Site Developments

Thursday is our regular volunteer day, today with 11 volunteers progress was made with many aspects of site development. Our first memorial bench, provided by APS, was installed alongside the Beryl Burton cycleway. More wildflowers, Field Scabious, Ragged Robin and Oxeye Daisy, grown from local seed, were planted near the new hazel coppice. Meanwhile solar panels were being installed at the Garth, funded by the Waugh Trust, supplied and wired by Oasis Energy. Looking good! An

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 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

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

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.