The Orpington & Chislehurst Centre was founded in 1980 and currently has around 800 members in the local area.

Our objectives are to promote the National Trust locally, raise funds for its support, and arrange a programme of events and activities to enrich members’ understanding of its work.

To mark our Silver Jubilee in 2005 we pledged to raise £25,000 to restore the Second Painted Staircase at Knole in Sevenoaks. We are pleased to say that in December 2007 we paid the final instalment and the work is underway.

Some of our past projects include £5,000 towards the restoration of the Kitchen Garden at Chartwell, and £10,000 to projects at Sheffield Park Garden. We have also donated over £2,000 to renew the security gates at Weardale Lodge and sponsored a photographic inventory of the artefacts at Ightham Mote.

Our Centre is independent of the National Trust and governed by a constitution common to all the charity’s centres and associations. Our affairs are conducted by a committee of officers and members who are elected at our annual general meeting held in April each year.