In 1895, three individuals – Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, Octavia Hill and Sir Robert Hunter – came together to form the National Trust. It started as an initiative born out of the need to protect the UK’s natural heritage and open spaces, and the three wanted to ensure these were preserved for all to enjoy. From that point onward, the National Trust became the foremost charitable organisation entrusted with the responsibility of conserving most of the green spaces that England, Northern Ireland and Wales have to offer. From historic houses and castles to forests and coastlines, the National Trust takes care of numerous places and spaces.
Since the National Trust was founded, its purpose has never changed. Over time, the charity has become more innovative and creative in getting people invested in the cause. This has led to more progress and additional opportunities to make an impact. The Trust recognises that conserving and protecting the wellbeing of the UK’s heritage and countryside is core to its mission and will continue to play its part, while also providing experiences that inspire and teach others how to get involved.
As a charitable organisation, the National Trust relies on donations, membership fees and revenue from commercial activities to fund its operations. Many of the properties and spaces under the Trust’s care are unable to fund their own preservation, and the cost for overall conservation can be quite high.
Fighting for Nature
The National Trust’s work in conserving nature gives it a good understanding of the state of the UK’s natural habitat. According to the charity’s assessment, there’s a lot to be done. Six in seven rivers are not in good health, and the population of butterflies in English woodlands has been declining since 1990. While the Trust is doing all it can, decades of farming and climate change continue to be the biggest challenges faced.
It’s not all bad news though, as for the first time in more than four decades, there’s an opportunity for change. A team of rangers from the National Trust is actively campaigning at Westminster to urge members of parliament (MPs) to consider enacting environmental laws that will curb the UK’s role in climate change and help to restore the environment.
More than 130 organisations will join a team of 50 rangers at an event called the Time is Now. Collectively, the campaigners want the Environment Bill to include protections that address plastic pollution, safeguard wildlife and improve air quality, as well as measures that lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Trust’s Ambitions
Rivers form a major focus of the National Trust’s nature conservation efforts. The role of rivers cannot be understated; from providing water for drinking and growing crops, they’re also the lifeblood of much of nature and wildlife. However, many of England’s rivers are under threat, as climate change and intensive development have taken their toll. It’s a situation that has led the National Trust to embark on ambitious waterways projects that aim to bring England’s rivers back to life.
The National Trust has earmarked 2025 as the year by which it hopes to have accomplished some ambitious goals that are fuelled by the need to conserve an environment that’s under pressure in the 21st century. Among the targets the Trust hopes to achieve is a reduction in its conservation backlog, cutting down on energy use by 20 percent, and sourcing half of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020/21.