Legacies are the lifeblood of the National Trust: the foundation stones of a secure future for the unique landscape and properties we all cherish.

We do not receive a direct state grant or subsidy for our general work and so we depend on legacies. They now make up our second largest source of income. We could not survive without them.

We need legacies:

• To protect the coastline of England, Wales and Northern Ireland in our care – 700 miles and 52,000 hectares of beautiful beaches, cliffs and headland and the precious wildlife that depends on this habitat for its survival.

• To maintain 230 properties, 25,000 buildings of special interest and over 200 gardens and landscape parks. None of them can be sold or mortgaged and so are in our care forever.

• To care for 612,000 acres of living countryside, one quarter of the Lake District, and 31 nature reserves. We spend £39 million each year protecting a diverse countryside rich in irreplaceable flora and fauna.

Did you know?

• Membership fees only cover just over a third of the total income we need to honour our responsibility to preserve the nation’s heritage.

• In 2003-4, 20 per cent of what we spent came from legacies - £47 million. And not one penny was spent on administration.

The National Trust gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Duresta in supporting the publication of our legacy literature. For 70 years Duresta has continued in the English tradition as makers of 'Country House' upholstery and are suppliers to the foremost furnishing specialists throughout the world. Duresta holds a unique licence to reproduce upholstered pieces from collections found in National Trust historic houses. For more information about the Duresta National Trust Collection, please visit www.Duresta.com or telephone 0115 973 7000