Heritage charity celebrates 130th birthday with launch of 10 year strategy
The National Trust says it’s marking its 130th birthday by ‘unveiling hugely ambitious plans for the next decade and beyond.’
It’s launching a new 10-year strategy which follows the largest public consultation ever carried out by the charity. The work saw more than 70,000 people sharing their views on the its work – and future direction.
The consultation is providing the building blocks for the Trust’s new strategy with the aim of guiding the charity’s work over the course of the next ten years – and beyond.
‘For 130 years, the National Trust has responded to the crises and challenges of the time,’ explains Hilary McGrady, Director-General of The National Trust.
‘Today, nature is declining before our eyes and climate change is threatening homes and habitats on a colossal scale. Meanwhile, millions of people can’t enjoy the benefits that green space and heritage bring.’
‘So we will ramp up our work to restore nature, both on our own land and beyond our boundaries. We’ll work to end inequality of access to green space and cultural heritage.’
‘And we will inspire millions more people to take action to protect the things we all need to thrive.’
‘Our charity’s founders were passionate campaigners who recognised the threats to our natural and cultural heritage, and, against the odds, did something about it. That same boldness is needed today.’
‘Setting ourselves these ambitious but much-needed goals’
‘The Trust is uniquely placed to do something about these challenges and it’s why we are setting ourselves these ambitious but much-needed goals.’
The charity was founded in the late 19th Century to preserve the natural environment from the ravages of industrialisation.
It adapted its’ original mission statement so it could set out to save scores of country houses from dereliction in the wake of the World Wars. The charity says it’s now ramping up its efforts to address problems arising from climate change.
Over the next ten years The National Trust aims to work in partnership with environmental organisations, farmers, landowners and local communities to create 250,000 hectares of nature-rich landscapes.
To put that size into context, it’s the equivalent to an area one-and-a-half times the size of Greater London.
The charity says it’ll be the ‘biggest contribution to addressing the catastrophic decline in nature the Trust has made in its history.’ Over the past ten years, it has restored 25,000 hectares of priority habitat landscapes.
It is now aiming to restore vital peatland, which stores more carbon than the forests of Britain, France and Germany combined. It also aims to improve the health of enough soil to provide a habitat for one billion earthworms – enough to ring the earth twice.
Supporting a new network of woodland
It recently purchased a 78-hectare area of land at Lunt in Sefton to support a new network of woodland, woody habitats, wetlands and grassland with the goal of forming part of the local Community Forest.
The land will open up access to more green space for nearby communities and connect a mosaic of nature-rich landscapes together, creating much-needed corridors for wildlife.
The charity explains that multiple studies demonstrate the wellbeing benefits of time spent in nature.
It says access to nature remains very unequal – and the impacts of the UK’s mental health crisis are far-reaching with an estimated 17 million working days a year now being lost to mental health-related issues.
As such, The National Trust is developing a partnership with the mental health charity, Mind. It’s aim is to try to ensure that the richness of nature can help more people across the country.
With founding partners Natural England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Trust is inviting towns and cities across the UK to be part of a new programme, Nature Towns and Cities.
Breaktime News has previously covered how The National Lottery Heritage Fund supported the £10 million transformational redevelopment of Gainsborough’s House in Suffolk.
With a full public launch this summer, the programme will support 100 towns and cities to transform and grow their networks of green spaces. The aim is for everyone to enjoy time spent outdoors in nature close to home.
The charity aims to achieve its goals by inspiring five million more people to care for and take action for nature and heritage in the next decade.
A gardener at work at Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester. Photographer: Annapurna Mellor (image provided by The National Trust).
Make an impact in areas important to you
New volunteering opportunities, both directly with the Trust and with partner organisations, will give people the chance to make an impact in the areas most important to them.
From Spring, volunteers can help look after important freshwater habitats and species. It’s all part of the multi-million pound Freshwater Renaissance project.
The two year scheme aims to ‘restore a functioning network of biodiverse and climate resilient freshwater habitats.’
People wanting to play their part in restoring nature by contributing financially can ‘Adopt a Plot’ which allows people to sponsor a plot of land for nature recovery – at a site of their choice.
The Trust is co-producing a brand-new natural history series with The Open University for BBC One and iPlayer: Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles.
The series follows wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin as he reveals hidden wildlife gems from across the four countries of the UK.
The charity will use additional content from the series and new content featuring Hamza to connect as many people as possible to the joys and benefits of nature.
Launching an ambassador programme to raise awareness
For the first time in its 130-year history the National Trust will launch an ambassador programme.
High-profile advocates who share a passion for the Trust’s charitable purpose will use their influence and networks to promote work, raise awareness and attract support for the charity.
Among those to be recruited as ambassadors are classicist author and broadcaster Professor Mary Beard, environmentalist, author and broadcaster Mya-Rose Craig, presenter George Clarke and historian, broadcaster and film-maker David Olusoga.
Classicist author and broadcaster Professor Mary Beard is one of the National Trust’s Ambassadors. Photographer: Robin Cormack (image provided by The National Trust).
The Trust is also launching an apprenticeships scheme for 130 young people who might not otherwise consider a career in the National Trust – and who may not be aware of the opportunities on offer.
Apprenticeships will be based at locations round the country, in a range of careers including gardening and countryside management, as well as project management, information technology, finance and HR.
Looking after England, Wales and Northern Ireland’s national heritage will continue to underpin everything the Trust does.
It says that projects, such as the £17 million transformation of Bath Assembly Rooms, Somerset, will ensure the preservation of irreplaceable historic buildings for future generations.
New exhibitions, displays and artist commissions will continue the Trust’s long historical legacy of presenting captivating art to visitors.
Helios, a brand-new artwork by artist Luke Jerram, will open at Bath Assembly Rooms on 11 January, before touring other National Trust sites in 2025.
A seven-metre model of the sun, Helios follows Jerram’s hugely successful Museum of the Moon and Gaia creations. It will shine a light on unique places, the benefit they offer to the nation, and the people who use and enjoy them.
A big part of going to any National Trust property includes a chance to unwind in its cafes. As such, the charity says it plans to grow its range of favourites – such as scones and cream teas.
It aims to do so by introducing new flavours, including a Coronation cheese scone, served with cream cheese and chutney, as a Father’s Day special.
The teams also aim to use more produce grown in its historic kitchen gardens, as well as sourcing seasonally, so the Trust to be more sustainable across its cafés.
Building on the introduction of signature Welsh dishes such as Welsh rarebit and beef and lamb cawl to National Trust Cymru sites, more regional and locally-significant food will be added to the menu in 2025.