The National Trust, Europe’s largest conservation charity has vowed 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.
The Trust says that it will create 250,000 hectares of nature-rich landscapes, planting new woodlands, restoring vital peatlands and reducing flood risk.
The Trust said it aims to improve the health of enough soil to provide a habitat for one billion earthworms – enough to ring the earth twice.
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 is now ramping up its efforts to address the new national need: the climate and nature crises.
These 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.
This consultation has provided the building blocks for the Trust’s new strategy, which will guide the charity’s work over the next ten years and beyond.
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.”
Unprecedented action to tackle catastrophic decline in UK nature
Over the next ten years the Trust will work in partnership with environmental organisations, farmers, landowners and local communities to create 250,000 hectares of nature-rich landscapes, an area one-and-a-half times the size of Greater London, both on Trust land and off it. This will be the biggest contribution to addressing the catastrophic decline in nature the Trust has made in its history.
The Trust has laid the groundwork for this ambition over the past ten years, during which time it has restored 25,000 hectares of priority habitat landscapes; over the next ten, it is pledging to restore ten times that amount of land to a level that is rich in nature. This work will support efforts to tackle climate change.
The charity estimates that the benefits of this approach will include restoring vital peatland, which stores more carbon than the forests of Britain, France and Germany combined. It will reduce flood risk to many thousands of homes and businesses and also improve the health of enough soil to provide a habitat for one billion earthworms – enough to ring the earth twice.
With a focus on restoring peatland, improving the quality of the water in rivers, and reconnecting landscapes, the Trust will make strategic land acquisitions in support of this goal, and also support other landowners to manage their own land well for nature. 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, and form 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.
Plan to end unequal access to nature, beauty and history
Alongside stepping up its efforts to tackle the nature and climate crises, the National Trust will significantly grow people’s access to nature, beauty and history over the next ten years, with a view to eventually ending unequal access.
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.
With a full public launch this summer, the programme will support 100 towns and cities to transform and grow their networks of green spaces, so everyone can enjoy time spent outdoors in nature close to home. Partnership will be vital to achieving this goal, and the Trust is bringing together a strong coalition of like-minded organisations and funders from across UK society.
Inspire 5 million more people to care for the world around them
To achieve these ambitious goals the Trust is aiming to inspire five million more people to care for and take action for nature and heritage in the next decade, by giving their time, voice or money.
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.
Highest standards of care and conservation
Looking after England, Wales and Northern Ireland’s national heritage will continue to underpin everything the Trust does.
New exhibitions, displays and artist commissions will continue the Trust’s long historical legacy of presenting captivating art to visitors.
The Trust will continue its programme of development at a number of its most historically significant properties, with internationally-important collections, architecture, or figures and stories associated with them, including new standards of interpretation.
The Trust will reflect local heritage in its cafés as well as its programming. 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.
Specific actions – the National Trust will:
- 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, including the £17 million transformation of Bath Assembly Rooms
- Inspire 5 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
- Open its first site in the heart of Coventry: the Grade 1 listed, 14th century former monastery Charterhouse with a walled garden and further green space
- Launch an apprenticeships scheme for 130 young people in areas including countryside management, gardening and project management
- Offer members and visitors world-class exhibitions, programming and artist commissions, with 2025’s programming including Helios, a new artwork by Luke Jerram, following his hugely successful Museum of the Moon and Gaia creations