THE National Trust, which owns the Holnicote Estate on Exmoor, near Minehead, is marking its 130th birthday by unveiling ambitious plans to tackle a nature crisis over the next decade.
The trust, which is the largest conservation charity in Europe, has vowed ‘unprecedented action’ to end unequal access to nature and cultural heritage and to inspire millions more people to protect the world around them.
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 cannot 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 will 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.
A National Trust apprentice making plant supports out of hazel. PHOTO: National Trust Images/Sarah Davies. ( )
“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 National Trust is uniquely placed to do something about these challenges and it is why we are setting ourselves these ambitious but much-needed goals.”
Ms McGrady said among the trust’s plans were to:
- Work with others to create nearly 620,000 more acres of nature-rich landscape, equivalent to one-and-a-half times the size of Greater London
- 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 the charity’s vital goals
- Fund-raise 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
- 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 filmmaker David Olusoga
- 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 programming including Helios, a new artwork by Luke Jerram, following his hugely successful Museum of the Moon and Gaia creations
The 10-year 2025-2035 plan follows 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 charity’s work and direction.