The volunteers who help to make Knaresborough special

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“I have never lived anywhere like Knaresborough, and I have lived in some nice places,” says Liz Baxandall. “It just wraps itself around you and when people come here, they don’t want to leave.”

Liz is secretary and vice-chair of Renaissance Knaresborough, one of the town’s many community groups.

The organisation, which celebrates its 20th birthday this year, has been involved in a diverse range of activities that improve the town. These range from installing window art and championing a cliff lift to the Knaresborough Forest Park campaign.

The Stray Ferret met Liz this week to find out more about what Renaissance Knaresborough has achieved, and to discuss a new environmental campaign it will embark on this summer to encourage residents to help wildlife in neglected corners of the historic town.

Incubates ideas

Renaissance Knaresborough was created in 2005 as part of the Renaissance Market Town initiative sponsored by the now-defunct regional development agency Yorkshire Forward to support market towns.

Although it received funding then, and has sporadically since, it relies on volunteers to survive.

Liz, who has lived in Knaresborough for 27 years and has a background in advertising and fashion, got involved in 2009 to give something back to the town.

She explains that the not-for-profit organisation typically incubates ideas that, if successful, go on to exist in their own right. 

Some have gone on to become major issues: for instance, it raised awareness of the fledgling Knaresborough Forest Park campaign before it was taken on by others and raised £864,000 to purchase 60 acres of privately owned land.

Renaissance Knaresborough also commissioned a report in 2005 that proposed a cliff lift joining Waterside and the town centre. Twenty years on, the issue is still being debated.

It supported the development of Knaresborough Museum Association, which set up the town's new museum.

It's been involved in several green initiatives: it introduced Viaduct Terrace on Waterside and helped the community benefit society Knaresborough Community Energy come into existence.

The group also organised the touring Wind in the Willows production in 2016 that brought live theatre to local children.

But it’s probably best known for the decorative town windows that have grown in number to become an art trail over the last 16 years. The trail features historical figures such as Mother Shipton, Guy Fawkes and Queen Philippa. 

Local artists including Ray Mutimer, who illustrated Postman Pat, is among those whose works are on show.

A new painting by local artist Helen Salmons celebrating Knaresborough’s linen trade will soon join the trail. The image will be displayed in Green Dragon Yard, which has historic links to spinning and weaving.

Pollinator corridors

Environmental issues are the current focus. Renaissance Knaresborough planted 42 fruit and nut trees in the town in 2011 and it now wants to create ‘pollinator corridors’ that help wildlife flourish between the trees.

The scheme will also get residents involved in enhancing neglected corners of the town, such as the planting areas in Market Place. The group frequently works with other organisations, such as Knaresborough in Bloom.

Ultimately, Renaissance Knaresborough's activities are determined by residents at monthly meetings. Liz says:

What would she most like to see achieved?

In the meantime, the pollinator scheme is looming. Liz urged anyone willing to help to email contact@renaissanceknaresborough.co.uk