News

Our latest news stories, profiles of our experts and our views on news that we care about

Birdwatcher with binoculars

I'm interested in...

Rainbow lanyard and badge
Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate   Norfolk

Heard about Felbrigg's lanyards and badges?

You may have read recent coverage about our Pride and Prejudice badges and lanyards. Find out what they're all about and how our volunteers have the option to wear them.

Find out more about this story
Pentire Farm

Greatest opportunity in a generation for our countryside to thrive 

Our countryside has its greatest opportunity in a generation to thrive if the Government delivers on its promises to reward nature-friendly farming, says Helen Ghosh.

Skim a stone

Grandparents revealed to be the most adventurous of us all  

Grandparents were much more adventurous during their youth in the great outdoors than today's youngsters - half of whom have never even climbed a tree, a survey shows.

Start adventuring
The Director-General of the National Trust, Dame Helen Ghosh

Helen Ghosh to step down as Director General 

Dame Helen has announced she will be leaving us in March next year. She has been our Director-General since 2012 and takes up a new position as the Master of Balliol College at Oxford University in April 2018.

Patterdale1194002WHSvalleyOUV

The Lake District becomes a World Heritage Site 

The Lake District has become a World Heritage Site joining iconic locations such as the Taj Mahal, the Great Barrier Reef and Grand Canyon as a place of international acclaim.

Read the news story
Archaeologists in a stone circle
Avebury   Wiltshire

Archaeologists discover ‘secret square’ beneath stone circle

What is thought to be a unique square monument has been found by archaeologists working in the Avebury stone circle. A research team led by the University of Leicester and University of Southampton has used geophysical techniques to investigate without digging.

Discover more
Wainwright Golden Beer Book Prize shortlist 2017

Wainwright Golden Beer Book Prize shortlist announced 

Read he shortlist for this year's Wainwright Golden Beer Book Prize, celebrating the best books about nature, outdoors and UK travel. The winner will be announced at Country File Live.

Find out more
Greylag geese on Orford Ness

Our plan to restore nature at our places 

Find out more about our ambitious plans to restore nature at our places, creating 25,000 hectares of new wildlife habitats by 2025.

Playing our part
Child playing in a tree at Hatfield Forest, Essex

A new Tree Charter for the 21st century 

We have joined the call for a new Tree Charter to protect people’s rights to the benefits of trees and woods.

Sign the Tree Charter
Senior conservator, Heather Porter, lowering the arm of the Knole sofa

Knole’s future secure as we open doors to new conservation studio 

The conservation studio is part of a major building, conservation and restoration project – the largest in the Trust’s history – which will rescue Knole from centuries of decay and open up spaces never seen before.

Find out more
View from above into Clandon Park following the fire
Clandon Park   Surrey

Clandon Park International Design Competition

Through our International Design Competition we’re searching for a world-class multidisciplinary design team to restore and reimagine Clandon Park, following the major fire. The competition launched in March and following the shortlist announcement, the winning team will be revealed in early autumn.

More on the Clandon design competition

Nature

A Gatekeeper butterfly at Nymans

The State of Nature report 2016 

We've teamed up with over 50 other nature organisations to produce the latest State of Nature report which reveals that over half of UK species have declined over recent decades.

Endangered water voles are returning to Malham Tarn

Water voles return to Malham Tarn after fifty year absence 

One of Britain’s most endangered mammals is returning to England’s highest freshwater lake after a fifty year absence, thanks to our rangers.

Land conservation

Trees reflected in the lake at Stourhead, Wiltshire, in May.

A positive future for green farming 

Find out about how we're developing a new model for supporting green land management.

View of Seathwaite Valley in Borrowdale, Lake District

Our acquisition of Thorneythwaite Farm 

We acquired more than 300 acres of land at Thorneythwaite Farm in Borrowdale, in the Lake District. Discover how we plan to look after this beautiful landscape for ever, for everyone.