Wild and open landmark crowned with a distinctive row of pine trees
Our gardens, parks, cafés, shops, countryside locations and many houses are open. You no longer need to pre-book at many places. Some still require booking ahead, so please check the property webpage before you travel.
The summit and surrounding area of May Hill consists of a wide expanse of open grassland, bracken and gorse with boggy areas and pools. The hill is capped by a clump of pine trees (not NT), planted in 1887 to commemorate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria. It is now the location of annual May Day celebrations.
May Hill Common covers 30 hectares of common land acquired by the National Trust in 1988. This attractive area of bracken and developing trees (mainly birch, oak and crab apple) is still grazed by the commoners' ponies, pigs and occasionally sheep. There are beautiful, panoramic views from the top of the hill encompassing the Malvern Hills, the Cotswold HIlls, the Severn Vale, the Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and the Black Mountains beyond.
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
