NAILSEA
PEOPLE
From January onwards
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Email photographs to nailseapeople@gmail.com
Gallery 2026
First photos Nailsea 2026 NYE
Watch more birdie(s)
Backwell Lake January 2026
DAY BREAK: Phil Williams went for a sunset stroll around Backwell Lake but like others on the community walk the next day he had to take the long way round from Nailsea as the footpath shortcut from The Perrings is still blocked. Phil said: "It was chilly but the light was beautiful. Sadly, some idiot has illegally dropped off a load of rubbish in the past 24hrs and another dead swan (suspected avian 'flu) has been discovered."
THIS LITTLE BIRD: Was spotted along The Drove post Christmas on a chilly walk by Tracey Thomas. The wren is one of the UK’s smallest bird, its short tail, often characteristically cocked. Troglodytes troglodytes have a amber conservation status
ROBIN REDBREAST: It was a robin in The Secret Garden which showed orphan Mary Lennox the way into a neglect plot in the children's book by Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett. Phil Williams took this picture but we aren't sure whether it was in his garden?
Parkland, playgrounds & countryside on cold & frosty winter morning in January
SKY HIGH: Looking towards the heavens Phil Williams shares some more beautiful images with us, thank you
WRAP UP WARM: Photos shared from Trendlewood Community Park Facebook page by permission of Simon Stannard, thank you. And we added two images from Nailsea School and lots from Friends of Wraxall Primary School
PHOTO: Nailsea resident Kevin Chambers took this brilliant copyright sunset image from Holy Trinity church on his mobile phone, no editing or manipulation and used on our Nailsea People Facebook page and January front page, thanks
February farmers' market
Saturday, February 21
March farmers' market
Saturday, March 21
Not sure whether it was because it is nearly Easter but there were lots of eggs on sale at Nailsea Farmers' Market on Saturday, March 21.
We spotted chicken, ducks, quail and goose eggs.
Unusually after the spat of wet, cold weather, is was lovely and sunny and the 45+ stalls all seemed to do brisk business.
Nailsea Climate Change people were out in force advertising future events - see our Green Peeps page for details of their future events.
Run by Somerset Farmers Markets the market in Nailsea is its biggest in North Somerset.
Except for January our farmers' market is on the third Saturday of each month with a variety of food, drink, craft and guest community stalls.
The next date is Saturday, April 18, from 9am-1pm when the High Street will be closed to traffic.
At No 65 High Street Nailsea town councillors Ben Kushner and James Tonkin answered questions from passers-by and Mike Bird who is off on a mercy trip to Ukraine at the end of May displayed the route map.
Nailsea MicroPub opened for a few hour before closing at 3pm for a week for a major bar refit.
For more information visit www.somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk
Candlelight to dance floor
Friday and Saturday, March 21-22
It takes a village to raise spirits…and that’s what Backwell did for two charity concert nights.
And the song and dance spectacular finished within touching distance of making its £10k target staged in an ancient church which dates back to the 13th century - see update below.
Friday night was like a full dress rehearsal for the Candlelight to Dancefloor concert and added as an extra when the main Saturday night event sold out within days.
The charity concerts on Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22, at St Andrew’s church, Backwell, was organised by local mum Jane Roberts to mark the anniversary of when she was told she had an incurable brain tumour.
After the diagnosis the following 12-months became a whirlwind of change for Jane and her family and a massive quest to raise awareness and funds for The Brain Tumour Charity.
Jane said: “I was dreading the anniversary and worried it would be a really sad day.
”Friday was mega and Saturday topped expectations.”
North Somerset MP Sadik Al-Hassan was spotted with is wife Katrina dancing in the aisles on the first night.
And Green Party district councillor Bridget Petty was spotted in the stalls on night two along with family, friends and supporters of Jane.
The concert was packed her favourite’90s and ’00s dance classics.
The programme was put together by Backwell School head of performing
arts Steve Clarke and the student orchestra and singers played 22 numbers mostly about love and began with You’re Not Alone.
The strobe lighting and dry ice mist played havoc with the photos but happily convey the amazing atmosphere of the nights.
A raffle with fantastic prizes donated by local businesses and bar staffed by smiley volunteers all added to the fundraising.
HR business partner with a large engineering company Jane, aged 47, is married to Simon and the couple have a 10-year-old daughter.
She added: “The concerts were the big ones but also I have also signed up to do a half marathon in April (dressed as a giant brain for charity) and have a number of other ideas in the pipeline.“
Jane has also launched a local support group – learn more here https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/get-involved/our-supporter-groups/supporter-groups/groups/hope-for-brains-janes-campaign/
Nailsea People published the original story on its December front page here https://www.nailseapeople.com/december-2025-front-page.
UPDATE: Jane posted on social media on Sunday morning: "Had the best two nights ever - copy paste every night for the rest of my life please .Six months ago I had a crazy idea about putting on a concert that sort of merged candlelight classy church events with my favourite 90s music and Candlelight to Dancefloor was born. Still to this day I’m not sure how I persuaded the church to trust me on this or how I got such a wonderful orchestra to learn and arrange 22 songs (absolute bangers!). Thank you Sam Norton and Steve Clarke I had no idea that people would embrace the concept so much and we’d sell out and be able to put on two nights. Amazing. And the support I’ve had to set it all up is incredible. I’ve picked a lot of peoples brains, I’ve fretted about all sorts of decisions and issues, I’ve begged stolen and borrowed so much stuff I feel I've called in all the favours going. I had a fundraising goal in mind and then I doubled it when we had a second night. But it was a stretch. People told me it was ambitious and I said so am I. Thank you so much for donating for buying at the bar and raffle etc. I’m so proud to say We raised over £10,000 from the both nights. This means the world . I fear I may never recover from awesomeness. So many highlights. The performers were so good - I can’t stop singing their versions of my favourite songs. And the rap - I need to see any videos of that as it was so so so so soooo good!! The lighting was next level. It really made the night. I’m on such a high, absolutely buzzing, so so happy that it all went well and you all enjoyed it!"
Jane said: “I really wanted to pass on my huge thanks to the Backwell School Orchestra, and to head of music Steve Clarke and the whole team, for delivering such a phenomenal performance.
“I honestly don’t know how they managed to learn 22 songs (including the raps!), with brand new arrangements and backing tracks, in such a short space of time – but they absolutely smashed it.
“The amount of work that went into learning and perfecting those songs, and then delivering them so confidently and professionally, was just incredible.
“A huge thank you as well to the Rev Sam Norton and St Andrews Church.
“Without you, we simply wouldn’t have had such a special venue.
“The space looked beautiful all lit up and created the most amazing atmosphere and acoustics.
“And I hope the glitter ball made Sunday service extra memorable,
“I wanted to take a moment to properly recognise some of the people and organisations who made it happen…
To our amazing volunteers and helpers – from manning the bar, welcoming everyone at the entrance, and running the raffle, to lending equipment, setting up and clearing down… thank you.
“You worked so hard and gave up your evenings to make this happen, and I couldn’t have done it without you 🤍
Special thanks to Bristol Party Hire Ltd and for your support and flexibility along the way – the lighting completely transformed the space and made the night feel so special.
And to Mark at Cow & Sow - Queen Square for his help behind the scenes with the bar setup – it made a huge difference and was really appreciated.
And every single contribution helped us raise vital funds for The Brain Tumour Charity. Thank you also to Persimmon Homes and Bristol Airport for contributing towards the event.
Thank you also to our local MP Sadik Al-Hassan for North Somerset for his support in helping secure funding for the event and for coming along on the night.
A special thank you as well to Rob for being our brilliant compère on Friday night, and to Shelley LaFleur for stepping in last minute on Saturday – you were both fantastic and kept everything flowing so smoothly.
And finally to my friends and family, thank you for letting me live and breathe this (and not much else!) for the past few months. I really appreciate you, and it meant so much having you there celebrating and enjoying the concert 🤍
They say it takes a village… turns out it really does…
And from Jane a huge list of thank yous
Thank you so much to everyone who donated prizes and supported the raffle. The list includes:
Rob Wilson 2-night stay in St Agnes, Cornwall
Chris Grier 2-night stay in Silverlake, Dorset
Flamingo Candles
Scamp & Dude
Team Sport Karting
Five Acre Farm
David Lloyd Leisure
Mendip Activity Centre
Tesco
Thatchers Cider
Ooh Chocolata
Clevedon Soap Company
Backwell Dental Centre
Wessex Water
Alison Bevan
Bev Ali
Brabantia
Chew Valley Trees
Eaglescott Airfield
Avonmouth Paint & Supplies
Bristol Airport
Farleigh Ridge Vineyard
Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
Bristol City Robins Foundation
Parkers Estate Agents
Neptune Bristol
Madder Dyer Upholstery
Anna Gow
Sally Woodlock & family
Tom Leonard
Quarry Gym
Beauty by Leigh
Jax Glam Beauty
Karen Lowe
How does your garden grow?
summertime
WISTERIA WISHES: Taking advantage of the sunshine it's the outdoor life for us (temporarily). These garden photos come from West End, Backwell and Nailsea. Thanks go to Julia Miners and Cynthia Miller. We will add to this slideshow as we receive more images. Most of the unusal wall plaques come from Quality Collectables in Colliers Walk which is about to move to bigger premises...
Backwell lake wildlife photos
Amazing images taken by Nailsea resident Phil Williams in early summer of 2026 at Backwell lake and more in the otter slideshow by Andy Barnard.
Please be careful not to disturb the wildlife when walking around the lake.
The European otter was close to extinction in Britain, in the 1950-60s because of pesticides affecting their breeding.
Otters are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 which means it’s an offence to wilfully kill, injure, capture or disturb otters except under licence.
Please note the shortcut from The Perrings down to the lakegrounds still remains blocked.
