NAILSEA
PEOPLE
Flower peeps

Nailsea and District Horticultural Society,
other environmentally-friendly 'green' groups, litter picking and fly-tipping
and news about action on climate change
2022

2nd town green bid by council
Nailsea Town Council is urging residents to help it secure town green status for two pieces of land known as Trendlewood Community Park.
The land, on the west side of Trendlewood Way, either side of the road near the Farmhouse pub and restaurant, was sold by a London auction house earlier this year.
Despite Nailsea People applying to the Land Registry for the name of the purchaser it is still unknown and believed to be back on the market.
It is currently listed by McHugh & Co as Lot 140 to be auctioned on Thursday, December 8.
More details here https://www.onthemarket.com/details/12591155/.
Since the first freehold sale North Somerset Council has put a blanket TPO on all trees in the park.
Town clerk, Jo Duffy, said: “This area of land is extremely popular with members of the local community for all sorts of activities ranging from dog walking and running to picnicking and bird watching, with plenty in between - not to mention the community events that take place there.
"Nailsea Town Council wants it to remain available to the community and does not want to see the land developed, therefore it plans to submit a town green application to protect it.”
Town greens receive a considerable amount of protection under law and it is a criminal offence to undertake any act which interrupts the use of the area for exercise and recreation.
To enable the land to be registered as a Town Green, the council must prove it has been in use by the community for sports and pastimes for at least 20 years.
Jo added: “We need residents to demonstrate their support for the protection of this land and ask them to complete evidence forms to prove it has been in use by the community for more than 20 years “as of right”, without force, secrecy or permission.
"We need to act quickly to protect this land from any possible development, as if the new landowner submits a planning application before our application is processed our bid for it to become a Town Green will fail.”
Residents of all ages are invited to complete an evidence form, not just one per family but one for each family member who used to or still uses the park.
Evidence forms are available from No65 High Street, the Tithe Barn, or

TOWN GREEN: Gully off Trendlewood is a popular open space
downloaded from the town council website https://www.nailseatown.com/trendlewood-park-town-green-application
Photos taken of people enjoying Trendlewood Park, proving it has been used for 20 + years without exclusion, are also needed.
Time is of the essence so completed forms need to be returned to the council before Friday, December 23.
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An application in April 2022 to make the green slope between Nailsea and Backwell at The Perrings a 'town green' still hasn't been resolved after an objection by the land owners Persimmon. The site has been used as an open space since the development at The Perrings was built more than 40 years ago and the footpath is a shortcut to the railway station.

Has the rot set in?

Decaying wood and damp conditions has caused fungus to grow at the base of the sculpture on Nailsea village green.
Photographer Wendy Derrick spotted the mushroom like growth while out shopping on Saturday afternoon.
Sadly it is an indication of rot.
The towering oak tree which was a feature of Nailsea since the late 1800s was transformed into a new piece of art for the town in the summer of 2021.
Chainsaw sculptor Andy O’Neill created the woodland creatures’ artwork.
The oak tree on the village green on the High Street since 1897 had died and had to be removed.
Commissioned by Nailsea Town Council environment and leisure committee and allotted a budget of £2,500 work began on the project initiated by the then newly elected council vice-chairman Emily Miller in May last year.
Nailsea People Facebook reader Steve Lewis said: "I understand that fungi thrive on oaks in warm, humid conditions.
"Perhaps this particular fungal affliction could be treated with a proprietary fungicide and the sculpture also stabilised through installation of some form of discrete supporting structure, what say you Nailsea Town Council?"
And Mick Graham said: "I'm sure it can be saved - if Nailsea Town Council do something about it with an uncommon haste."
But Sally Nailsea said: "It was there last year too, it’s called nature, it does what it does."
Frederic Le Francais said: "Truffles, exciting news."
Pat Parle took the photo of similar fungus growing at the base of a tree on the Tyntesfield estate, thanks.
Read the story of the sculpture here https://www.nailseapeople.com/mighty-oak.



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GREEN AGENDA
Thursday, September 29
9.45am guided walk from 9 Sunnymede Road
Saturday, October 1
10am-2pm Climate conversations at 65 High Street
More information here https://greatbiggreenweek.com/



Best in Backwell show
The traditional Backwell Village Show is back for 2022 on Saturday afternoon, September 17 in the parish hall.
There are adult classes for horticulture, flower arranging, arts & crafts, cookery and photography.
And there are children’s classes for difference age groups which also has a section for handwriting.
All together there are 156 classes, lots of trophies and cash prizes to be won.
There is a special section for allotment holders.
In the past the event was called Backwell Flower Show and it began in 1978.
To download a schedule and entry forms – the deadline is Wednesday, September 14, click HERE.
One of the highlights for 2022 is the tallest sunflower competition growing in their gardens.
Entries must be submitted on Sunday, September 7, and judges will visit and verity those claiming to have the top tallest sunflowers.
This is open to people living in Backwell and Nailsea.
The show opens to the public 2-4.30pm.



PARCHED EARTH: All of England’s South West region is now in drought from the end of August 2022. This includes Bristol, Somerset, Dorset, south Gloucestershire and parts of Wiltshire which have all moved to drought status. Public and businesses in drought affected areas are urged to use water wisely as the dry summer impacts the environment. The Environment Agency said the announcement comes after some of the driest conditions in nearly 90 years. And it looks like the heatwave did for the young saplings planted at Nailsea Park as part of North Somerset Council rewilding project. The re-wilding of began in February 2020 with hundreds of small trees being planted across the district not always welcomed by people living nearby especially as the areas became strewn with plastic sleeves used to protect the saplings. Schoolchildren did a litter pick to clear some of the rubbish
Play areas consultation
North Somerset Council is inviting families to help shape proposals to improve two Nailsea play areas.
There are five play areas in total (Weston and Clevedon also in the mix) they are looking at and the consultation is open from Tuesday, August 30.
This follows the council’s announcement in July that it had £300,000 in capital funding to spend in in the next year.
For Nailsea it is £115,000 for Millennium Park and Pound Lane.
This investment is in addition to the £250,000 Improving Play Spaces Fund, which launched in April, providing capital matched funding for projects across the area.
The capital investment will be used to make improvements at the five parks including:
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repairing or replacing safety surfacing,
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replacing broken equipment and/or installing new equipment,
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repainting existing equipment, and
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repairing fencing where needed.
The consultation asks for families to comment on a range of play equipment which will appeal to all age ranges and abilities, including those children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
North Somerset Council executive member for neighbourhoods and community services Mike Solomon is independent councillor for the Hutton and Locking ward.
He said: “This is the first of a five-year capital investment programme created to deliver a much-needed improvement in play areas.
“Ongoing budget cuts during the past few years has meant that we’ve seen

little significant investment in our play areas, so we’re playing catch-up.
“We’ve assessed all our play areas and investment is being targeted where it’s needed most.
“I urge families that use the five parks we’re focussing to improve this year to take part in the consultation.
“We’re ready to listen and open to thoughts on our proposals – we want to make sure that our money is invested in the way that brings most benefit to local children and young people.”
To find out more and take part in the consultation by noon on Tuesday, October 11, visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/play22.
All projects will be delivered by the end of March 2023.


WOMEN WORKING: A group of long-time friends and neighbours has sponsored a flower planter at Nailsea High Street.
What a great idea by Golden Goss Ladies. Nailsea in Bloom supported by Nailsea Town Council has planted more than 3,000 colourful blooms this summer to bring some cheers to our streets. These are maintained by a small army of volunteers. Chairman Wendy Mobbs said: "It cost £75 per year to sponsor a planter. Maybe there are other small groups who would like to do the same?" Email Wendy.mobbs@outlook.com for more information