Knaresborough Forest Park campaigners have been in Harrogate today (September 18) dressed as trees to raise awareness for the project.

The group successfully bought the land last month and are now raising funds to pay back a loan they used to help purchase the forest park.

If the loan is not paid back by early November, the land is at risk of being sold off for development — the very thing the campaign aimed to prevent.

The Knaresborough Forest Park campaign was created to prevent land between Harrogate and Knaresborough being used for housing or a new road.

The land lies between the Beryl Burton cycleway and Knaresborough Road, next to the Nidd Gorge.

The campaigners are part of the Long Lands Common committee, a society established in February 2020.

The Knaresborough Forest Park campaign raised £864,000 to buy the land.

The money was split between a £410,000 grant from the George A Moore Foundation, a £300,000 loan from the philanthropic lending organisation We Have the Power and some £200,000 from money raised.

Arnold Warneken, the Green Party councillor for Ouseburn on North Yorkshire Council, is also to award £2,390 from his locality budget to fund the purchase of Knaresborough Forest Park.

With Liberal Democrat councillor Matt Walker to award £2,610 of his locality budget to the cause.

The purchase has meant that public access has returned to the 60 acres for the first time in more than 250 years.

The committee now need £185,000 to pay off the loan from We Have The Power before November 5.

The money can be raised through donations or buying shares on the committee website.

The group will be in and around Harrogate for the next few days to spread the word.

Campaigner and committee member Shan Oakes said:

Donate or buy shares here.