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Looking through a magnifying glass at Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire
Looking through a magnifying glass at Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Discover and learn

Would you like to dig a bit deeper into history, find gardening tips or even make a bug hotel? Discover more about the places you love and pick up some new skills. 

Film and TV

Featuring in costume dramas, fantasy worlds and fairy tales, discover the films and TV shows that have been made at National Trust places.

Collections and house manager at Polesden Lacey cleaning a red Faberge egg
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Hidden Treasures of the National Trust 

Follow our conservators, curators and volunteers at work and get closer to the objects they care for in the second series of Hidden Treasures of the National Trust.

Celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott being filmed cooking in an outdoor kitchen at Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire
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Ainsley's National Trust Cook Off 

Find out about ITV's new series, Ainsley's National Trust Cook Off, where celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott hosts a friendly cooking competition at some of the kitchen gardens in our care.

Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton stood next to each other inside Claydon House, Buckinghamshire
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Bridgerton filming locations 

Discover which places were used as filming locations for the three series of Netflix's lavish Regency-era drama Bridgerton and the spin-off series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

TV presenter Matt Baker during the filming of Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker
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Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker 

We've been searching for a tenant farmer to manage a vacant farm in Northumberland. You can follow along by tuning in to Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker – a new TV show on Channel 4. The series features seven shortlisted applicants applying for a 10-year tenancy on the Wallington estate.

History

Learn about people and places from the past and discover remarkable works of art, architecture and gardens.

Red and white roses in a still life by Ambrosius Bosschaert at Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
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Roses in art and collections we care for 

Did you know that the ancient Greeks and Romans loved to grow roses? Discover the roots and symbolism of these much-loved flowers through the objects and art in our care.

Professor Mary Beard stood behind a podium giving a talk
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Octavia Hill Lecture 

The annual Octavia Hill Lecture is an opportunity for respected voices and commentators to lead us in reflecting on nature, beauty and history. Watch the 2024 lecture with guest speaker Professor Mary Beard. After the lecture, Professor Beard was in conversation with Gus Casely-Hayford.

Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, also known as Bess of Hardwick' by Rowland Lockey. Hanging in the Long Gallery at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
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Remarkable women in history 

Learn about remarkable women in history linked to the places in our care, from the political player who helped make Charles II king to the archaeologist who helped discover a 7th-century Saxon ship burial.

A oil painting on canvas, a three-quarter-length portrait, of Sir Isaac Newton in older age painted by Sir James Thornhill from 1712, held at Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire.
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History of Newton at Woolsthorpe Manor 

Read about the history of Woolsthorpe Manor and the impact it had on its most famous resident, Isaac Newton.

Nature

Read our guides to help you get closer to nature. Learn how to identify birdsong and spot bats, water voles and ancient trees, or have a go at forest bathing, rock pooling and many more activities.

Wildflower meadow including oxeye daisies at Holnicote Estate, Somerset
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Wild flowers in Britain 

Discover the stories behind some famous British wild flowers and how wildflower meadows support important species from butterflies to bees.

Fungi growing on the woodland floor next to a fallen tree trunk
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Facts about fungi 

Fungi play a vital role in the natural world and decomposition process, helping break down organic woodland material. Learn all you need to know about these important organisms.

Common spotted orchid seen at Collard Hill in Somerset
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Seven things to spot in a summer meadow 

Discover more about the wildlife you can expect to see in Britain’s meadows, including butterflies, grasshoppers, moths and orchids.

Close view of fossils at the disused Loftus Alum Works, North Yorkshire
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Common fossils to find at the coast 

Do you know your ammonites from your devil’s toenails? Discover how to identify some of the fossils commonly found around the UK coast and where you might see them.

Gardening tips

Learn from our gardeners and make the most of your garden, plot or window box.

Gardener working in the upper garden at Quarry Bank, Cheshire
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Gardening tips for summer 

Find out how to get more out of your blooms this summer as our gardeners share their tips on how to garden during the warmest season.

A rose arch, covered in pink Rosa 'Lauré Davoust' roses in bloom, in the walled rose garden at Mottisfont, Hampshire
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How to make a rose arch 

Learn how to make your own rose arch from former Mottisfont head gardener Jonny Bass, plus an alternative for smaller gardens.

Two blue tits perched on a green bird feeder with brick wall in the background
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How to build a wildlife-friendly garden 

Looking for new ways to help your local wildlife? Here are some of our top tips on how to make your garden a haven for animals, birds and insects.

Green cuttings sprouting in natural plastic-free pots and peat-free compost
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Guide to peat-free gardening 

We've committed to going peat free as an organisation, and all the plants we grow, buy and sell are potted in peat-free compost. Hear from our team of gardening experts and discover top tips for peat-free gardening in your green space.

Food

Discover the benefits of eating seasonally and try some National Trust recipes for yourself.

Berry tart packed with the taste of summer fruits

Recipes 

Browse a selection of National Trust recipe ideas, from classics such as cheese scones and family-friendly treats to vegetarian and vegan dishes and seasonal delights.

A close up view of a scone served on a plate with a generous helping of jam and cream
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Fruit scones 

Learn how to make a traditional fruit scone with this recipe, best enjoyed with spoonfuls of jam and clotted cream.

An ornate teapot set on a low table with a plate of scones behind
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The history of tea 

Tea first arrived in Britain in the mid-17th century, when it was so expensive that only the incredibly wealthy could afford it. Find out the connections that the places in our care have to this simple brew.

Gardener picking fennel from the vegetable garden at Speke Hall, Liverpool
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Guide to seasonal food 

Grow your own fruit and vegetables and help the environment by reducing food miles. Find out what to harvest, plant and buy each month with our handy guide to seasonal food.

Crafts

Follow one of our many how-to guides and become an expert in something new in no time.

Looking down onto a table where someone is hammering leaves onto a cotton tote bag to create a pattern.
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How to make a leaf print tote bag 

Create your own nature-inspired tote bag using leaves gathered from your local park or garden with this guide. Simply hammer leaves onto cotton fabric and they'll release their natural pigments for a simple and effective design.

Adding the finishing touches to the bee box
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How to build a bee box 

Bee populations have been dwindling in recent years, and building homes is just one way of encouraging them to stick around. Follow these steps to build your own nesting box to attract bees to your garden.

Making a pinecone bird feeder
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How to make a bird feeder 

If you’d like to see more birds in your outdoor space, discover how you can make a simple bird feeder with just a few items and ingredients.

Making bug houses in the garden at Washington Old Hall, Tyne & Wear
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Build your own World Heritage Site 

Challenge yourself to build a World Heritage Site or historic place with whatever you have at home and discover the history and legends of your favourite landmark.

Virtual visit

Enjoy a virtual exhibition, watch a behind-the-scenes video or listen to one of our podcasts.

A garden filled with flowers and trees, surrounded by urban buildings
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National Trust Podcast: series eight 

Immerse yourself in the past or explore the natural world from your armchair in series eight of the National Trust Podcast, with new episodes every fortnight.

Painting of Saint Agatha, by Carlo Dolci, circa 1665-70 at Osterley Park, London
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Online exhibitions 

Delve into our online exhibitions, where you can see artworks and explore the history of the places and collections in our care from the comfort of your own home.

Wildflower meadow at Holnicote Estate, Somerset

Holnicote, Somerset 

Take an interactive 360° virtual tour of the diverse landscapes and habitats on the Holnicote Estate. Explore beaver enclosures, ancient oak woodland, saltmarshes and more in this immersive audio experience, and learn about the vital work for nature in west Somerset.

A young child and her mother bending down to look at flowers in the Sunken Garden in May at Castle Ward, County Down, Northern Ireland

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