2026 News Archive

The 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.

Protecting Saltford's precious Green Belt from development has been a key priority for SEG from the start of 2026 - as in previous years.

Click on each story link or scroll down the page (most recent appears first):-

January 2026

Ice on the river in 1963

Update on PROW application for Saltford's historic 'Greenway

SEG is now on Instagram

Modernising SEG as we reach our 15th birthday

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

Big Garden Birdwatch 23 - 25 Jan

News stories start here (most recent appears first):-

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

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
W3C compliant website