The developer Crest Nicholson has announced its intention to apply for planning permission to build 90 houses on Saltford's Green Belt, on the paddocks south of Manor Road (pictured here).

Residents will re-call the previous failed attempt by Crest Nicholson in 2013 to obtain planning permission to build a development of 99 houses on this parcel of land, the campaign led by SEG objecting to the proposed development and loss of our precious Green Belt. BaNES Council refused planning permission and after the appeal inquiry in August 2013 the appeal was dismissed by the Secretary of State and planning permission refused (in March 2014).

SEG will not pre-empt this planning application by making any public comment at this stage; we await the formal (speculative) planning application to be submitted and the associated consultation by BaNES Council. We shall keep the community informed on our website etc. and provide members of the community with response advice and guidance at the appropriate time (as in 2013).

Likewise, as stated publicly by Saltford Parish Council (SPC) on its website, prior to being consulted by the Planning Authority on an application, SPC does not comment on, provide feedback about, or share information regarding potential or pending planning applications, regardless of their size or scale. This includes speculative larger-scale planning applications - SPC will not engage with any developer about a proposed application or respond to any developer's own feedback or consultation requests.

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The value of Daisies in your lawn

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February 2026

From March through to September, the Daisy can be seen in lawns and other short grassland from road verges to meadows. Each flower has a rosette of small, thin white petals surrounding a bright yellow centre that is actually over 100 tiny flowers. This common sight, that can go unappreciated, is incredibly important.

The humble Daisy helps support a wide range of wildlife, from pollen for bees, hoverflies, butterflies, beetles and moths as well as the plants themselves providing food to larvae, snails, caterpillars and rabbits. Dried Daisy heads are sometimes enjoyed by foraging birds such as Finches.

Given their long bloom time they are a vital resource to wildlife at times when not much else is in flower. So, when you see Daisies in your lawn or elsewhere, take time to appreciate and value the important role this delicate wildflower has in local ecosystems like ours here in Saltford.

Acknowledgement: Plantlife

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Saltford's Temperate Rainforest reminder

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February 2026

Temperate rainforests are also known as a known as Atlantic or Celtic rainforests. Saltford's temperate rainforest is worth visiting in winter and early spring to appreciate the moss and lichen species - details can be found on our "Wildlife" page in the 'Trees' section >>

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Progress on protecting Saltford's Green Belt landscape

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February 2026

A short summary of the meeting on 2nd February 2026 between SPC and BaNES Council shows that real progress on protecting Saltford's Green Belt has been made. This is the summary published by Saltford Parish Council on its Facebook page (and shared on SEG's Facebook page):-

L-R: Cllrs Gary Graveling, David Halton (SPC Vice Chair) and Phil Harding (SPC Chair of Planning) at Saltford Golf Club, 2 February 2026. Photograph courtesy of SPC.

Protecting Saltford's Green Belt:
Today [2.2.2026] SPC Cllrs met with BaNES Council's Cabinet Member for Housing and senior planning officers at Saltford Golf Club, overlooking landscape our community cares so deeply about.

BaNES Council described the papers and evidence produced by SPC for its landscape bid as "exemplary" - recognition of the careful, persistent work being done by SPC on behalf of Saltford residents to protect our Green Belt

SPC's made real progress - but there's more to do. The maps linked shows how SPC's work has already shaped changes to the proposed NE2A (e.g. additional Green Belt protection) landscape setting around our village [SEG comment: for which further progress has been made in expanding landscape protection] - while also showing why SPC continues to push for further safeguards.

View maps here: link to pdf on SPC website >>

More about the maps in SPC's article here: link to SPC website >>

Additional landscape protections within the Green Belt don't provide complete protection, but they do add an important and valuable extra layer of safeguarding.

For SPC's papers and actions since January 2023 visit here: Protecting Saltford's Green Belt - SPC >>

With sincere thanks to Saltford Golf Club and its Chairman for generously hosting the meeting today - and for the wonderful views from the clubhouse!

FURTHER INFORMATION (from SEG)

The set of extensive evidence papers, e.g. landscape setting assessments and related reports, produced by SPC for making representations to BaNES Council can be found in SEG's online Document Library (History of Saltford project) from this link >>

The draft Local Plan with development site proposals, including any proposed changes to Saltford's protective landscape setting designation, is due to be agreed by BaNES Council's Cabinet in early May, and will be published with the meeting papers in late April before the Cabinet meeting is held.

Following a limited consultation on the draft Local Plan it will probably be submitted for public examination by the Government's Planning Inspector(s) in October/November 2026. Final adoption of the (new) BaNES Local Plan after the Public Examination will be in 2027 - but these dates are subject to change.

The BaNES Local Plan timetable can be found on the BaNES Council website from this link >>

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Ice on the river in 1963

1963: Mead Lane - old slipway/steps at western end (removed during riverbank engineering works in 2005).

January 2026

The above winter 1963 photograph showing a very frozen River Avon in Mead Lane, Saltford, is from SEG's online History of Saltford Project where we have recently published a very interesting illustrated feature article from 1962 on the sailing club (BASC) in Mead Lane, Saltford, before the club moved to the east end of the lane.

You can find the article in our Document Library with a special link from the Online Museum collection of photographs of the sailing club (link) or directly from our Document Library (link). SEG is grateful to BASC for providing the article.

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Update on PROW application for Saltford's historic 'Greenway'

January 2026

Further to our related news story in December, Saltford Parish Council (SPC) has reported that 30+ residents have completed and submitted to SPC their User Evidence Forms. SPC now has sufficient forms to apply to make the 'Greenway' path an official Public Right of Way (PROW)!

The User Evidence Forms will be submitted to BaNES Council along with other evidence, including the 1883-84 Ordnance Survey map showing the 'Greenway' in place 140 years ago. The decision to modify the Definitive Map could take 1-4 years, so we now need to be patient, but at least the official application process is advancing well thanks to residents who have kindly submitted their evidence forms to help towards achieving the necessary Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO).

SEG has supported SPC, for its evidence-based application, by providing from our Wildlife Surveyor & Wildlife Conservation Adviser a comprehensive report on the wildlife and natural environment at the 'Greenway'.

This includes interesting information such as that during the later years of railway use, the path was bordered by hedges on both sides. After the station closed, hedge maintenance stopped and over the next 50-60 years the hedges grew into lines of trees. Most of the tall trees today are ash, with smaller trees mainly hawthorn and some other native species, with many covered in ivy and clematis. The ground vegetation is largely bramble and ivy, and heavy summer shade means there is little herbaceous plant growth.

This information provided by SEG will form part of SPC's DMMO application, and the report will also support future engagement with the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and BaNES Council (the landowners) further to proposals for this area made by WECA as part of its 2025 A4 Bath to Bristol Corridor consultation.

SPC has acknowledged the usefulness of SEG's "fascinating online map room - a great source for supporting evidence". Our Online Map Room can be found from this link >>

Further information concerning the 'Greenway' PROW application process can be found on SPC's website from the following link : SPC 'Greenway' DMMO page >>

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SEG is now on Instagram

January 2026

With effect from 10th January 2026, SEG is now on Instagram. If you are on Instagram, do find us and follow us.

Here's the link to SEG's page on Instagram >>

As many of you will already be aware, SEG also has its own page on Facebook >>

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Modernising SEG as we reach our 15th birthday

January 2026

2026 is a milestone year for Saltford Environment Group as SEG will be 15 years old in the spring.

SEG cannot afford to stand still in this ever-changing world. SEG's Executive Committee has therefore been planning how to ensure SEG can remain relevant and be more easily sustained for future years.

The Executive Committee's objectives for 2026 are to simplify how SEG operates in a more sustainable, resilient way by minimising administration, to focus more on serving the wider community than a formal membership list; make greater use of modern communications, especially social media; protect SEG's "community benefit" assets like the website and the History of Saltford project. In particular, SEG shall continue to work closely with community organisations and representatives including Saltford Community Association, Saltford Parish Council, and our Saltford Ward Councillors.

At its first meeting for 2026 on 5th January, in recognising this need to adapt and modernise, SEG's Executive Committee unanimously agreed a new and revised constitution to help us deliver our new way forward. It can now be found from this link on our About Us page >>

Members of the local community and beyond can follow us on Facebook, so if you are on Facebook please do follow us there. Also, look out for our news items in Saltford Association Community News (SCAN) that is delivered to every Saltford household, and regularly visit our website.

Sometimes we have vacancies on our Executive Committee, so if you are interested in joining the committee, contact our Chairman for advice. We are particularly interested in people with experience in modern IT and marketing techniques.

SEG shall, of course, continue to back local projects including those we helped set up like the Saltford Fairtrade Group, Saltford Wombles and Saltford4Nature. Our Green Belt Campaign will continue to be developed too as protecting the Green Belt and the countryside surrounding our village from development is the biggest local environmental challenge currently facing our community.

SEG's Executive Committee is very grateful to everyone who has been supportive of SEG since its inception 15 years ago in 2011. As we move forward, we hope this support will continue and grow.

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"We will not plough through farmland" says PM answering new homes question

January 2026

During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday 7th January, in response to the question from Wendy Morton, MP for Aldridge-Brownhills (Cons),

"Does he accept that his housing target can be met without destroying our farmland and countryside by reusing empty homes and brownfield land, or is that yet another promise that he never meant to keep?",

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer replied

"We will not plough through farmland; we will make sensible proposals to build houses."

Information source: Hansard PMQs 7th Jan 2026.

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Big Garden Birdwatch 23 - 25 Jan

January 2026

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Goldcrest in Saltford. Copyright Greg Lovett

Big Garden Birdwatch is for everyone, whether you're a complete beginner or a birding expert. Simply count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park for one hour between 23 and 25 January 2023.

Choose an hour between Friday 23 and Sunday 25 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 590,000 people took part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2025, counting 9.1 million birds! House Sparrows took the top spot, but counts of these chirpy birds are down by 60% compared to the first Birdwatch in 1979 and Song Thrush counts are down by 83%. In fact, we've lost 38 million birds from UK skies in the last 60 years. With birds facing so many challenges, it's more important than ever to get involved in the Birdwatch. Every bird you do - or don't - count will give us a valuable insight into how garden birds are faring.

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

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

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

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

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

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Saltford Environment Group
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Editorial policy

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.