Visitor watching wildlife at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Discover and learn

Would you like to dig a bit deeper into history, find gardening tips or even make your own World Heritage Site? Discover more about the places we care for and pick up some new skills.

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

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Advent calendar of Christmas treasures

Get into the Christmas spirit with our Advent calendar of 24 festive objects from the collections in our care. Find out what today's object is and delve into the origins of the Advent calendar.

Two caricatures side by side from the collection in the Caricature Room at Calke Abbey, both depicting people braving a blizzard. In the first picture is a women with an umbrella, while the second picture is a man holding onto his hat, while blizzards blow around both of them.

Disability histories at the places in our care

Many of the places and collections we care for tell the stories of disabled people throughout history. Discover more about the people behind these connections.

Portrait of Cecilia Strickland by George Romney. She is a young woman from 18th century dressed in a pink and white gown.

Unearthing Britain's history: archaeology through the eras

Discover the different eras of British history through the archaeological artefacts and sites in our care. From stone circles in the Prehistoric Era to military remains of the 20th century, learn more about our ancestors and Britain's past.

Aerial view of earthworks in the landscape at Whitesheet Hill, Wiltshire

A potted history of houseplants

Wander through our collections and gardens to learn the high-society origins of the ferns, orchids and pelargoniums in your home.

Interior of a greenhouse with pelargoniums, succulents and other plants potted on a bench, and other larger houseplants on the floor

Get closer to nature with our guides on identifying fauna, spotting wildlife in their natural habitats, enjoying the outdoors responsibly, and much more.

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Five things you never knew about holly

Holly is one of the UK's most familiar native evergreens and has decorated gardens and homes for centuries. Find out more about this versatile plant, from its pagan roots to its use in furniture.

A robin is seen sitting on a holly branch in autumn

Facts about fungi

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

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

Red squirrel spotting tips

Find out how to spot red squirrels, the best times to see them and how to tell them apart from grey squirrels.

Red squirrel sitting on a mossy rock eating a nut

Common fossils to find at the coast

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

Close view of fossils at the disused Loftus Alum Works, North Yorkshire

Try some of our recipes at home and find out why we champion sustainable, local and seasonal food.

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Recipes

Browse a selection of recipe ideas, from cream-tea classics and family-friendly treats to meat-free dishes and seasonal delights.

Built gingerbread house decorated in white icing

Festive spiced muffins

These easy-to-make muffins will whip up a little festive cheer in your home. They're a classic combination of spices and fruit covered in a creamy frosting.

Vegan Christmas pudding

Christmas wouldn't be the same without a Christmas pudding. A twist on the classic British pudding, this fruity vegan version is a festive must.

Guide to seasonal food

Discover which vegetables and fruit to harvest, plant and buy each month with our handy guide. Growing your own fruit and vegetables reduces food miles, which helps the environment.

Two gardeners harvest rhubarb from a large garden border in the walled kitchen garden at Clumber Park.

Discover top tips from our expert gardeners and learn how to make the most of your garden, plot or window box.

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Gardening tips for winter

Keep your garden or green spaces thriving with our winter gardening tips. There are plenty of jobs to keep you busy, from protecting your plants and wildlife and planting for winter colour to planning ahead for warmer days.

A gardener at work on the Laburnum Arch in January at Bodnant Garden, Conwy

How to grow a balcony garden

Learn how the right plants can transform your balcony into a vibrant green space, which will also help to support wildlife and improve wellbeing.

Contestant balcony as part of our Sky Gardening Challenge 2024, in Manchester

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. Discover top tips for peat-free gardening in your own green space.

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

Growing tips for allotments

Find out how to get the most from your allotment or patch, and learn why growing your own fruit and vegetables is good for you in more ways than one.

The Community Allotments at Minnowburn, County Down

Follow our step-by-step craft guides and create something new, from eco-friendly gifts to projects that help the wildlife on your doorstep.

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Make a natural Christmas wreath

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing activity or a festive way to bring the family together, follow our step-by-step guide to create a Christmas wreath.

Christmas wreath on a door at Scotney Castle, Kent

Make festive paper chain decorations

If you'd like to try and attract more birds to your garden, learn how you can make a simple bird feeder with just a few items and ingredients.

Girl enjoying Christmas activities inside Attingham Park, Shropshire

Build your own World Heritage Site

Challenge yourself to build a World Heritage Site or ancient place with whatever you have at home and create your own piece of history.

Making bug houses in the garden at Washington Old Hall, Tyne & Wear

Make a cosy draught excluder

Follow our easy guide to sewing a simple draught excluder that will keep the heat in this winter. Make one for your own home or gift one to friends and family.

Draught excluder made with fabric printed with pictures of dogs

Immerse yourself in nature, beauty and history from the comfort of your own home with virtual exhibitions, behind-the-scenes videos or our podcasts.

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Podcasts

Tune into award-winning stories of history, nature and adventure linked to the places in our care with our podcasts.

A view down a hill with a woodland and the sea in the background. Three people are walking up the hill recording a podcast.

Online exhibitions

Delve into our online exhibitions, where you can explore artworks and discover the history of the places and collections we look after from your seat.

The bowl is painted showing male figures in Manchu dress mounted on horses carrying bows and arrows, one appears to hold a matchlock, perhaps with a bayonet, they are chasing deer and a leopard,

Explore Holnicote Estate

Take an interactive 360° virtual tour of the diverse landscapes and habitats on the Holnicote Estate in Somerset. Roam around beaver enclosures, ancient oak woodland and saltmarshes, and learn how conservation is shaping the future of this estate.

Wildflower meadow at Holnicote Estate, Somerset

Step into the spotlight and explore the real-life locations behind your favourite films and TV shows, from grand estates in period dramas to magical landscapes in fantasy worlds.

More film and TV