Our ambassadors

Ambassador

Professor Mary Beard

Mary is a classicist and historian, 'self-confessed friendly critic' and a lifelong supporter of the National Trust. She grew up close to Attingham Park, Shropshire, which she says will always feel like her local house and grounds. Mary says she even remembers some priceless amateur dramatics there, when she was a teenager — recreating a Greek tragedy on its steps.

Since then, she has come to see how important country houses are in drawing us together, helping us to learn about, enjoy and debate the past, in bringing us face-to-face with the pleasures and perils of history and so understand the present better.

Mary says, 'Every object, from the humblest plate to the grandest old master, has a story to tell and to discuss. And it can be really fun.'

'Octavia Hill used to say that the Trust's landscapes should have the role of 'outside sitting rooms'. That was brilliantly forward-looking.' Mary likes the idea of the 'houses and other properties being seen as 'indoor sitting rooms' – for us all.'

Ambassador

David Olusoga OBE

David Olusoga OBE is a British-Nigerian historian, broadcaster and BAFTA-winning filmmaker who investigates the UK’s untold histories to uncover a clearer picture of the past and what’s shaped our culture. 

He presents the long-running BBC history series ‘A House Through Time’ and wrote and presented the award-winning series 'Black and British: A Forgotten History', 'Union with David Olusoga' and 'Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners'.  

He is a multi-award-winning author of 'Black and British: A Forgotten History', 'The World’s War', 'Black and British: A Short, Essential History' and 'The Kaiser’s Holocaust: Germany’s Forgotten Genocide and the Colonial Roots of Nazism' among others. His latest book, written with his sisters Yinka and Kemi Olusoga, ‘Black History for Every Day of the Year’, was published recently.  

David has worked with us on several projects including our Time + Space Award as a judge, has appeared as a panellist as part of a Hay Festival of Literature and Arts debate and has featured on our podcasts.

He is a recipient of both the British Academy's President's Medal and the Norton Medlicott Medal for Services to History. He is a Fellow of the British Academy, The Royal Society of Literature, The Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Historical Society. He also sits on the Scott Trust (the body that acts as proprietor of the Guardian Newspaper).

Ambassador

Tayshan Hayden-Smith

Activist and changemaker Tayshan Hayden-Smith continues to fight for joy and justice locally, nationally and globally. Born and raised in North Kensington, London, Tayshan came to realise the power of his activism following the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in 2017 where 72 lives were lost. Along with other young people in the community, he took to the streets and sought solace in guerrilla gardening. This would become the fertile grounds for his journey into radical socio-environmental change. 

Founded in 2019, Grow to Know has recently relaunched as a not-for-profit changemaking and placemaking collective – for people and planet. As Founder and Creative Director, Tayshan is leading bravely and boldly – with less talk, more action, more love, and a whole lot of mischief.

Tayshan says, 'In all honesty, I’ve gone most of my life without knowing what the National Trust is – but in recent years, I’ve come to learn about its activist roots; the spaces and places which can be magical; but also the vision for a future filled with hope. My connection to the National Trust is one that I’ve come to learn about quite recently, and was quite unexpected.

'My late mother’s home holds so many memories close to my heart – and the connection was made by a friend of my mum’s in mentioning the National Trust. It turns out that my childhood home was an Octavia Housing Association home. Octavia Housing Association was founded by Octavia Hill, creating social housing to put people and communities first. It turns out that my connection with the National Trust is a lot stronger than I thought.'

In 2024, Tayshan acted as one of the judges for our Time + Space Award.

Ambassador

George Clarke

George Clarke is an architect, television presenter, writer, broadcaster, campaigner and storyteller. He is also founder of the home educational charity MOBIE (Ministry of Building Innovation and Education). He passionately believes that beautiful architecture and design should be accessible to everyone and that it has the power to transform and enrich lives.

Whether George is designing a new home, restoring or converting historic buildings or transforming existing houses on television, he recognises and values the process that enables people to unlock the beauty of where they live.

He realised early on in his career that the concept of ‘home’ embodied the possibility to a more inclusive approach to good architectural practice.

George says, 'There genuinely is no place like home. Home is the most powerful form of architecture that affects us all, and if you are lucky enough to have a warm and comfortable roof over your head, it is a very special place indeed.'

Ambassador

Mya-Rose Craig

Mya-Rose Craig is a 22-year-old British-Bangladeshi birder, conservationist and environmentalist. In 2024, she was included in the Sunday Times 25 Most Influential Young People. She was the youngest person awarded an honorary Doctorate at 17 years old for her pioneering work with her charity Black2Nature, leading the fight for equal access to nature, organising nature camps for ethnically marginalised young people since 2015.

At 12, she became a Bristol European Green Capital Ambassador. She is also a Diana, Women of the Future and National Geographic Young Explorer 2023 award winner. 

Mya has shared a stage with Emma Watson, Greta Thunberg and George Monbiot, appeared on TV, radio and is a regular speaker. She was the Minister for Diversity in Nature and Conservation in Chris Packham's Manifesto for Wildlife; carried out the most northerly climate strike, in the Arctic with Greenpeace, making worldwide news; and campaigns tirelessly for the planet. She has also written three award-winning books, including her memoir, 'Birdgirl'.

Her favourite National Trust place is Ebbor Gorge, Somerset, near her home. She supports our work conserving natural places and our commitment to inclusion and diversity.

Youth ambassador

Aneeshwar Kunchala

Aneeshwar Kunchala is our youth ambassador. A young conservationist and wildlife advocate, Aneeshwar began his journey aged four after seeing a whale that had ingested plastic, sparking his passion to protect nature. He creates educational videos on ecosystem conservation and holds Guinness World Records as the youngest documentary presenter for Six Ways to Save Our Planet and the youngest newspaper columnist.

Aneeshwar has inspired millions around the world through documentaries, articles, paintings and public speaking. He champions sustainable living, involving children in conservation and inspiring global action for a better planet. 

Aneeshwar says, 'The National Trust protects and cares for places so people and nature can thrive. I'm one of those people who visits National Trust places to enjoy beautiful nature and wildlife.

'My favourite place is Formby in Liverpool, a coastal nature haven for wildlife and people. Imagine how many people like me are enjoying amazing nature and wildlife at National Trust places – that's why I love supporting the National Trust's cause.'

Ambassador

Dr Mark Lane

Dr Mark Lane has gained recognition as a celebrated garden and landscape designer, being the UK’s first garden landscape designer to use a wheelchair, and the first BBC gardening presenter to use a wheelchair. In 2021, Mark was nominated as Celebrity Of The Year at the National Diversity Awards. He was also named on The Shaw Trust’s Disability Power 100 List in 2023 of the UK’s most influential disabled people.

Mark is a prolific writer, whose books include Royal Gardens of the World and The Future Of Gardens, which will be published this year.

Mark says, 'As an art historian, garden designer, gardener, garden historian, disability advocate, lover of architecture, antiques, heritage and fine art, I strongly believe that our national treasures must be preserved, which is why I wholeheartedly support the work of the National Trust. I’ve been a member for a long time and have many wonderful childhood memories of visiting National Trust places.

'The charity continues to look to the future through accessibility and inclusivity, LGBTQ+ events and the stories of key people throughout history, and modern conservation techniques. Each place contains something magical. The stories, insights, intrigue, beauty, wonder, history, and even a few murders that can now be shared with millions each year are truly remarkable. I am honoured to be part of this incredible charity.'

Ambassador

Alice Loxton

Alice Loxton is a 29-year-old history presenter and author with over three million followers on social media (@history_alice), where she educates on heritage and history.

Her latest book, ‘Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives’, was a Sunday Times bestseller and Blackwell’s Book of the Year 2024. She has worked with many organisations to bring history to new audiences, including 10 Downing Street, The National Gallery, BBC, Meta and Microsoft.  

Alice is on a mission to help the British public find joy in discovering the incredible wealth and depth of history which surrounds us – whether in stately homes, humble parish churches or even in the etymology behind place names. With so many historic sites in our care, Alice is delighted to be selected as an ambassador. 

One of Alice’s favourite National Trust properties is Knole, particularly the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio, where visitors can observe conservation experts at work. Alice says, “For me, this is absolutely thrilling – history coming to life before your very eyes!” 

Ambassador

Sean Fletcher

Sean is passionate about preserving natural spaces and heritage, and making them accessible to all, particularly those who wouldn’t normally consider or be able to visit.  

Sean says, ‘this passion was sparked almost 50 years ago, during a visit to a National Trust place. The spark grew into a flame in the years that followed when my family moved to a farm and my mum bred pigs and reared chickens.’ 

‘I reflect on those formative years regularly as they have shaped so much of what I do today, in my job as a presenter on programmes like the BBC's Countryfile, in my role as a mental health campaigner who recognises the hugely positive impact of being outdoors, and in my personal life during which I spend much of my spare time walking and running in our fantastic countryside.  

‘Now I want to give something back and inspire others like I was by the National Trust, almost half a century ago.’