For fifty years three fields on the north side of Frome have been left to nature and nature has in turn created an ecologically diverse eight acres which, say campaigners, offers unquantifiable health benefits to the community.

So much so they have begun a campaign to keep these eight acres of land in their natural state, and crucially out of the hands of developers.

People For Packsaddle have now launched a driver to make Packsaddle Fields an Asset of Community Value, which, it is hoped, will mean it can be protected for the dog walkers, bird watchers and ramblers who use it. Their application is due to be considered on January 31.

The group has already gathered hundreds of testimonies from Frome residents who use the land and find a sense of community spirit there.

So Nub News went over to Packsaddle, to walk the fields, and find out what was so important and worth saving.

The land is owned by Somerset County Council, who, facing huge budgetary problems, and with the town reportedly no longer needing a school, have entered into a provisional deal which would see homes built there.

So Nub New asked. Is saving Packsaddle simply a case of being a not- here NIMBY -housing argument ?

"Absolutely not," Keith Wheeler on the steering committee of the People For Packsaddle told Nub news: " It is not just me saying I don't want my view spoiled, for a start I have a beautiful view and my view wont change, but there are so few areas left like this. This area is probably the last green space left in the North of Frome.

"Where else can people go to get this time in nature ? Doctors now argue how important it is for physical and mental health to be in green spaces - and here it is right on Frome's doorstep. Doctors are prescribing it (going outdoors) for people's health. And once this land has gone, well that's it, it is gone, we can't get it back.

" They (Somerset County Council) can make a LOT of money here by selling it as housing but we know they CAN build housing in more appropriate sites in Frome. We understand the need for housing, we do, but this space is so well used by so many local people. When we started our campaign we got 200 supporters and 100 testimonials so very quickly. All we want is to leave this space as it is; we have eight acres of precious natural land and we want to keep it that way. We just don't want to lose it."

The fields have not been grazed or farmed for half a century, so there is an abundance of wild plants, seeds and birds and attracts wildlife along a corridor which borders an area down at Spring Gardens which was designated as one of international importance due to the bats.

Frome may remember Packsaddle Fields as an area earmarked for a school

The fields have a long history and back in 2014 it was suggested that Frome Town Council apply to take over the ownership of both the park and the space at Packsaddle Way. The space has been owned by the council since 1973 and was originally earmarked for a new school but then in March SCC announced it was selling the land and has an agreement in principal with housing association LiveWest to deliver up to 90 new homes.

But if the area is designated as a Community Asset the group opposing the land sale, could counter with their own financial offer and would hope that SCC could see their way to putting the cost within any money they could raise.

"We know there is not enough housing in Frome, " added Keith. " And we are sympathetic to that, but don't put houses on a piece of prime green space.. used by the local community. We would do our utmost to fund raise if it did come down to raising a lot of money.

"So I understand it would be difficult and we would try to lobby Somerset to accept the value of it to the community, How do you price that? And make it come some way to being able to raise some money for it."

Get involved and help us appeal

The campaign would love you to get involved : Group keep in touch with what they are doing HERE .

"We are always hoping people can give us ideas of what to do to save this space." said Keith. " People don't realise if enough people get mobilised and motivated there is a chance of doing something to stop this. If you leave it to someone else to do it, then it wont happen and this space will be lost, forever.