Members of our Leeds and Harrogate team have been volunteering with the Community Benefit Society at Knaresborough Forest Park.

Knaresborough Forest Park is a community-led project, dedicated to restoring environmental resilience and strengthening the connection between both people and nature. The site is owned by Long Lands Common, a Community Benefit Society (CBS) with over 3,000 community shareholders, ensuring the land remains protected and developed for long-term environmental and social benefit.

When Long Lands Common was first established, its primary goal was to preserve the area. However, this mission has since evolved to include rewilding and community-focused projects, driven by the overwhelming support and involvement from the surrounding areas. Future initiatives will include creating new habitats such as a newt pond, food-growing areas, and a sensory garden to help people connect with nature. To find out more about supporting this wonderful organisation, please visit: Knaresborough Forest Park | Community rewilding project | Bilton Hall Drive, Knaresborough, Harrogate, UK

Left to Right: Steve Elwen, Esoetok Etteh, Julia Romanets, Tom Powell, Alex Proctor, Daniel Wallace, Heather Murgatroyd, Stuart Lacey, and Agostina Palazzolo
Left to Right: Thomas Dobby, Aimee Greenwood, Scott Morris, Amy Galea, Shaun Wilson, Houda Mohamad, Jonathan Hunter, and Chris Walker

Our team worked closely with Geoff Freeston, the project coordinator, responsible for developing and maintaining the new Knaresborough Forest Park. The first day of work focused on preserving and enhancing the land, by clearing and organising Beryl Burton Way Field to create a picnic area and trimming the overgrown hedges on the main road out of Knaresborough. Throughout the day, the group also had chance to learn about all the future aspirations for the site, including new Newt Ponds, Memorial Tree Gardens, Camping Grounds and Food Growing Areas.

The team then returned the following Tuesday. They pressed on with clearing the site, tackling overgrown vegetation and removing long-abandoned relics, including a caravan base, several trailers, old tyres, wire fencing and iron gates. These items were transported across multiple fields to the roadside for collection and recycling. The day wrapped up with a well-earned bonfire and a celebratory pint at the pub! Thanks to our team’s hard work, future landscaping and construction can now move forward smoothly, free from obstructions.

At GSS, we believe in actively working towards a greener, more sustainable future and we could not think of a better project to help us get involved!