The National Trust has unveiled ambitious plans for the next decade as its celebrates its 130th birthday.
Europe’s largest conservation charity has vowed to take unprecedented action to tackle the nature crisis, end unequal access to nature and cultural heritage and inspire millions more people to protect the world around them.
Founded in the late 19th century to preserve the natural environment from the ravages of industrialisation, then adapting to save scores of country houses from dereliction in the wake of the world wars, the charity said it was now ramping up its efforts to address the new national need: the climate and nature crises.
It has launched a 10-year strategy.
It said it would:
- Work with others to create 250,000 more hectares of nature-rich landscape – equivalent to one-and-a-half times the size of Greater London – both on its own land and off it
- Connect more people than ever with their national heritage through innovative conservation and development
- Inspire five million more people to give their time, voice or money in support of conservation charity’s vital goals
- Fundraise more in the next decade than in the previous century
- Invite people from all walks of life to ‘adopt’ plots of land at ‘nature super sites’ around the UK
- Restore vital peatland, which stores more carbon than the forests of Britain, France and Germany combined; and improve the health of enough soil to provide a habitat for one billion earthworms – enough to ring the earth twice
- Support 100 towns and cities to transform and grow green space
- Forge a new partnership with leading mental health charity Mind to help address unequal access to nature and the mental health crisis
- Introduce National Trust Ambassadors, including classicist, author and broadcaster Professor Mary Beard; and historian, broadcaster and film-maker David Olusoga
- Launch an apprenticeships scheme for 130 young people in areas including countryside management, gardening and project management
The plans follow the largest public consultation ever carried out by the National Trust, with more than 70,000 people – including members, volunteers and industry partners – sharing their views on the trust’s work and direction.
Director-General Hilary McGrady said: “For 130 years, the National Trust has responded to the crises and challenges of the time. 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. 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.”
In the Lake District, swathes of peatland across Armboth Fell were restored over the course of the past four years in partnership with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, United Utilities and Fix the Fells.
The area was heavily degraded due to the harvesting of peat in the past for domestic use, which releases carbon into the environment, speeds up erosion and reduces the number of wildlife species able to live there.
The restoration will provide high-quality habitats for wildlife to thrive, store more carbon, provide better water filtration, and also store and slow down the release of this water, helping to prevent flooding in nearby areas.
After Storm Desmond hit the Lakes in December 2015, it brought flooding and high winds of up to 80mph to many villages including Patterdale and Glenridding.
The damage catalysed a Riverlands conservation project which ‘re-wiggled’ a mile-long stretch of river at Goldrill Beck to help reduce the damage from future floods and return the landscape to its original state.
The river had been heavily modified over many centuries through straightening and the building of embankments – making it more akin to a canal. That meant the water flowed through it at speed, however restoring it has returned its original gentle meanders, holding water for longer and reducing flooding in the area.
Work to create accessible path networks in the countryside in the Lakes includes a new boardwalk near Derwentwater and an accessible circular walk at Holeslack Wood, on the Sizergh estate.
Work is also underway at Sizergh to restore an early 19th century ramp which will enable first floor access to the house for visitors with limited mobility, and link to a new network of accessible paths throughout the gardens.
