The Trust is committed to understanding and taking action to reduce the impact of our activities on the environment - our footprint. We need to manage energy and water use and waste generation.
There is a lot for us to do as we protect and open to the public over 300 historic houses and gardens and 49 industrial monuments and mills. But it doesn’t stop there. We also look after forests, woods, fens, beaches, farmland, downs, moorland, islands, archaeological remains, castles, nature reserves and villages - for ever, for everyone.
Energy
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As with all home owners the National Trust's depends on energy for lighting and heating. But as we all know energy causes environmental pollution and climate change. |
Therefore the National Trust is committed to reducing its use of energy and specifically to replacing fossil fuel energy with clean and renewable energy sources. Our number one priority is to promote energy efficiency to reduce the amount of energy we use.
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Water
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- Water and waste water treatment costs the Trust £7m per year (compared with £2.4m on energy).
- 27 per cent of Trust properties have globally important areas for wildlife that depend on water.
- 120 properties are in areas at very high risk of flash floods that can have a devastating impact, like at Boscastle, 2004.
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The National Trust is committed to reducing our use of water across all our estates. We have been working on water for many years and have tried and tested many water-saving measures in houses and other properties.
At properties like Sheringham, Chartwell, Gibson Mill, Craflwyn and at our head office Heelis, for instance, we have installed water efficient lavatories, airflush waterless urinals, aerated taps, low volume showers and water pressure reducers.
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Waste
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The Trust gives away 1.3 million plastic bags a year – we are very concerned about the impact of these on the environment. |
We have recently taken the decision to start charging for them – and promoting reusable bags which we have been selling for years. The Trust jute bag was one of our biggest sellers last year.
Up until now, each property has sourced their own waste and recycling services – so it has been dependent on local commitment, and on the availability of commercial recycling services in an area. The National Trust is now in the process of signing up a waste broker who will broker all our waste and recycling services across the Trust. Because of the scale of our operations, it will take some time to roll the broker service out across the country.
We don’t have many dustbins at National Trust properties. It costs us lots of time and money to empty them – we want to encourage our visitors to take their litter home with them where they can recycle their waste more easily.
Learn more about how the Trust reduces waste at Fountain's Abbey.
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Food
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Local, seasonal food is on the menu as National Trust chefs bring our food policy to the table. |
National Trust cooks love to use seasonal, locally sourced produce. Wherever possible, their ingredients come from the land immediately around them: fruit, herbs and vegetables from the kitchen gardens; meat from quality herds, provided by tenant farmers. Local artisans - the bakers, the cheesemakers - are also key suppliers.
Our cooks and catering teams look first to their property for produce, and then to their county, their region and from around the UK if need be. This is the National Trust showing its commitment to quality, local, seasonal and sustainable food and the renowned culinary traditions of its regions. We want to see quality produce, animal welfare and traceability in the spotlight.
So, why not include a tasty meal with a visit to a National Trust property. And start your mouth watering with our recipe suggestions from a selection of restaurants around the National Trust.
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