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Who we are
A Community Benefit Society with over 4,500 members, working to protect and restore land in and around Harrogate and Knaresborough.
James McKay
Chair
James manages the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Low Carbon Technologies and Bioenergy at the University of Leeds, where he leads work on renewable energy research and education. He’s also a skilled science communicator, known for creating visualisations of scientific research and engaging the public in the transition to a low-carbon future.
Alison Organ
Membership & People
Alison is a retired language teacher, lecturer, teacher trainer and translator. She helped coordinate the Woodland Trust’s successful 1992 appeal to protect land in Nidd Gorge, bringing decades of educational and community experience to her role.
Geoff Freeston
Knaresborough Forest Park
Geoff, brought up on a farm, studied Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Nottingham University and trained on a biodynamic farm in Sweden. He later spent seven years as Head Gardener at Norton Conyers near Ripon, where he developed the two-acre walled garden and established a pick-your-own fruit enterprise. He brings over 45 years of horticultural experience to the project.
Linda Nelson
Board Member
Linda is Director of Veloheads, an organisation which aims to support young people to develop skills for life and for work through a two-year programme including functional skills and qualifications and work placements.
Shan Oakes
Vice Chair
Shan has worked across education and international development, including 30 months in Uganda with ActionAid and the Forum of Education NGOs. Formerly a senior education officer for Humberside and York Councils, she helped to found Voice International CIC to promote smaller and unheard voices. She holds an MSc in Education for Sustainability.
Rick Brewis
Land & Stewardship
Rick is a third-generation landowner within the Nidd Gorge catchment and a founding member of Nidd Gorge Community Action Group and HALT. A woodland owner and local business partner, he brings deep practical knowledge of land management and community stewardship to the team.
Niall Littlejohn
Long Lands Common
Niall (pronounced Neil), recently retired, is an Assistant Scout Leader at 23rd Harrogate Scouts and a Volunteer librarian / manager at Starbeck Community Library.
As the co-opted Lead for Long Lands Common Niall became actively involved in the site initially as a Site Ranger and then more regularly as a member of the midweek site maintenance team. He sits on the Ranger Co-ordinators team and the Commoners committee, whose role is to represent the active members of LLC however they participate.
Mark Flood
Board Member
Mark is a retired occupational therapist with extensive experience in the NHS and local government. He founded ORB Community Arts in Knaresborough and has served as a town councillor and former Deputy Mayor, combining health, arts and civic insight in his work.
Chris Kitson
Secretary & Treasurer
Chris has been the Secretary of Long Lands Common Ltd since our foundation in 2020, guiding the society through its inception and initial community share sale to successfully raise the funds to buy Long Lands Common and build a membership base of 3000 people.
Trish Sanders
Land & Stewardship
Trish has lived in Bilton all her life and has been part of Long Lands Common since its beginning. A local business owner and landowner, she played an active role in the campaign against the proposed relief road and continues to advocate for protecting Harrogate’s green spaces.
Ben Skinner
Board Member
Ben has been a Harrogate resident since 2012. A keen cyclist and local business owner, he became involved with the Nidd Gorge Community Action group in order to protect Harrogate's green spaces. He provides IT and other digital skills for the team.
Bill Rigby
Board Member
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