donated by the local Co-Operative store. Finally, the group were grateful once again for the support received from the Village Hall and the Saltford Community Association who served Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar at this and at all their events. Permaculture explained
We're never going to scare people into living more sustainably! We have to be able to demonstrate just how dynamic and aspirational such a world could be Permaculture as a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature, originates from the late 1970s. Most of us have heard of permaculture, a word created originally from 'permanent agriculture' and now defined as 'permanent culture' but what does it mean in practice? The Permaculture Association (link) describes permaculture as: "living lightly on the planet, and making sure that we can sustain human activities for many generations to come, in harmony with nature. Permanence is not about everything staying the same. It's about stability, about deepening soils and cleaner water, thriving communities in self-reliant regions, biodiverse agriculture and social justice, peace and abundance." The association says permaculture combines three key aspects: 1. an ethical framework 2. an understanding of how nature works, and 3. a design approach. Here is an example from each of those aspects to help explain what this might mean from a practical viewpoint:- Ethical ETHICAL SHOPPING: By thinking carefully carefully about how and where they shop and what they buy, consumers can ensure their money has a positive social and environmental impact rather than a negative one. Buying local produce and choosing Fairtrade products where available is a typical approach to ethical shopping. B&NES Local Food Map (link) can help you find your local food producers (for future reference we have a link to this from our links page), and our Fairtrade page explains what we as a community are doing in Saltford, a Fairtrade Village, to encourage Fairtrade and gives more information about this topic. Nature GARDENING: Plant choice is also important. The role of fruit and nut trees, for example, in offering early bee fodder is a good reason for their inclusion in wildlife corridors and green infrastructure for they are multiple providers of ecosystem services valuable to us all. Here in Saltford choosing native varieties of trees, shrubs and plants suitable for North East Somerset is key. Our insect population eats and thrives on the foliage of native plants and trees whereas non-native plants provide little or no larval food at all. The crucial role of insects in our ecosystem ranges from helping to consume waste products including dead animals to being food for our wild bird population. So, if you want to attract birds and encourage beneficial insects to your garden that are healthier for flowers whilst your population of harmful insects such as aphids, mealy bugs and cutworms gradually diminish, plant choice can be important. As a result of correct plant choice, you can also reduce or eliminate use of harmful pesticides that end up in the air and water supply and threaten important insects such as bees. Design THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: Rethinking the future It is a profound challenge, at the end of an era of cheap oil and materials to rethink and redesign how we produce and consume; to reshape how we live and work, or even to imagine the jobs that will be needed for transition We know that we cannot go on producing more things, consuming more, creating more waste, and destroying the natural environment on this finite planet. Perhaps the time is now right for a "permaculture approach" to how we as a modern society move forward in a more sustainable way. If this topic interests you there are several websites, training courses and publications about permaculture and its growing relevance that can easily be found via Google or other search engines.
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Editorial policySEG as an independent, non-profit making body takes a politically neutral stance. We are committed to the highest editorial and ethical standards in the provision of all the content and related services for our website. The Editor is Phil Harding (SEG Chairman) and Phil can be contacted via our home page. Famous quotes relevant to some of the issues reported on: Trying to relieve traffic congestion by building more roads is like trying to lose weight by loosening your belt - unattributable Cherish the natural world because you're part of it and you depend on it Sir David Attenborough What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say Ralph Waldo Emerson Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication Leonardo da Vinci |
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