Gatherings will be held this weekend to protect one of the most wildlife-rich woodlands in the region from potential surrounding development.

Two separate meet-ups will take place simultaneously on Sunday, to demonstrate support for preserving land around Weston Big Wood in Portishead and put a stop to any future building around it.

No firm proposals are yet in place, but North Somerset Council has received a number of expressions of interest from landowners willing to sell their land for development around the site of nature conservation and special scientific interest.

Despite no plans being submitted, drilling works on fields next to Clevedon Road provoked significant opposition from people living in Portishead and North Weston, who said they saw this act as a sign of intent to develop.

Portishead Town Council said residents are ‘extremely concerned' about the possibility of houses going up surrounding the woods and supports the campaign to protect the surrounding area from development.