Site Developments

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

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and KFP Volunteers Enhance Ponds with Native Shrub Planting The KFP team had to obtain planning approval before developing the four newly installed newt ponds. As a condition of this approval they were required to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain to offset the habitat loss caused by the spread of spoil. This was done through the planting of 100 square meters of native shrubs, including Hawthorn, Hazel, and Dog Rose. See below a current and artistic impre

We had feared a low turnout or even a washout for our November working party, but we should have trusted both the weather and our stalwart volunteers, of whom 21 turned out despite waking up to pouring rain! In a busy two hours, we cleared leaf mould, soil and brambles from the Beryl Burton Cycleway which runs down the north side of the site. It even got so warm that some of us had to take off our coats! We cleared enough to fill two large piles of leaf mould to save as compo

All four newt ponds have been completed in one week! They are now waiting for more rain to fill them. The spoil has been neatly dealt with and covered with top soil.

Finally, after jumping through the planning hoops and after a long wait, work started this week on the creation of four ponds at Knaresborough Forest Park! The work is fully funded by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust working in collaboration with Natural England. John Thompson, YWT Wetland Creation Officer said : “Great crested newts are one of our most protected amphibians, and have suffered severe declines over the last century due to various reasons including habitat loss, pol

The whole front was in a sorry state with rotting window frames and door post This week our intrepid volunteers ripped out the whole front. The most difficult part was the removal of the metal sheets By lunchtime it was nearly all gone A tarpaulin was added to protect the room until next week Meanwhile bench seats are being installed. And interior walls are being painted Next week we will be rebuilding and adding two donated windows.

Another great day with our wonderful Thursday volunteers, real progress is being made with lining one of the sheds in preparation for school visits Also today, mesh grills have been put on the gutter to keep leaves out, another lawnmower has been brought back to life, a window has been painted and more non native invasive plants (Galeobdolon ) have been removed

We had a great meeting this morning with a new member of the team - Gordan - who we first met on one of our recent guided walks. He’s kindly been helping us dream up (and cost up!) a new suite of composting loos for the Garth. A very welcome upgrade from our current “bucket and hope” system! Before we could get down to business, though, we had a little job to do - moving the old telecom van that’s been quietly wedged beside the Bothy for far too long. With a bit of teamwork (

Our wonderful Thursday volunteers have been working hard at the Garth Four IBCs have been installed to collect rainwater from one of the shed roofs They sit on wire gabions filled with stone and rubble from around the site We have repainted the shed roof ( rust cure + primer + 2 coats topcoat! ) and we are now working on the gutter and linking pipework.