10 things you (probably) don’t know about the National Trust

Businesses looking to engage and inspire their employees, customers and members in a way that supports their wellbeing and contributes towards Europe’s largest conservation charity, should really consider giving a National Trust gift card.

There are so many sides to the National Trust which completely refute stereotypical thinking. In fact we were so bowled over in our latest brand immersion session with the passionate team, that we have compiled this blog to share some of the things that we didn’t know about the National Trust.

1. “Everyone needs nature”

This could be a quote out of anyone’s mouth particularly after the pandemic. However, it is actually a quote from Octavia Hill, one of the 3 founding philanthropists who could see that in post industrialised Britain, people needed access to green spaces for wellbeing. This was why the National Trust was first set up, and this quote really has come full circle.

2. National Trust bought their first house for just £10!

Despite starting off with its roots in green spaces and well being, the National Trust has moved on to look after many historic houses and stately homes, as well as being landlords for entire villages, pubs and a Regency playhouse alongside mills, castles, gardens, archaeological remains, coastline, forests, woods, other wild spaces, impressive art collections and 10 lighthouses! The first property that the National Trust ever bought cost just £10!

3. I’ll get by with a little help from my friends

Despite what a lot of people think, the National Trust properties are not all stately, former aristocratic homes. One such unique and unexpected property is 20 Forthlin Road, an unassuming two-up, two-down council house in Allerton, Liverpool which has been lovingly restored to appear as it did when the McCartneys lived here. After their mother died of cancer, it was here that Paul and his brother Mike found solace in music and photography, and where Paul’s friendship with fellow Beatle John Lennon blossomed.

4. Europe’s largest conservation charity

The National Trust is a charity, and not just that, it’s Europe’s largest conservation charity. They look after more ancient woodland than anybody else in the world. They restore degraded habitats including nationally important peatland, to soak up large quantities of carbon and water, bolstering the landscape against the effects of climate change and minimising flooding. Once restored, one particular site could lock up more than 350,000 tonnes of carbon – the equivalent of taking almost 80,000 cars off the road for a year.

5. Nurturing Sir Isaac Newton’s shoots

Continuing with the theme of conservation, the National Trust owns and operates a secretly located ‘Plant Conservation Centre’ which holds the last examples of certain species as well as nurturing shoots from Sir Isaac Newton’s tree!

The Trust also works to protect all kinds of endangered wildlife including the reintroduction of a butterfly once extinct in the UK.

6. 25% of the Lake District

The headline statistics go on and on when it comes to the National Trust – they own 25% of the Lake District. Beatrix Potter was heavily involved in the National Trust during her lifetime and gifted large amounts of land in the Lake District when she died. The National Trust is in fact, the UK’s largest non commercial land owner. Need we say more?!

7. Largest ParkRun host in Europe

Aside from being Europe’s largest ParkRun host, the National Trust supports many sporting, mindful and wellbeing activities up and down the country including night runs, forest bathing, 10k’s and the ‘Summer of Sport’ series which aims to get children active over the summer.

8. Fastest growing segment is families

The National Trust is proving most popular with families, many are millennials looking for different ways to spend their time, protect the environment and support their health and wellbeing.

9. ‘Green Corridors’ for urban spaces

The National Trust protects and develops urban areas too. Their ambitious new ‘green corridors’ project will link city centres to their neighbouring countryside. By connecting towpaths, parks and woodlands, the Trust hopes to help people in urban areas to access green spaces and rural areas more easily.

10. Park in the sky!

The Grade II-listed Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester has stood unused for decades but not for much longer, as the 330-metre steel viaduct will be transformed into a temporary park in the sky, to create a meeting place for people and a habitat for nature to benefit the surrounding community.

It is very difficult to stop at just 10, as this barely scratches the surface of all the wonderful things that make up the National Trust. A National Trust gift card can be used towards membership, redeemed in shops and cafes as well as at numerous holiday cottages and campsites owned by the Trust – some of which are in locations that feature in TV and film slike Game of Thrones, Poldark, Downton Abbey, The Witcher, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.

We are proud to have been working in partnership with the Trust since 2015, well actually 2013 if you count the two years we spent helping them to define the programme and prepare internally for the launch. You can read more about this in our customer story here.

Buy National Trust gift cards for your business in either physical or digital format, in bulk, via API or with a personalised service from Diggecard. Engage and inspire your employees, customers and members with nature, beauty, history; for everyone, for ever.

©National Trust Images

1. Castleford Viaduct, Manchester – ©National Trust Images/Paul Harris
2. Forest bathing bed with Octavia Hill quote at Minnowburn, County Down, NI – ©National Trust Images/Paul Moan
3. John Lennon’s childhood bedroom at Mendips, Liverpool – ©National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor