All around the country, National Trust properties use raffle funds for important conservation and repair work.

The following are just a few of the current projects, large and small, that the raffles are helping to support:

Tyntesfield, Somerset
Tyntesfield is an extraordinary Gothic Revival building, and survives intact with an unrivalled collection of Victorian decorative arts and a sumptuously decorated private chapel. The project at Tyntesfield is still in the early stages of development, but the property offers a unique insight into the work needed to conserve an estate. Raffle income is being used for restoration work on the Rose Garden gazebos.

Dunham Massey, Cheshire
Dunham Massey, an early Georgian house built around a Tudor core, was extensively reworked in the early years of the 20th century. Raffle income in 2006 helped to pay for re-roofing the mansion, and in 2007 the property will be raising money for new planting schemes for the flower beds in the Inner Courtyard and Garden.

Croome Park, Worcestershire
Croome was ‘Capability’ Brown’s first complete landscape, making his reputation and establishing a new style of garden design which became universally adopted over the next 50 years. The property will be using funds raised by the raffle to purchase a PMV (personal mobility vehicle) to enable the less mobile to enjoy this wonderful park.

Petworth House & Park, West Sussex
The late 17th-century mansion contains the Trust’s finest and largest collection of pictures, with numerous works by Turner, Van Dyck, Reynolds and Blake, as well as ancient and neo-classical sculpture, fine furniture and carvings by Grinling Gibbons. The property is using its raffle income towards funds for conservation of the wonderfully ornate frame surrounding the Kitty Fisher painting, which can be seen in the Red Room.

Belton House, Lincolnshire
Belton is undoubtedly one of the finest examples of Restoration country house architecture. Once a beautiful and evocative feature amongst the lush and exotic greenery of the 17th-century Orangery, the Venus Statue has fallen into disrepair. Proceeds from the raffle will go towards the restoration of the statue to its former glory and reinstatement in pride of place once again.

Basildon Park, Berkshire
This beautiful Palladian mansion featured in the 2005 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s 'Pride and Prejudice'. The interior is notable for its original delicate plasterwork and elegant staircase, as well as for the unusual Octagon Room. At Basildon they will be utilising their raffle income to refurbish the Bamboo bedroom, including repairing and decorating the ceiling and walls, and replacement of the carpet.

Gibside, Newcastle upon Tyne
One of Britain’s finest landscapes, much of which is SSSI; Gibside is a ‘forest garden’ currently under restoration, embracing many miles of walks through woodland and beside the River Derwent. The estate is the former home of the Bowes-Lyon family. Raffle income will be spent on helping to restore the 18th-century landscape garden, including tree planting, nature conservation, wildflower meadows and providing paths for visitors.

Chirk Castle, Wrexham
Completed in 1310, Chirk is the last Welsh castle from the reign of Edward I still lived in today. The award-winning gardens feature clipped yews, herbaceous borders and stunning shrub garden, and many rare varieties. Chirk will be spending their raffle income on carpets for the newly opened East Wing suite of rooms with Victorian library, and the chance to view ongoing conservation work.

Knightshayes Court, Devon
The interiors of Knightshayes combine medieval romanticism with lavish Victorian decoration, and give an atmospheric insight into the grand country house life which revolved around the Heathcoat-Amory family. The newly restored kitchen garden displays a vast range of unusual culinary and herbaceous plants. Knightshayes will be using their raffle income for restoration of the Kitchen Garden ornamental gates and for additional seating for visitors in the house and garden.

Shaw’s Corner, Hertfordshire
Bernard Shaw lived here between 1906 and 1950. The rooms remain much as he left them, with many literary and personal effects evoking the individuality and genius of this great dramatist. Shaw’s writing hut is hidden at the bottom of the garden, which has richly-planted borders and views over the Hertfordshire countryside. At Shaw’s Corner they will be utilising their raffle income towards reconstruction of the greenhouse.