The National Trust is a major environmental and conservation charity and has been active in Northern Ireland since 1936. It is a registered charity which is independent of government and relies on the support of members, visitors and other supporters to raise the funds it needs to conserve its properties.
The charity is involved in conservation work across Northern Ireland, where it owns and protects:
- around 120 square kilometres of scenic countryside
- around 200 kilometres of the Northern Ireland coastline
- three National Nature Reserves
- 21 Areas of Special Scientific Interest
- 16 sites of International Importance for Nature Conservation
- eight Special Protection Areas
- four Ramsar Sites (wetlands of international importance)
- Northern Ireland's only World Heritage Site at the Giant's Causeway
- 15 major coastal or countryside estates, including the Giant's Causeway and Slieve Donard
- nine major historic mansions and houses
- more than 200 listed buildings
- 12 scheduled historic monuments
- five industrial heritage sites
- two pubs
- most of the villages of Cushendun and Kearney (at the southern end of the Ards Peninsula)
- one guesthouse - the Manor House on Rathlin Island
- one hotel - The Causeway Hotel, Co. Antrim
The National Trust plays an important role in the Northern Ireland economy, and in other areas of life in the province. It:
- has more than 42,000 members in Northern Ireland
- employs 170 permanent staff and 250 seasonal workers
- invests around £5m a year in the local economy
- attracts around 1.5m visitors a year to its properties in Northern Ireland. The most visited National Trust property in the region is the Giant's Causeway, which attracts up to half a million visitors a year.
- provides education programmes for 40,000+ schoolchildren each year. Many schools are linked on a cross-community basis.
- organises over 200 events a year - walks and talks, concerts, workshops, markets, children's events, living history, gardening events, book and plant sales, country fairs, and many more.
- as four members' associations in Northern Ireland - at Belfast, on the North Coast, in North Down and Ards, and Fermanagh. They offer like-minded people an opportunity to socialise, take part in events and tours, while raising vital funds for the Trust.
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