Editing Backwell (section)

==Geography==

===Backwell Lake===
[[File:Backwell lake 1.jpg|thumb|Backwell Lake]]
Backwell Lake, also known as Buckland's Pool, is, despite its name, much closer to nearby Nailsea. The lake was built as a [[balancing lake|balancing pond]] in the mid-1970s and has become a wildlife haven for birds, [[bats]] and [[dragonflies]], which are attracted by the open water and surrounding vegetation. Bird species include [[gadwall]], [[shoveler]], [[pochard]], [[tufted duck]], [[grey heron]] and [[mute swans]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bucklands Pool/Backwell Lake |url=http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?themeid=1008788 |publisher=Natural England |access-date=28 August 2010 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724020639/http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?themeid=1008788 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>

On 7 January 2018, local people circled the lake, linking hands, to protest against the proposed building of 700 homes and a four-lane link road in the village by [[Taylor Wimpey]], which they believed would affect the lake and its wildlife.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-42596370|title=Housing plans would 'decimate' village|date=2018-01-07|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-01-08|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.northsomersettimes.co.uk/news/backwell-lake-to-be-used-as-part-of-joint-spatial-plan-protest-1-5343080|title=Housing campaigners plan to circle Backwell Lake this weekend|last=Robinson|first=Sarah|date=2018-01-04|work=North Somerset Times|access-date=2018-01-08|language=en|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108233425/http://www.northsomersettimes.co.uk/news/backwell-lake-to-be-used-as-part-of-joint-spatial-plan-protest-1-5343080|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Quarries===
[[Stancombe Quarry]] opened in 1952. Today, the quarry which is operated by [[Tarmac Limited|Tarmac]], produces [[Carboniferous Limestone]], which is mainly for use on the roads,<ref>[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6143 Stancombe Quarry production]</ref> after crushing on site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.agg-net.com/case-study/hazemag-at-stancombe-quarry |title=Hazemag at Stancombe Quarry |publisher=Aggregates and Recycling Information Network |access-date=29 January 2011 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707093542/http://www.agg-net.com/case-study/hazemag-at-stancombe-quarry |archive-date= 7 July 2011 }}</ref> The site has an expected output of 28 million tonnes over a 25-year period.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/nr/rdonlyres/68c27eab-cfb0-4a49-9506-77971320552e/0/strategy_contaminatedlandstrategy.pdf 
 |title=Contaminated land inspection strategy November 2001 (revised 2003) 
 |publisher=North Somerset Council 
 |access-date=29 January 2011 
 |url-status = dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308110947/http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/nr/rdonlyres/68c27eab-cfb0-4a49-9506-77971320552e/0/strategy_contaminatedlandstrategy.pdf 
 |archive-date= 8 March 2012 
}}</ref> The now defunct Coles Quarry, in the south of the village, also produced limestone until it was closed by [[North Somerset Council]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/coles-quarry-backwell-april-2015.t96405|title=Report - - Coles Quarry, Backwell - April 2015|newspaper=28DaysLater.co.uk|access-date=2017-01-01|archive-date=2 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102083504/http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/coles-quarry-backwell-april-2015.t96405|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Climate===
The annual mean temperature is approximately {{convert|10|°C|°F|1|lk=on}}. [[Temperateness|Seasonal temperature variation]] is less extreme than most of the United Kingdom because of the adjacent sea temperatures. The summer months of July and August are the warmest with mean daily maxima of approximately {{convert|21|°C|°F|1}}. In winter mean minimum temperatures of {{convert|1|or|2|°C|°F|1}} are common.<ref name="weather">{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/sw/ |title=South West England: climate |work=Met Office |access-date=14 March 2010 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605003222/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/sw/ |archive-date= 5 June 2011 }}</ref> In the summer the [[Azores]] high pressure affects the south-west of England, however [[convective]] cloud sometimes forms inland, reducing the number of hours of sunshine. Annual sunshine rates are slightly less than the regional average of 1,600&nbsp;hours.<ref name="weather" /> In December 1998 there were 20 days without sun recorded at [[Yeovilton]]. Most of the rainfall in the south-west is caused by [[Low-pressure area|Atlantic depressions]] or by [[convection]]. Most of the rainfall in autumn and winter is caused by the Atlantic depressions, which is when they are most active. In summer, a large proportion of the rainfall is caused by sun heating the ground leading to convection and to showers and thunderstorms. Average rainfall is around {{convert|700|mm|abbr=on}}. About 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, and June to August have the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the south-west.<ref name="weather" />