We were very lucky with the weather for most of our planting days, if not with the underfoot conditions, which were very boggy! But our volunteers are made of stern stuff and got a huge amount of work done with good humour. We were joined by volunteers aged from 3 to 87, as well as several groups including Orb Community Arts and the Knaresborough Nidd Gorge Conservation Group, who took a break from working on the paths around the river to come and boost our numbers. We are hu

The weather was kind, despite forecasts for rain it remained dry for our first tree planting sessions on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. It was very muddy under foot and planting holes previously dug were full of water but we still managed to complete the first phase with 900 hazels plus stakes and tree shelters Heads down and planting Some little ones came to help And some a bit older........ We were delighted to welcome some sixth formers - despite getting muddy trainers th

We were contacted back in July 2025 by a musician performing under the name of HerOrangeCoat, asking permission to come and roam the woods until she found a place where she felt inspired, settle down and write a song using vocals and ukulele, then record it in situ. This process was a part of the project called The Woodland Sessions, backed by the Youth Music NextGen Fund. Capturing the spaces that inspired them, these field recordings were all written and recorded by HerOran

We had two working parties on the go today, making the most of the good weather. We had already planned a hedge-laying day, recreating a hedge between the trees on the hay field on Bilton Hall Drive. One of the issues we are meeting on this field is dog walkers accessing the field through gaps in the hedge and letting their dogs run and leave their poo on a field we reap unsprayed hay from. We would therefore like to protect both the hay and the wildlife from this. Some of th

We were delighted at the support for another ceilidh this year, with participants old and young obviously having a great time. The caller of the band even commended them, not only on their enthusiasm but also for following her instructions so obediently! We must say that they look as if they know what they are doing here: We are hugely grateful to the Dark Horse Ceilidh Band for offering their time and skills free of charge, (particularly violinist Amy, a Long Lands sharehol

The bitter east wind on Thursday did not deter our valiant volunteers as we marked out the positions for our first phase of planting - 900 hazels for coppicing with a few Field Maple, Alder and Rowan From a distance it looks like we have a plague of moles but we mark out by digging out a square of turf ( screefing off in Yorkshire ) After all the rain this year conditions are quite difficult and the holes soon fill with water Hoping for better weather for the planting da

In line with the adage " safety in numbers" many of our birds flock together in winter, both for safety from predators and also to forage for food more effectively. We now have large flocks of thrushes, tits and finches moving around Knaresborough Forest Park taking advantage of this year's bountiful supply of berries and fruit, especially hawthorn. Some of the birds are with us throughout the year but their numbers have been swelled with visitors from Northern Europe, coming

We are pleased to share the plans for the first major tree-planting scheme at the land. This first phase focuses on the field to the left of the Beryl Burton Cycleway as you approach from Knaresborough. The design has grown from a workshop with wood-meadow ecologist Dan Carne, whose work centres on creating landscapes that are productive, biodiverse and grounded in local character. The plan brings together four complementary habitats, each chosen for what it can contribute to