Leaving a gift in your will

Visitors in the garden at Hill Top, Near Sawrey, Lake District

From restoring world-famous art to protecting wildlife habitats, gifts in wills are used right at the heart of our work. Please consider leaving a legacy to help look after the places you love.

Together, we can help nature recover, bring people closer to it and ensure our shared history continues to inspire us all.

Ready to start your will? Find out about our free wills services

Why gifts in wills are important

Without gifts in wills the National Trust wouldn’t be able to protect and look after all the places in our care. Any legacy, no matter how large or small, makes a lasting difference, and if you like, you can choose to leave your gift to the place that matters most to you.

These beautiful places of nature and history are at risk – and recent times have shown how much we need these places to escape to. Gifts in wills support rangers, conservation experts and volunteers to replant hedgerows and wildflower meadows, repair coastal paths, protect historic homes, look after wildlife and so much more. Together, we can look after nature and history for generations to come.

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Video

Philip's lasting legacy


Long-standing member, Philip Crossley-Dawson, shares his love of Arnside Knott in Cumbria in this video. As he walks through the countryside so rich with fond memories, he tells us about the lasting gift he's made and why.

Discover Philip's story

How your gift will help

Your legacy will only be used for the purpose you intend it for. This could be for anything you like, such as woodland or coast conservation, to help protect a particular historical property or to keep a garden in bloom for generations to come. Every penny of your gift will help to look after the places you love.

Our donor newsletter has more information on how gifts in wills have previously helped us. You can also read our Annual Report and statement of accounts to find out more.

Download our 2021 donor newsletter PDF >

Read the 2019/20 Annual Report & statement of accounts >

Gifts in wills advice

Visitors enjoying Easter activities at Sutton House and Breaker's Yard, London

Download your free Gifts in Wills Guide 

Download your free Gifts in Wills Guide which tells you everything you need to know about leaving a legacy to the National Trust.

Visitors in the garden in spring at Erddig, Wrexham, Wales

Leaving a gift in your will FAQs 

If you're thinking about leaving a gift in your will, our FAQs have answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.