Media
Our media centre provides the latest National Trust news, statements and supporting content for journalists.
Contact us
Article
Press contacts
For national, country and regional press enquiries, please use these contact details to get in touch with our teams.
Press releases
Press release
Lurch from drought to deluge sees another mixed year for UK wildlife as National Trust thanks supporters who’ve helped hundreds of projects
With 2024 declared the world’s hottest year on record earlier this month, ferocious storms bookended a very wet and mild year in the UK, prompting fresh fears for climate change’s impacts on wildlife.
Press release
Super seed smoothie helps struggling Chiltern juniper bushes back to strength
National Trust rangers in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire are lending a helping hand in the reintroduction of their local juniper trees by blending a super seed smoothie to halt the species' decline and encourage its long-term reestablishment across five sites.
Press release
‘Exceptional’ Head Gardener John Lanyon hangs up his trowel after 27 years at National Trust gardens
Respected, award-winning horticulturist John Lanyon is set to retire after 27 years as Head Gardener with the National Trust, and 42 years in professional horticulture.
Press release
Tower built for a King at Corfe Castle to be opened to the public for the first time since the English Civil War
For the first time since 1646 when Corfe Castle was destroyed in the English Civil War, the public will be able to access a tower that was built for King Henry I five-hundred years earlier.
Press release
Sycamore Gap saplings to spread hope throughout the nation as recipients of the 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ announced
The National Trust has announced the recipients of the 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ Sycamore Gap saplings being gifted to individuals, groups, and organisations across the UK. The big reveal in National Tree Week follows the charity’s invitation on the anniversary of the felling of the much-loved tree at the end of September for applications for one of the saplings grown from its seed.
Press release
Presenter and architect George Clarke switches on the lights of the UK’s Tallest Living Christmas Tree at Cragside
TV presenter and architect George Clarke switched on the lights of the UK’s Tallest Living Christmas Tree at Cragside on Wednesday 27 November, officially kickstarting the property’s countdown to Christmas.
Press release
First grey seal pup of 2024 is born at Orford Ness
The first grey seal pup of this winter has been born at Orford Ness in Suffolk, marking the fourth consecutive year of successful breeding at the coastal site.
Press release
‘Spectacular’ rare 17th-century ‘star atlas’ from Golden Age of Dutch map-making goes on display for first time
One of the world’s finest and rarest 17th century atlases is set to go on display for the first time at the National Trust’s Blickling Estate in Norfolk, following specialist conservation.
Press release
Centuries of colour history to be revealed as National Trust establishes new laboratory to research paints used in the past
New insights into the colourful world of the past will be revealed at a new National Trust archive of thousands of historic paint samples. The new facility based in Kent has been made possible thanks to funding of £621,962 from the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
Press release
‘Crumbling cloisters’ at Whipsnade Tree Cathedral World War I memorial restored for people and nature
Whipsnade Tree Cathedral in Bedfordshire, one of only three tree cathedrals in the UK, is undergoing vital conservation works to restore its natural, architectural beauty for people and nature after being devasted by ash dieback over the past five years.
Press release
New £10m centre to tackle the health impacts of climate change
A new Centre focused on delivering research on climate change and its impacts on health that will address climate-environment-health inequalities across each life stage is being created by the University of Exeter, in partnership with the National Trust.
Press release
National Trust members vote in support of offering a 50% plant-based menu across Trust cafés
National Trust members have today taken part in the Trust’s 129th Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held today in Newcastle Civic Centre and online.
Press release
Orford Ness ‘crawling’ with spiders as survey reveals new record of rare spider species for the wild and remote location
As we approach Halloween, recent surveys by spider experts have revealed that the wild and remote Orford Ness, cared for by the National Trust, is ‘crawling’ with spiders. A total of 55 species of spider have been identified, including 12 believed to be nationally rare or scarce, and a first-time record for the Suffolk coast of the nationally rare Neon pictus, a tiny jumping spider.
Press release
Pioneering river restoration declared a success delivering incredible benefits for nature and people within 12 months of completion
A year on from the completion of a three-year project on the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate in Somerset to reconnect a section of a river to its floodplain – the innovative ‘Stage 0’ river restoration technique, first pioneered in Oregon, USA – has been heralded a success.
Press release
New plaque honours Birmingham poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah
A blue plaque commemorating Birmingham poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah has been unveiled in his home city.
Press release
Cold, wet year and thriving slugs bring disappointment to the pumpkin patch as Halloween approaches
Cold, wet weather and a boom in slug populations have led to disappointing pumpkin harvests at a number of National Trust gardens, as many gear up for autumn and Halloween celebrations.
Press release
National Trust predicts autumn likely to be ‘a mixed bag’ thanks to a ‘soggy’ year as most trees hold on tight to their leaves
With October underway, National Trust rangers and gardeners are preparing for a "mixed bag" of autumnal displays across gardens, parklands and woodlands in England, Wales and Northern Ireland due to the cool and wet conditions preceding the yearly spectacle.
Press release
National Trust appoints Sheila Das as Head of Gardens and Parks
The National Trust has appointed Sheila Das as the charity’s Head of Gardens and Parks.
Press release
Sycamore Gap Tree One Year On - 'Trees of Hope' case studies
The National Trust has this morning (Friday 27 September) announced more details to help inspire people and communities to apply for one of the 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ – grown from seed from the sycamore gap tree which formerly stood proudly in the gap, towering above Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland National Park, until it was illegally felled, one year ago.
Press release
Filling the Gap - Sycamore Gap Tree lives on as hope prevails with iconic tree’s legacy
A year after the illegal felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree which formerly stood proudly in the gap, towering above Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland National Park, the National Trust and Northumberland National Park Authority are today (Friday 27 September) revealing more details about the legacy of the tree – and its plans for how hope will prevail in the face of tragedy.
Press release
Clean air and fire breaks help silver-studded blue butterflies go for gold as butterfly count at Dorset nature reserve sets new record
Butterfly experts have recorded the highest-ever numbers for silver-studded blue butterflies on the Studland heaths in Dorset, cared for by the National Trust, bucking the trend of an otherwise challenging year for butterflies.
Press release
Puffin population declared ‘stable’ on the Farne Islands as results of first full count for five years are confirmed
Puffin numbers on the remote Farne Islands, off the coast of Northumberland, have seen a 15 per cent increase with the population declared as ‘stable’, after the first full count of the precious seabirds since 2019.
Press release
It’s a bird! It’s a crane!: Chick of Britain’s tallest bird fledges at Wicken Fen for the first time
A pair of cranes at the Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire, cared for by the National Trust, has successfully fledged a chick for the first time since choosing to breed at the site in 2019.
Press release
New flower garden to bring surprise, theatre and delight to almost complete Georgian estate, the final work of ‘Capability’ Brown
After 10 years of planning, groundworks have begun to create a new flower garden at Berrington Hall in Herefordshire – home of ‘Capability’ Brown’s final landscape design – and to recapture the surprise and delight of the Georgian Pleasure Ground.
Press release
National Trust announces plans for £1 million in garden investment, as its collaboration with Blue Diamond Garden Centres enters third year
The National Trust has announced that £1 million of funding from Blue Diamond Garden Centres will be spent on garden and plant conservation projects, as it enters the third year of its brand licensing agreement with the garden centre group.
Press release
Conservation of rare State Bed cover reveals a patchwork of hidden details and wartime 'make do and mend'
A rare cover from a 300-year-old bed has gone on public display at the National Trust’s Erddig Hall and Garden in Wrexham following conservation and research which has revealed previously unknown details about its history, make-up and the early 20th -century wartime needlework that saved it from ruin.
Press release
12% day tripper boost to National Trust sites reveals new visitor trend
People are still prepared to spend money on a great day out despite the continued impact of the cost of living crisis, with the National Trust’s Annual Report revealing a 5% increase in visitor numbers to their pay for entry places in 2023/24 compared with the previous year.
Press release
National Trust brings nature back to an area twice the size of Manchester in less than a decade
The National Trust has achieved its aim of creating or restoring 25,000 hectares (61,776 acres) of priority habitat (habitats of principal importance for wildlife and supporting ecosystems) on its land by 2025, a target set in line with the charity’s conservation goals announced in 2015.
Press release
Striking jewel by ‘creator of genius’ to royalty and film stars returns to historic house where it was made
A gold and diamond ring made by Louis Osman, a leading figure in 20th-century design, has gone on public display at the Northamptonshire home where he lived, worked and drew inspiration for more than a decade. Osman is best known for designing and making the coronet worn by the then Prince of Wales at his investiture in 1969.
Press release
Watch the birdie: Project to transform golf course into wetlands to benefit migratory birds gets underway
Work starts at Sandilands near Sutton-on-Sea next week to transform a former golf course on the Lincolnshire coastline into a 25-hectare (62 acre) wetland nature reserve.
Press release
National Trust visitors’ summer spending paints a picture of rainy holidays fuelled by sandwiches, cakes and ice cream
As millions prepare to enjoy the last long weekend of summer, the National Trust looks back at what has been a bumper season for ice creams, scones, cakes, curry, adventures and umbrellas.
Press release
National Trust urges people to ‘leave no trace’ this bank holiday weekend to help protect nature and the country’s favourite outdoor spots
Ahead of the typically busy August bank holiday weekend the National Trust is urging people to ‘leave no trace’ after a prominent increase in illegal fly camping and littering over the summer months at countryside and coastal locations.
Press release
Dunwich heather back in bloom after remarkable recovery
Dunwich Heath, a rare heathland habitat cared for by the National Trust on the Suffolk coast is showing signs of recovery, with its patchwork of pink and purple heather back in bloom after being severely impacted by extreme heat and drought in 2022.
Press release
Lady Macbeth costumes worn by idol of Victorian theatre Ellen Terry go on display at her former home
The fashion worn by stars at the Met Gala or the Oscars may be hotly anticipated, but 130 years ago it was ‘pop idol’ Ellen Terry who drew the crowds when she stepped out on stage in costumes that drew gasps from the audience.
Press release
National Trust Saltram first outdoor cultural site in the UK to trial pioneering NaviLens technology to aid partially sighted people
This week National Trust Saltram in Plymouth has become the first outdoor cultural site in the UK to trial the use of a pioneering navigational app for partially sighted visitors.
Press release
Andy Sturgeon-designed Mediterranean Garden boosts climate resilience and biodiversity as Beningbrough Hall continues its revival
A new Mediterranean Garden, designed for a changing climate by award-winning garden designer Andy Sturgeon, has been unveiled at the National Trust’s Beningbrough Hall near York.
Press release
Sprouting Sycamore! Delight as Sycamore Gap tree shows signs of regrowth
Encouraging signs of new life are peeking through at the site of the illegally felled Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland. Growing from the base of the stump, eight new shoots have emerged giving hope that the tree lives on, ten months since it was felled in 2023.
Press release
Mind bog-gling new study reveals Marsden Moor stores over a million tonnes of carbon
To mark World Bog Day (Sunday 28 July), peatland experts working together with the National Trust at Marsden Moor in West Yorkshire have found that the moor’s peat stores at least one million tonnes of carbon, further evidence that peatlands can play a crucial role in tackling climate change.
Press release
Life of an 18th century ‘lady of the house’ and her struggles to fit in are explored for the first time at National Trust’s Nostell
The moving story of an 18th century woman struggling to fit into her role and responsibilities in a grand country house is being explored at the National Trust’s Nostell in West Yorkshire.
Press release
New report reveals that nature-friendly farming budget is inadequate to meet climate and nature targets
New economic analysis, published today [23 July 2024], demonstrates that the current agricultural budget is significantly less than what is required for the UK farm and land management sector to help tackle the nature and climate crisis.
Press release
Rare survivals of decorative paper cutting by schoolgirls in the 17th century found under floorboards at Sutton House
Rare surviving examples of decorative paper cutting by schoolgirls in the 17th century have been identified at the National Trust’s Sutton House in London.
Press release
Heart stopping beauty of Sycamore Gap brought to life by ‘Heartwood’: An exhibition of five tree prints created from a disc of the felled tree’s trunk
A collection of five bespoke tree prints entitled ‘Heartwood’, created from a disc of the trunk of the felled iconic Sycamore Gap tree, will go on public display today [Monday 15 July]. The National Trust approached printmaker Shona Branigan, known for her detailed and evocative tree prints, to create the commemorative artworks that will be exhibited at four locations along the span of Hadrian’s Wall.
Press release
Beaver release at Wallington going 'swimmingly' as baby kit is born one year on
The National Trust has announced the birth of the first baby beaver (a kit) to be born on the Wallington Estate in Northumberland for over 400 years, following the release of a family of Eurasian beavers last year.
Press release
Archaeologists restore shrinking Bronze Age White Horse, Britain’s oldest chalk figure
Archaeologists from the National Trust and Oxford Archaeology have completed work to restore the profile of Britain’s oldest chalk figure, the Uffington White Horse in Oxfordshire.
Press release
Patchwork of wildflower meadows wow for National Meadows Day as rare grasslands on North Devon coast peak in first full bloom to benefit nature and people
On the north Devon coast 90 hectares (222 acres) of newly created rare wildflower meadows have reached their first full bloom, to create a vibrant burst of colour to the summer countryside in time for National Meadows Day (Saturday 6 July).
Press release
National Trust's asks for the new government
Our priority asks for the new government after the General Election held on Thursday, 4th July 2024.
Press release
Rangers hopeful of about ‘tern’ in fortunes for graceful seabirds at Long Nanny after colony devastated by bird flu last year
National Trust rangers who keep close watch over Britain’s largest mainland colony of Arctic Terns at Long Nanny on the coast of Northumberland are holding their breath at a critical time in the breeding season to see whether the colony has managed to escape avian influenza, bird flu, this year.
Press release
Largest geophysical survey ever undertaken on National Trust land identifies what are believed to be two Roman villas
The largest geophysical survey ever commissioned by the National Trust has been undertaken at the Attingham Estate in Shropshire.
Press release
Historic engraving inspires Baroque parterre at Dyrham Park, one of the most notable stately homes of its age
An early 18th-century engraving has been used to create a striking new garden parterre at the National Trust’s Dyrham Park, one of the most notable stately homes of its age.
Press release
A soaring success for ancient insects - Wicken Fen announced as new Dragonfly Hotspot
Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire, cared for by the National Trust, has been designated the UK’s newest dragonfly hotspot by the British Dragonfly Society. The title recognises years of conservation efforts to create ideal conditions for the ancient, winged insects to thrive.
Press release
National Trust unveils plans to double the size of Plymouth country park for city residents to enjoy
The National Trust has announced plans to open up more of its estate to double the size of the free-to-access country park at Saltram in Plymouth. The new area of country park will enhance public access, restore historical landscapes, and improve the area’s natural habitats.
Press release
Celebrated Mount Stewart garden wins European Garden Award for ‘exemplary’ climate mitigation measures
The National Trust’s Mount Stewart in County Down has received a first prize for Climate Mitigation Measures in Parks or Gardens in the European Garden Award.
Press release
Over 60,000 people march to parliament to demand politicians Restore Nature Now
On Saturday 22 June over 60,000 people marched through central London to parliament to send one simple but powerful message to all the UK’s political parties – that they must Restore Nature Now.
Press release
WaterAid Garden set to flourish in new home at the National Trust’s Manchester ‘sky park’ after winning Gold at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
WaterAid is delighted to announce the relocation of its striking Gold medal-winning garden from this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show to Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester, where it will inspire even more people to think about sustainable water management.
Press release
Hungry and hairy Hungarian hogs help save UK's most endangered butterfly
Conservationists racing to save the UK's most endangered butterfly have recruited the help of some unique volunteers: hairy Hungarian hogs.
Press release
Future plans for Castlefield Viaduct revealed and designs underway for extension
The National Trust has today revealed plans for the long-term future of the Castlefield Viaduct ‘sky park’ in Manchester. The masterplan, termed the ‘Vision,’ is a direct response to public feedback from viaduct visitors and the local community who took part in a series of workshops, events and an online survey in autumn 2023.
Press release
See-sawing fortunes for seabirds on the Farne Islands as puffin count gets underway
For the first time since 2019, rangers on the Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast, cared for by the National Trust, are gearing up to carry out a full puffin census, surveying eight of the 28 islands to get a vitally needed and critically overdue picture of the red-listed seabird’s numbers.
Press release
A memorial art installation to soldiers killed in the D-Day landing is coming to Stowe Gardens
A memorial installation to soldiers killed in the D-Day landing on 6 June 1944 will be coming to the UK for exhibition in September where it can be seen in full for the first time.
Press release
Lend a hand for nature with the Big Help Out 2024
The National Trust is marking the second Big Help Out Campaign with a range of activities from nature surveys, litter picks and beach cleans, to gardening.
Press release
Major European awards recognise conservation work of the National Trust
The conservation of a set of tapestries which took 24 years and cost £1.7 million to complete has won recognition from a major international heritage award.
Press release
King Charles confirmed as first recipient of Sycamore Gap seedling in honour of national Celebration Day
The first successful seedling nurtured from seeds collected from the 200-year-old Sycamore Gap tree after it was illegally felled by an act of vandalism last September has been gifted to His Majesty The King by the National Trust in honour of this year’s Celebration Day (Monday 27 May).
Press release
Beachgoers swap boogie boards for a boogie beach clean to help protect nature at popular Devon beach
The addition of a silent disco to beach cleans at the National Trust’s Woolacombe beach has seen numbers increase for vital conservation work to help protect nature.
Press release
Extinct plant reintroduced to the wild in Wales after 62 years
A beautiful mountain plant that once clung to cliff edges in Eryri (Snowdonia) has been successfully reintroduced in to the wild in Wales after being extinct since 1962.
Press release
The Octavia Hill Garden by Blue Diamond with the National Trust wins coveted People’s Choice Award – its third award of the week – at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
The Octavia Hill Garden by Blue Diamond with the National Trust has been awarded The People’s Choice Award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024.
Press release
Nature just the tonic for gin-clear ‘globally rare’ chalk stream in the Norfolk Broads
A project to revive a stretch of precious chalk stream in Norfolk that inspired poets and painters has been completed, marking the culmination of six-years of work led by the National Trust.
Press release
Borrowdale rainforest to become a new National Nature Reserve
On Wednesday 22 May, Borrowdale has been announced as the latest in the ‘King’s Series of National Nature Reserves’ (NNRs) by the National Trust and Natural England.
Press release
“Let’s aspire to fantastic urban spaces”: garden of ‘outdoor sitting rooms’ celebrating social pioneer Octavia Hill wins Silver-Gilt and inaugural RHS Children’s Choice Award at RHS Chelsea Flower show
The Octavia Hill Garden by Blue Diamond with the National Trust has been awarded a Silver-Gilt Medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024.
Press release
Dame Judi Dench and school competition winner place Sycamore Gap seedling in The Octavia Hill Garden at Chelsea Flower Show
A seedling, grown from seeds collected from the Sycamore Gap tree after it was felled last September, has been placed in The Octavia Hill Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show by Dame Judi Dench and competition winner, 7-year-old Charlotte Crowe.
Press release
Charities back UK workers saying nature must be at the heart of business decisions
Three of the UK’s largest conservation charities are calling on companies to put nature at the heart of all business decisions.
Press release
New project is improving representation in the outdoors by training 100 new walk leaders from global majority communities
A new project that aims to improve representation in the outdoors by supporting people from the global majority to become qualified walk leaders has seen 24 participants successfully complete their first stage of training.
Press release
No shrinking violets! Conservation charity aims to create purple patch with mass planting of 20,000 violets to satisfy particular tastes of rare butterfly
Across the Shropshire Hills this spring, the National Trust and many dedicated volunteers will start the mass planting of 20,000 marsh violets, the largest planting of its kind in the UK.
Press release
His Majesty The King to continue royal patronage of the National Trust
His Majesty The King will be continuing his royal patronage of the National Trust, acting as the charity’s Patron.
Press release
Peatland restoration at Kinder Scout will plant 800,000 tiny ‘speed-bumps’ to improve health of the peatlands
Work has started to restore a new 526-hectare (1,300 acre) area of peatland on Kinder Scout in Derbyshire, the site of the famous mass trespass of 1932 that is now cared for by the National Trust.
Press release
Rare art work by 18th Century inventor of colour printing discovered at historic house in Norfolk
A rare surviving work by the inventor of colour printing discovered at Oxburgh Estate in Norfolk
Press release
Wicken Fen marks landmark 125th anniversary by announcing restoration plans to help ensure rare fenland endures for generations to come
The National Trust is marking 125 years of caring for one of the oldest nature reserves in the UK – and the very first it acquired - with the announcement of a £1.8 million project to restore 215 hectares (531 acres) of precious peat at Wicken Fen, making it the conservation charities largest lowland peat restoration project.
Press release
Partnership project to restore rivers in the Lake District wins 2024 UK River Prize
The Ullswater Catchment Management partnership, which is spearheaded by the National Trust and Ullswater Catchment Management Community Interest Company (UCMCIC) and works to restore and improve rivers in the Ullswater catchment in the Lake District, has won the prestigious 2024 UK River Prize’s Catchment Award.
Press release
Ghost of ‘lost’ blossom endures through street and place names, according to new research from the National Trust
With the National Trust’s Blossom Week about to bloom (20-28th April), new research published by the charity has revealed the significance of historic blossom in all its different guises in influencing the street and place names that still exist today.
Press release
New portrait – the first in over 100 years – joins unmatched collection of historic staff portraits at National Trust’s Erddig estate
For nearly 200 years, the cherished household staff and servants at Erddig near Wrexham were recorded in a unique collection of portraits, photographs and verses. Now, for the first time in more than a century, a new portrait is temporarily joining the historic display to mark the retirement of the estate’s long-serving Head Gardener.
Press release
Nature’s Confetti – Londoners invited to enjoy the spectacle of blossom in the heart of the capital at Outernet London
A new blossom experience – Nature’s Confetti - is blooming at the London’s Outernet as the National Trust aims to bring the beauty of this special moment in nature’s calendar to more Londoners, commuters and visitors to the capital.
Press release
Children's Urgent Call: More Time in Nature Essential Shows New Survey by National Trust and First News
Children want more time in nature and parents are calling on the government to achieve its goal of providing access to green space within a 15 minute walk, a new survey by First News and the National Trust shows.
Press release
Nature recovery on the Lizard is working from the ground up
Down on the Lizard, in deepest Cornwall, a landscape-scale coastal project to recover rare species is starting from the ground up.
Press release
18th century letters from a young man in London to his father in the Lake District reveal the expense, anxieties, and pleasures of life in the city
Three hundred years after they were written, letters from a son in London to his father in the historic county of Westmorland are going on display at the family home, revealing money worries, romances, nights out and work challenges that many today might recognise.
Press release
Visitors welcomed back on the Farne Islands
Inner Farne, one of the Farne Islands cared for by the National Trust, has reopened today for visitor boat landings, after a period of closure due to Avian Influenza.
Press release
National Trust's blossom campaign blooms with a feast for the senses on World Poetry Day
Marking World Poetry Day, the National Trust is officially launching its annual blossom campaign with the publication of a new book of blossom-inspired poetry by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and the release of a new EP by his band LYR, both called Blossomise, inviting people in the UK to go out and immerse themselves in this year’s spring spectacle with each of their senses.
Press release
Series 8 of the award-winning National Trust Podcast launches on 4 April 2024
Daring 1930s heritage gangsters, pocket-sized urban gardens and an unsolved historical Whodunnit among the topics explored in the new series.
Press release
Meeting the bees needs - 50,000 unusual residents protected during National Trust Cymru repairs to historic house
For the first time in 200 years the buzz in a National Trust house in Gwynedd, North Wales has been stilled, as a rare species of wild bees living in the roof have been moved to a new home during conservation work.
Press release
Good news for historic collections as National Trust reports 18% tumble in clothes moths, but intense rainfall helps silverfish thrive
Clothes moth numbers tumbled in historic houses last year, the National Trust’s annual insect pests report has found. The report collates information gathered by house staff around the Trust, helping the charity to safeguard more than 1 million collection objects, from precious books and tapestries to silk hangings on state beds.
Press release
Seeds collected from felled Sycamore Gap tree ‘springing into life’ at specialist conservation centre
Seeds and material collected from the Sycamore Gap tree after it was felled last September are beginning to ‘spring into life’, according to conservationists at the National Trust.
Press release
Conservation of rare full-length portrait of an 18th century servant reveals tantalising clues about his identity and role
A rare full-length, life-size portrait of a servant at the National Trust’s Chirk Castle in Wrexham has gone on display following conservation and research to reveal some remarkable clues about his background.
Press release
Mild and wet weather results in early arrival of blossom in pockets of England and Wales
With February likely to be confirmed as the warmest on record, the unseasonably mild temperatures over the winter and wet weather of recent weeks have caused various flowering trees and blossom to emerge four weeks earlier than usual, according to gardeners at the National Trust.
Press release
Masterpiece Jacobean plasterwork ceiling depicting the Book of Genesis to get a new lease of life after 400 years
For the first time in its 400-year history, one of Europe’s most spectacular historic ceilings, depicting dozens of Biblical scenes, birds, and mythical beasts, is undergoing full conservation and repair.
Press release
Rare Roman head of Mercury discovered during dig at site of medieval Kent shipyard
The excavation in Kent of a medieval site that was once used for shipbuilding, has delighted archaeologists when they also came across earlier evidence of a Roman settlement.
Press release
New works supercharge precious peatland on England’s first ‘Super’ National Nature Reserve
Work to rewet and restore vital peatland habitats is underway on England’s first ‘super’ National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Purbeck, Dorset. The area was chosen as one of 16 sites for a £1 million Dorset Peat Partnership project seeking to reinstate 172 hectares (425 acres) of peatland, equivalent to the area of over 240 football pitches, across the county.
Press release
Visitors to be welcomed back on the Farne Islands
Inner Farne, one of the Farne Islands cared for by the National Trust, will re-open for visitor boat landings in the spring, after a period of closure due to Avian Influenza.
Press release
Rare watercolour from ‘The Jungle Book’ on display for first time at author’s family home Bateman’s, in the book’s anniversary year
A rare watercolour painting from ‘The Jungle Book’ is set to go on display at the book’s author’s family home, 130 years after the much-loved story was published.
Press release
Suffolk’s first breeding colony of grey seals recorded at Orford Ness
National Trust rangers at Orford Ness National Nature Reserve in Suffolk are celebrating the birth of over 130 grey seal pups this winter; the third, consecutive year of successful breeding at the coastal site, which is now thought to be home to Suffolk’s first grey seal colony.
Press release
Peatland ‘time capsule’ reveals prehistoric woodland habitat and insects which still exist today
An area of buried prehistoric woodland, plant and insect remains, has been discovered on land cared for by the National Trust on Exmoor in Somerset.
Press release
National Trust joins push for temperate rainforest revival in North Devon with new 100,000-strong tree planting project
A large-scale project to create a wilder, woodier and wetter landscape is underway in north Devon with the National Trust planting over 100,000 trees this winter to re-establish approximately 50 hectares (123 acres) of temperate rainforest, one of the UK’s most endangered habitats, and other wooded habitats.
Press release
'Miraculous’ escape of a First World War soldier when pocketbook stopped sniper’s bullet is among stories in new display
A small pocketbook inside the uniform jacket of a private in Gallipoli during the First World War stopped a sniper’s bullet and saved his life.
Press release
“Palace of art” leaves oil in the past as National Trust switches on historic heat pump
Kingston Lacy in Dorset, one of the most opulent country houses in the south of England, has replaced its unreliable and oil-hungry boilers with a pioneering ground source heat pump in a bid to tackle climate change.
Press release
A celebration of Churchill, a garden at Chelsea, a chance for young people to contribute to science, culture and nature, and celebrating the power of volunteering: the National Trust unveils its programme for 2024
2024 at the National Trust, which turns 129 today, will be a year for celebrating old traditions and establishing new ones that reflect the charity’s founding principles.
Press release
National Trust uses ‘Isaac Newton’s lockdown legacy’ to launch Time + Space Award for young people
The National Trust has today opened applications for a Time + Space Award for young people, inspired by Sir Isaac Newton’s annus mirabilis or ‘year of wonders’, which happened when he was just 23.
Press release
Statement on the Environment Secretary’s speech at the Oxford Farming Conference
Our statement following the speech of Environment Secretary, Steve Barclay, at the Oxford Farming Conference today, 4 January 2024.
Press release
National Trust takes on the challenges of climate adaptation in new garden project at Sheffield Park and Garden
For the first time since the National Trust took ownership in 1954, plans are afoot for the creation of a new area in the Grade I listed garden at Sheffield Park and Garden in East Sussex.
Press release
From 5th century mosaics to World War Two defences, National Trust places will appear in new series of BBC 2’s Digging for Britain
Four National Trust places will be appearing in the new 6-part series of Digging for Britain presented by Professor Alice Roberts which begins on Tuesday 2 January on BBC2.
Press release
UK nature feels the impact of seasonal “baseline shift” and extreme weather events as 2023 set to be warmest year on record
With 2023 widely anticipated to be declared the warmest year on record and 2024 already forecast to be even warmer the National Trust is sounding the alarm for UK wildlife as the loss of predictable weather patterns and traditional seasonal shifts causes chaos for nature.
Press release
600-year-old token given to the poor to spend at Christmas is discovered at Oxburgh Estate
The National Trust has found a medieval Christmas token at Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk .
Press release
One of the UK's oldest nature reserves hopes to attract more than two turtle doves this Christmas
The National Trust has acquired a further 70 acres (28 hectares) of land adjoining Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, in efforts to protect more of the precious fenland habitat and to help more rare animals and birds including turtle doves.
Press release
Remote Essex island ‘lets the sea in’ to create new saltmarsh in fight against climate change
Major works to create and retain swathes of new saltmarsh habitat on a remote Essex island have reached a major milestone, providing a lifeline for the land and its wildlife in a changing climate and in light of rising sea levels.
Press release
Sycamore Gap tree ‘will live on’ as National Trust and National Park announce next steps
Following the felling of the much-loved Sycamore Gap tree in September, the National Trust has said that the seeds and cuttings taken from the fallen tree are showing positive signs of being viable for propagating.
Press release
Bodnant Garden gives ‘dinosaur trees’ a Welsh home-from-home as part of new ‘metacollection’ to protect Wollemi pine from extinction
The National Trust’s Bodnant Garden in North Wales, is joining together with Forestry England to plant critically endangered Wollemi pine trees as part of the first global ‘metacollection’ to save the iconic species from extinction and help protect the biodiversity of wild trees.
Press release
Our Beautiful Wild, a new film created by more than 100 young people, sounds the alarm for nature
On 27 November, young people from across the UK will come together in schools, social clubs and online to celebrate the premiere of Our Beautiful Wild, a new film showcasing the actions young people are taking for nature and their vision for the future.
Press release
National nature reserve ‘turns on the tap’ to create winter wetland for wildlife and reduce CO2 emissions
This month, rangers at Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Cambridgeshire, cared for by the National Trust, will turn on taps across the site to allow water to flow from the lodes on higher ground to the lower laying fens, creating standing pools of water to create a winter wetland for wildlife, as well as sequestering carbon.
Press release
Adapting to climate change needs our ‘urgent, unswerving attention’ says National Trust with launch of landmark report
The National Trust is calling on all political parties to ramp up progress on adaptation by introducing new legislation that recognises the importance of adapting buildings, coastlines and countryside to cope with the impacts of climate change.
Press release
First pups of the season born at England’s largest grey seal colony on Blakeney Point in Norfolk
One of England’s most spectacular winter wildlife events is underway with the births of the first grey seal pups at Blakeney National Nature Reserve on the north Norfolk coast, cared for by the National Trust.
Press release
Record voter turnout at today’s National Trust AGM as members have their say on charity’s work and direction
This year more than 156,000 members voted on four resolutions and elected five members of the National Trust Council at the charity’s Annual General Meeting on 11 November. This year’s voting participation rate was a record for the National Trust and builds on three consecutive years’ of high turnout from members.
Press release
Record voting expected in National Trust AGM, as Chair pledges long-term commitment to the protection of nature and cultural heritage
Participation in the National Trust’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) this year is expected to hit record levels, as members meet today to discuss the charity’s work and direction.
Press release
The devil in the detail: A fiend re-emerges from the canvas of a painting by Joshua Reynolds
A fiend, which has lurked unseen in a painting by Joshua Reynolds, has emerged following conservation work by the National Trust.
Press release
National Trust, Blue Diamond and Ann-Marie Powell join forces to celebrate ‘gardens for all’ at 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show
The National Trust and Blue Diamond Garden Centres are delighted to be working with multi-award-winning garden design practice Ann-Marie Powell Gardens to create a prestigious show garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024.
Press release
National Trust issues key manifesto asks to protect nature and heritage for everyone
The National Trust’s Director-General Hilary McGrady has outlined the three minimum requirements any future Government should commit to, so the future of nature and heritage can be secured for everyone.
Press release
Storm Babet's widespread damage to landscapes, gardens and properties a taste of things to come, says National Trust
Storm Babet has left a trail of destruction across landscapes, houses and gardens cared for by the National Trust, throughout the spine of England.
Press release
Statement on the felling of the Sycamore Gap Tree
Our statement on the sad felling of the Sycamore Gap Tree at Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland.
Press release
Response to Sycamore Gap tree felling “inspiring” says National Trust, as trunk to be moved from heritage site
The iconic Sycamore Gap tree is set to be moved from Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, after it was felled in an act of vandalism a fortnight ago.
Press release
Taking the plunge:18th-century cold bath, believed to be only one of its kind in an assembly room, is uncovered in Bath
Archaeological excavations in the basement below the 18th-century Bath Assembly Rooms have revealed the remains of what was once a popular form of ‘taking the waters’ for health purposes – a Cold Bath.
Press release
National Trust urges Brits to enjoy the spectacle of a global autumn, right here at home
The National Trust is encouraging Britons to experience a world of autumn colour by visiting the global gardens on their doorstep as the seasonal spectacle gets set to tumble across the country over the coming weeks.
Press release
Award-winning design team to give historic National Trust parterre a sustainable and climate resilient future
The National Trust has appointed an award-winning landscape architect team to transform the traditional parterre at Wimpole in Cambridgeshire, to make it a more sustainable, climate resilient and biodiverse planting scheme that is ready for the future.
Press release
National Trust devotes record sum to historic buildings and collections conservation in 2022/23
The National Trust dedicated a record amount of funds to the conservation of historic buildings and collections in the last financial year, the charity’s latest Annual Report reveals.
Press release
Cornwall set to bloom as National Trust begins major grassland creation project
Clifftops and fields across Cornwall are set to be transformed into thriving wildflower meadows, thanks to a new three-year conservation project by the National Trust.
Press release
National Trust sets river ‘free’ with pioneering restoration approach in Somerset
A three-year project on the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate in Somerset has successfully reconnected a section of a Somerset river to its floodplain to create a new and instantly different waterscape using the innovative ‘Stage 0’ river restoration technique, first pioneered in Oregon, USA.
Press release
Rare medieval seal matrix that promised a ‘fast track’ to Heaven goes on display at its original home after 500 years
A rare medieval seal matrix that lay buried in a field for over 500 years is to go on show at its original home, the National Trust’s Mottisfont in Hampshire.
Press release
Spread of avian influenza has devastating impact on wild seabird colonies at National Trust sites
The National Trust has today announced that over 7,000 seabirds have sadly died from avian influenza (bird flu) this year across its most precious sites for seabird colonies around the coast of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Press release
National Trust brings coastal land at Tintagel into its care
A stretch of rugged Cornish coastline that borders the medieval fortress of Tintagel has been acquired by the National Trust to look after on behalf of the nation.
Press release
Baby beaver boom on Exmoor in Somerset as three kits are born in conservation success story
Three baby beavers (kits) have been born at two different beaver enclosures on the Holnicote Estate near Minehead, Somerset, where the National Trust re-introduced beavers for the first time in 400 years in January 2020.
Press release
Castlefield Viaduct sky park to stay open until summer 2024 after project gets extended
Visitors will be able to enjoy Manchester’s sky park until autumn 2024 after the National Trust has been granted an extension by Manchester City Council to the popular Castlefield Viaduct project.
Press release
24 years on, National Trust completes longest running conservation project to conserve ‘late Renaissance masterpiece’ tapestries
The National Trust’s longest running conservation project is now complete – 24 years after it began.
Contact us
If you would like to see any further press releases from our archive please contact the press office.