£405,000 campaign to restore public access to 41 acres of the old Knaresborough Forest

A fundraising campaign has been launched to buy 41 acres of land that used to be part of the Forest of Knaresborough and restore it to public use.

The privately-owned land, between Beryl Burton Cycle Way and Harrogate Road, is being put up for sale. It is not currently accessible to the public.

The community group Renaissance Knaresborough has begun a campaign to buy the land and replicate the successful Long Lands Common campaign, which raised £375,000 to buy 30 acres of land near Nidderdale Greenway and protect it from development.

Campaigners say the move would not only enable people to enjoy a nature-rich area of land that is currently out of bounds but also boost biodiversity by improving wildlife and providing educational opportunities. It would be called Knaresborough Forest Park.

Renaissance Knaresborough wants people to buy shares in the land, which would entitle shareholders to become members of the parkland project with voting rights — similar to Long Lands Common. It has already secured pledges worth more than £26,000, 

An appeal statement by Liz Baxandall and Bill Rigby, chair and treasurer respectively of Renaissance Knaresborough, said:  

“A piece of land is being prepared for sale. If it remains in private hands, as it is now, it will be a large tract of land within the town boundary to which we have no access.

“Our plan is to raise funds from our community to acquire it for the common good, manage it with care and let it be a haven for recreation, education and fun for
generations to come.

“Pledges are urgently needed so our community can purchase this farmland to create a beautiful tree-rich natural parkland; a protected haven for wildlife and people that we’d call Knaresborough Forest Park.”

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The group is urging people to make pledges “urgently” in the hope of raising sufficient funds to buy the land while it remains on the market.

At this stage people are only being asked to to register an interest to buy community shares. Pledges are not legally binding and money will not be transferred until a later date.

The land, which connects with Mackintosh Park, off the Beryl Burton Cycle Way, once belonged to the Forest of Knaresborough, a hunting forest that covered 45 square miles.

The statement by Ms Baxandall and Mr Rigby said:  

“We have already lost so much green space locally. We are asking all from far and wide to pledge today as an individual or organisation to buy community shares to empower local people, so together we can protect more land.

“Shares will only go on sale once there is enough interest shown by individuals, businesses and community organisations.”

Further details are available here.