Ten ways membership might change your life

As a National Trust member, you have access to over 500 places, including houses, nature reserves, castles, woods and even gold mines. With so much variety, it’s easy to become hooked on exploring. But don’t worry, you’ll never be lost for new sights, sounds and stories to discover.

 

You know it’s happened when: You can’t squeeze any more maps into your glove compartment.

 

From secret coves and crystal waters to wild sands and towering cliffs, we look after 10 per cent of the whole of the English, Welsh and Northern Irish coastline. So whether you’re into walking boots or flip-flops, rock climbing or rockpooling, there’s a bucket (and spade) load of reasons to head to the seaside. Who knows, you might even spot some of the dolphins, seals and other marine life that visit our shores.

 

You know it’s happened when: You start decorating your bathroom with pebbles, shells and driftwood.

 

 

On Brownsea Island in Dorset, you’ll find pine trees alive with red squirrels. In Cumbria's Ennerdale, you’ll spot birds with names like goldcrest, goosander and redstart. Visit Norhumberland's Farne Islands, which are home to over 43,000 pairs of puffins and a colony of Atlantic grey seals. Or climb Collard Hill in Somerset to find Britain’s largest and rarest butterfly. You don’t have to be a famous naturalist to appreciate wildlife like this.

 

You know it’s happened when: You spend more time whispering than talking.

 

This morning they were wild things, building a den from sticks and leaves. Now they’re squirreling around in the branches of a mighty oak. Later they’ll be damming streams with clay and stones. It’s all in a day’s play for your children. So to make sure you’ve always got an idea up your sleeve, we created 50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4. Available online, in print or as a smartphone app, it’s full of inspiration for budding explorers.

 

You know it’s happened when: Your knees are just as muddy as theirs.

 

From human footprints preserved for thousands of years to the secret WWII airbase that helped the allies win the war. A Roman villa full of incredible inventions to the one-ton slate bed made for Queen Victoria. All these stories and more are waiting for you to uncover them, told by people who really know how to bring history to life.

 

You know it’s happened when: You have a ‘favourite’ historical king or queen.

 

 

Fancy pedalling your way along miles of dedicated cycle trails, surfing some of the North Atlantic’s best breaks, or canoeing Britain’s great rivers? As a National Trust member, you’re never short of activities. And not only will you have access to all the outdoor places but visitors are able to hire sports equipment at many spots.

 

 

 

Let’s take a moment to talk about cake. And pies. And salads. And…well, all the dishes served in the places we look after, actually. Wherever possible, we aim to use sustainable, local and seasonal ingredients. And many of them are grown on the farms and gardens in our care. Because whatever’s best for the environment is usually best for your tastebuds too.

 

You know it’s happened when: You head to the café before looking around the place you’re visiting.

 

 

Living well, entertaining the kids and discovering special places shouldn’t cost the earth. So with monthly payments, you can enjoy membership from as little as £6 a month for an individual membership. That’s less than the cost of a cinema ticket. Or two Sunday papers. Or three cups of coffee. Or… well, you get the idea.

 

You know it’s happened when: You start telling your friends what great value membership is.

As well as caring for special places, we also look after the collections of art, furniture and historical items inside them. Many have incredible stories to tell, like the ring that inspired JRR Tolkien to write The Lord of Rings, the cabinet made for Pope Sixtus V in 1585 and a golden winkle that belonged to Sir Winston Churchill. As a National Trust member, you can unlock the secrets of all the treasures we care for.

 

You know it’s happened when: Everything in your home has a story behind it.

 

 

As a charity, we rely on membership subscriptions and volunteers, as well as donations and grants, to look after all the places we care for. So as a member you’ll be directly contributing to the protection of over 250,000 hectares of land, over 300 historic houses and gardens, and 780 miles of coastline. And we speak for everyone who loves these places when we say a very big thank you!

 

You know it’s happened when: You find yourself restoring the footpaths on your favourite walk.