ABOUT
Our Story
Our History
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Our Vision
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Our Team
This is a space to share more about the business: who's behind it, what it does and what this site has to offer. It’s an opportunity to tell the story behind the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this section to share the company's history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
Team
Knaresborough Forest Park is a community-led project, dedicated to restoring environmental resilience and strengthening the connection between both people and nature.
The site is owned by Long Lands Common Ltd, a Community Benefit Society (CBS) with over 3,000 community shareholders, ensuring the land remains protected and developed for long-term environmental and social benefit. While part of the wider sites, the park operates semi-autonomously, supported by its own committee, many of whom also serve as directors on the CBS.
Through habitat restoration, ecological management, and public engagement, the project is creating a thriving natural space that balances conservation with meaningful community access.
Site Lead, Director
Geoff Freeston
Former Head Gardener at Norton Conyers, Ripon, and founder of Horticap, Geoff brings 45 years of horticultural knowledge and experience working people with learning difficulties.
Membership, Director
Alison Organ
Alison is a former language teacher, lecturer, teacher trainer and translator. She coordinated the successful Woodland Trust Appeal to buy land in Nidd Gorge in 1992.
Strategic, Director
George Eglese
Designer, photographer, trustee for Knaresborough Civic Society and currently leading the Harrogate Vision Partnership, George brings a strategic and creative perspective to the project.
Estates, Director
Rick Brewis
Local 3rd generation landowner within the Nidd Gorge area, woodland owner and business partner, Rick was a founding member of Nidd Gorge Community Action Group & HALT. He brings lots of local knowledge and estate mangament to the table.
Estates, Director
Trish Sanders
Trish has lived in Bilton all her life. A local business owner and landowner, she was involved in the intial campaign against the “relief road”, and has been involved with Long Lands Common since the start.
Finance, Director
Bill Rigby
Former teacher and education officer with Lincolnshire and Humberside Councils, Bill brings extensive experience at senior level in agriculture, university education and development policy from Africa. He is the chair of Knaresborough Civic Society, co-founder of Voice International and former Mayor of Knaresborough.
Communications, Director
Shan Oakes
Shan, a former teacher then senior education officer for Humberside and York Councils, has spent 30 months living and working in Uganda for Action Aid and FENU – Forum of Education NGOs Uganda. She helped set up Voice International providing nature with a much need platform. She has an MSc in Education for Sustainability, is a Councillor for Knaresborough and Scriven parish.
Events and Engagment, Director
Mark Flood
Mark is a former Occupational Therapist with clinical and managerial experience, working with the NHS and Local Government. He founded ORB Community Arts, is involved with Renaissance Knaresborough, a Town Councillor and former deputy Mayor for Knaresborough.
The Wider Landscape
Knaresborough Forest Park sits within a rich ecological network, forming part of the wider Nidd Gorge—a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) known for its ancient woodlands, diverse wildlife, and stunning river valley. While closely linked to Long Lands Common, the park extends into a broader mosaic of green spaces, connecting to significant areas owned by the Woodland Trust and North Yorkshire Council.
This landscape is vital for nature recovery, acting as a corridor for biodiversity and a refuge for species that depend on its mix of woodlands, wetlands, and meadows. Knaresborough Forest Park plays a crucial role in enhancing these connections, restoring habitats, and providing a gateway for people to explore and engage with this extraordinary natural setting.
Our land's proximity to Long Lands Common allows for complementary conservation efforts and resource sharing. Together, these spaces contribute to a resilient, ecologically rich landscape that supports both wildlife and the wider community.
Acknowledgment
This acquisition was only made possible with the help of a grant from the George A Moore Foundation in Knaresborough and philanthropic loans from Julia Davies and friends through the We Have The POWER Funding Nature project, which helps charities and community groups to buy land and subsequently repay the loans through share schemes, grant applications and fundraising.
You can find out more about philanthropic loans provided through We Have The POWER, here.
We are truly indebted to the George A Moore Foundation and We Have The POWER network for enabling us to acquire this land for the community and save it from development, safeguarding it for future generations.