As an organisation, we have long understood that green places are very much the lungs of the nation, and therefore vital to our wellbeing.
Background to green places
Over a hundred years ago, our founders set out to protect valuable public spaces and to look after them for the benefit of everyone – Octavia Hill spoke of 'open air living rooms for the poor'. While the context may have changed, our need for green space remains as great as ever.
© NTPL / Andrew Butler
As part of our return to our roots, we undertook to find out what green places mean to you, so last year we launched a debate about the importance of local green places and the our role in looking after them. Thank you to so many of you for sharing your opinions.
We now have a much clearer picture on what the nation thinks about green spaces and why they matter. Find out more about green places, what you told us about why they matter, and what we are doing to help protect them for ever, for everyone. Not only are green places important to save for the enjoyment of future generations, they are also vital to the local community, and our survey has shown that they are highly valued by the nation. They can provide a cheap and environmentally friendly day out on your doorstep - ensuring that it's a winning day out for both your mind, body and carbon footprint...
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The launch of the debate
Sir William Proby, Chairman, whose speech one year ago was interpreted as some as an new programme of acquisition of green places to prevent development, said:
'We have asked National Trust supporters and the public whether we should be doing more to protect local green places. The answer has been a resounding ‘yes’. But we are not going to start buying land from in front of the bulldozers. That isn’t what our supporters want.'
'The public has told us that, instead, the National Trust should work more in partnership with communities, stand up for the importance of green places to people’s quality of life, and share our experience of managing local green spaces with local councils and other partners to improve the quality of local green places on people’s doorsteps. This will be the approach we take.'
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