Saltford Parish Council has thanked volunteers who planted over 80 trees and shrubs in Saltford on Saturday 11 March. 

The Shallows Ecology Zone was established following damage to the vegetation caused by forced access to the river. The project has helped address the damage caused, as well as it being a welcome opportunity to plant more trees in Saltford.  

At what was an area favoured by many species of river wildlife, in recent years there had been significant destruction of key wildlife habitat by people ‘forcing through’ vegetation to access the river in Saltford. Much of the wildlife has since disappeared. Many residents had raised their concerns about the damage to the Parish Council over recent years.  

In liaison with B&NES Council, who own the land, SPC approached B&NES to suggest actions, and resolved at a meeting last year to carry out a community project at this location to re-wild the area to benefit wildlife and to return the natural environment to how it was. 

On the morning of Saturday 11 March, over 80 trees and shrubs were planted by a group of nearby residents, alongside the B&NES Tree and Woodland Delivery Manager, SPC Cllr (and SPC’s Environment Lead) Phil Harding and Saltford’s B&NES Ward Cllr Duncan Hounsell. Dozens of Bee Bomb seed balls were also planted, each containing 18 species of native wildflowers.  

The trees and shrubs have been given surrounds - plastic ones will be reused in the future - and B&NES Council will add mulch and protect the area by installing a chestnut paling fence. Once established, the area will be a fantastic habitat for local wildlife as well as being aesthetically pleasing with lots of native trees, shrubs and flowers to enjoy. 

This environmental project has been at no cost to Saltford Parish Council and its residents. SPC thanked B&NES Council’s Parks & Green Spaces team, and Farrans Construction,the contractor carrying out the Keynsham Recycling and Reuse project at Pixash Lane, for providing the trees and shrubs and fence. 

SPC was given free seed balls last year by the Bee Bombs company for planting in Saltford’s public spaces as part of the Saltford Wildflower Project and 40 sq m of wildflowers were planted as part of the project. 

SPC would especially like to thank the team of enthusiastic volunteers who came out on a cold March morning to assist in this environmental initiative. 

B&NES Council is aiming to plant 100,000 trees, and SPC is pleased to help work towards this target. 

If Saltford residents can think of areas that might similarly benefit from more trees or shrubs - and can arrange a team of local residents who can help with planting - do get in touch with SPC or the B&NES Council Parks and Green Spaces team.