The Tawny Owl is by far Saltford's most common owl following the strong decline of the Little Owl in the past 30 years whereas in the 1970s and 80s the Little Owl was 3 to 4 times more numerous in Saltford than the Tawny Owl.

An easy place to observe them around dawn and dusk is from the Rectory Bridge on the railway path (gained by joining the path at the Bird in Hand and turning right towards Bath) as they move between trees in the Shallows and the railway path; even in the winter they are often active well after it has started to get light. In midsummer there is an hour or more of activity either side of darkness.

Tawny Owls are non-migratory and highly territorial - hence all the hooting we hear from the males in some parts of Saltford. They pair off from the age of one year and usually stay together in a monogamous relationship for life. An established pair's territory is defended throughout the year and maintained with little, if any, boundary change from year to year.

With a retina no more sensitive to light for night vision than ours, it is the asymmetrically placed ears that are key to its hunting prowess giving the Tawny Owl excellent directional hearing. It hunts for a wide range of prey, mainly woodland rodents, but also other mammals up to the size of young rabbits, and birds, earthworms and beetles. Indigestible parts of their prey are regurgitated as pellets and are found in groups under trees used for roosting.

The Tawny Owl is currently (February 2025) classified by the UK national scale as at amber risk which indicates that the species is of concern but not as urgent as those on the red list.

There is a list of the regularly occurring bird species readily observed in Saltford on our popular wildlife page; if you click on each bird listed you can find an image, details and even its birdsong on the RSPB website. The list is here >>

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New housing without compromising food security and nature - SPC public letter to DPM

February 2025

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At its meeting on 4th February 2025, Saltford Parish Council resolved to write an open (public) letter to the Government raising its concerns that the Government's planning policy for building 1.5 million new homes has potential to cause considerable long-term harm to the nation's food security, economy and natural capital. In particular, the harm to food security is likely to have disastrous consequences causing future hardship and food poverty for those on lower incomes.

The letter was sent on 10th February and asked the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner that the Government makes an unequivocal policy statement, that overrules any interpretation of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, December 2024) and related planning policies, that "no undeveloped land in the Green Belt and/or farmland during the current Parliament shall be permitted planning permission, including on appeal to the Secretary of State, for building new homes to meet national or local housing targets set by HM Government or Local Planning Authorities" and that existing planning permissions for new housing developments that remain unbuilt (one million...), should be completed or well advanced by 2029, with steps taken by Government, as necessary, to make that happen.

Attached to SPC's letter was an evidence-based annex that set out SPC's cause for its concern and "why there is no need or justification for building any new homes, including affordable homes, that the nation needs on the Green Belt and/or farmland; indeed, to destroy that priceless national resource would be unwise and represent irresponsible stewardship of the nation's land and natural capital."

You can download a copy of SPC's letter as a pdf from this link:-

New housing without compromising food security and nature

The letter can also be found on SPC's website from this eternal link >>.

SEG fully endorses and supports SPC's letter and will use the letter as important evidence when making representations to Government, Local Government and others for defending the Green Belt and farmland.

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January 2025

At the Local Election in Saltford held on 16th January to fill the Saltford Ward Councillor vacancy on BaNES Council, the voter turnout was 40.2% (in the May 2023 local election for the Saltford Ward, the turnout was 44.61%).

Chris Warren, the Independent candidate and one of the only two election candidates who lived in the ward, was elected to represent the Saltford Ward, a role to be fulfilled together with the existing Ward Councillor, Cllr Duncan Hounsell (Lib Dems).

The votes cast were as follows:-

Elected - WARREN, Christopher John (Independent) 587

2nd - PIROOZ, Hossein (Liberal Democrats) 583

3rd - BUSBY, Andrew David (Conservative Party) 375

4th - CONDICK, Daniel Patrick (Reform UK) 205

5th - THORNTON, Luanne (Green Party) 159

6th - GIDDINS, Jane Emma (Labour Party) 60

Congratulations to Chris Warren and thank you to the previous Ward Councillor, Alison Streatfield-James, for her public service for Saltford on BaNES Council.

SEG looks forward to working with Councillor Chris Warren on the issues that really matter to Saltford and its local environment in a spirit of co-operation, partnership and trust.

SEG asked the election candidates two important questions during the pre-election period concerning (i) protecting the Green Belt from development, and (ii) resisting the ill-conceived proposals from WECA to put bus lane(s) on the Keynsham bypass (A4). Their responses as we reported are posted here.

NOTE: The Saltford Ward covers a large area of NE Somerset. Including the village of Saltford itself, it also covers Burnett, Chewton Keynsham, Compton Dando, Corston, Newton St Loe, and Queen Charlton.

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There's no Grey Belt in Saltford, says SPC

January 2025

None of Saltford's Green Belt land meets the Government's new National Planning Policy Framework (December 2024) definition of "Grey Belt" according to Saltford Parish Council at its first meeting of 2025 on 7th January. That resolution was based on an assessment of Saltford's Green Belt by SPC's Planning Policy Working Group. SEG welcomes and agrees with that assessment.

NOTE: Grey Belt is described in the NPPF as land in the Green Belt that could be suitable for new housing developments and is defined as comprising previously developed land and/or any other land that, in either case, does not strongly contribute to any of 3 specific Green Belt purposes, namely (a), (b), or (d) - i.e. (a) to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas, (b) to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another, and (d) to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns.

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SEG asks Local Election candidates 2 key questions

Last updated 7 January 2025

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On behalf of Saltford Environment Group's 560+ members, SEG's Chairman has written an open letter to the 6 candidates standing for election to fill the Saltford Ward Councillor vacancy in the 16th January local election.

The two most important issues for Saltford's new Ward Councillor during and after 2025 will be the threat of development on Saltford's Green Belt in the next (draft) Local Plan, and traffic congestion in Saltford and Keynsham that would become considerably worse at peak times if WECA implements its proposals for a bus lane on the Keynsham bypass.

The letter asks the candidates two key questions, asking the candidates that if they are elected on 16th January to serve Saltford as a Saltford Ward Councillor, will they:

(1) support the local community and actively speak out in favour of protecting Saltford's Green Belt and resist any proposals in the draft Local Plan from BaNES to include developments on that land? YES/NO, and

(2) actively support the local community and speak out and lobby or campaign against any proposals from WECA or BaNES Council to put bus lane(s) on the Keynsham bypass (A4)? YES/NO.

SEG is publishing here the YES/NO responses from the candidates when they are received. These are as follows for questions 1 and 2 :-

BUSBY, Andrew David (Conservative Party) - Yes and YES;
CONDICK, Daniel Patrick (Reform UK) - Yes and YES;
GIDDINS, Jane Emma (Labour Party) - Yes and YES;
PIROOZ, Hossein (Liberal Democrats) - Yes and YES;
THORNTON, Luanne (Green Party) - Yes (implied) and
"The proposed Keynsham bypass bus lane requires further examination...";
WARREN, Christopher John (Independent) - Yes and YES.

SEG's letter made the point that the evidence overwhelmingly shows that there was no need, requirement or justification for building any of the new affordable (and other) homes that the country needs on Green Belt and farmland in England to help meet the Government's target to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029. SEG provided an explanatory "Supporting Evidence Statement" on new housing; you can download it as a pdf from this link:-

SEG's evidence statement 20th Dec 2024

Such development would represent unsustainable development.

SEG also informed the candidates that peak time traffic congestion in Saltford and Keynsham on the Bath Road (A4) and connecting side roads is already a significant problem. Losing road space to bus lanes on the Keynsham bypass as proposed by WECA despite an overwhelming rejection by those residents who will have to live with the consequences of such an ill-conceived plan, will exacerbate this situation further causing more delays and chaos to road vehicle users (including buses when they try to rejoin the main traffic flow) with negative outcomes for the local economy, quality of life for residents, commuters and school children travelling to and from school, whilst further hindering access for emergency vehicles to serious incidents when they arise.

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Revised timetable for BaNES Local Plan

January 2025

Following the launch of the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) by the Government in December 2024, BaNES Council has issued as part of its update to the Local Plan Preparation Schedule a revised timetable to enable consideration of further options for housing developments to meet the higher housing targets set by Government (that are highly questionable and should require no loss of Green Belt or farmland - see SEG's evidence statement 20.12.2024 (pdf)).

The new dates are as follows (subject to change):-

- Public consultation on OPTIONS for strategic housing allocations Aug/Sept 2025.

- Public consultation on draft new Local Plan Mar/Apr 2026.

- Draft Local Plan public examination Jul/Aug 2026.

- Final adoption of new Local Plan Jun/Jul 2027.

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Big Garden Birdwatch 24 - 26 Jan

January 2025

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Big Garden Birdwatch is for everyone, whether you're a complete beginner or a birding expert. Simply count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park for one hour between 26 and 28 January 2023.

Choose an hour between 24 and 26 January

Only record the birds that land in your patch

Record the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time

Across the UK last year, over 600,000 people took part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2024, counting 9.7 million birds! House Sparrows took the top spot, but counts of these chirpy birds are down by 60% compared to the first Birdwatch in 1979. In fact, we've lost 38 million birds from UK skies in the last 60 years. With birds facing so many challenges, it's more important than ever to get involved in the Birdwatch. Every bird you do - or don't - count will give us a valuable insight into how garden birds are faring.

Taking part is easy and this is a great chance to sit back, relax and watch birds and other wildlife for an hour - and to encourage younger members of your family to develop an interest in the local wildlife. By taking part, you'll find out all about the fascinating wildlife that flutters, crawls and hops in your garden, balcony or local area. And with a simple hour of mindful watching, you could have an hour to yourself, too.

Full details including resources and ideas with tips on making your garden an attractive place for birds to visit can be found on the RSPB website from this link:- RSPB Birdwatch.

You can also find more information on social media using the hashtag #BigGardenBirdWatch.

Don't forget that taking a wildlife-friendly gardening approach, including the provision of water, rather than putting out copious amounts of bird food, is much more beneficial to birds and other wildlife as it helps to re-introduce the natural features that are much reduced due to habitat loss and intensive farming methods. It can be a more helpful approach than disrupting or unbalancing different bird populations through heavy food provision that favours some species over others.

Growing native species of plants in your garden, mowing your lawn less, and not removing dead leaves etc. from your flower beds in the autumn and winter that provide winter habitat and a food source for insects, can help sustain a healthier local birdlife.

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SEG 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.