Harrogate mum's 'support new woodland' plea in memory of beloved husband

Marianne Williams lost her husband Paul, 49, to cancer in January this year and has pledged to buy community shares in Long Lands Common in his memory, and as a lasting legacy for their children.

Marianne said: “Long Lands Common community owned woodlands is such a great idea. An unspoilt area to plant as woodland, meadows, ponds and wetlands that developers cannot touch.

"My husband Paul would have been all for it. He loved the great outdoors and would drag the kids out at every opportunity in their wellies and waterproofs, ideally with granny's dog Charlie in tow.

"Nidd Gorge was Paul's favourite spot for long walks with the kids whilst I was working weekends.

"They would come back ruddy cheeked and mud splattered, full of tales of fun and woe!

“Their other favourite activity was cycling to Ripley along the greenway. When we heard about the threat of the relief road near Nidd Gorge through the cycle track, Paul was up in arms!

"We went on protest walks, voted "No" to the relief road in the survey and one of the kids even wrote a piece for the school newsletter about it. We see the fields near us slowly but surely filling up with houses.

"These were the fields that Paul used to walk past on his way to school years ago. It pained him that he was powerless to stop the housing developers, despite formally registering his objections against them.

“Paul never heard about the idea for Long Lands Common. He didn't see the impact of Coronavirus, Covid 19 on the world.

"He had incurable cancer and died after a three and a half year battle with the disease. Paul was a lover of nature, especially trees.

"So to be part of a scheme planting a native, natural woodland area would, without a doubt, have meant so much to him; a haven safe from housing development, for future generations to enjoy the freedom to play in the woods as he had as a child.

"To us, his family, supporting Long Lands Common and helping to look after it will be a reminder of Paul and his love of outdoor adventures and his fun, energy, love and laughter.”

Reopening Harrogate - business leaders on challenge of easing lockdown

If Nidd Gorge Community Action is successful in its efforts to raise £300,000 by November with the selling of community shares, Long Lands Common will contribute to the new Northern Forest project to plant 50 million trees across the North of England.

No money is being taken at this time and those residents who do not use the internet can ask a friend or relative to register on their behalf.

People can also buy shares as gifts to celebrate occasions such as birthdays or remembering a loved one.

The initial response to the project has been very encouraging and in order to make Long Lands Common a reality for the people of Harrogate and Knaresborough, including the next generation, residents are asked to register their interest in becoming shareholders, which includes planting trees, at www.longlandscommon.org/copy-of-pledge-to-buy-a-share

'Think again' plea over new Harrogate parking restrictions in town centre

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.