News

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

Birdwatcher with binoculars

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Giant's Causeway stones

Membership reaches five million 

We are celebrating a huge milestone - reaching five million members.

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Wessenden Valley, Marsden Moor, West Yorkshire

Annual Report 2016/17 released 

Our Annual Report 2016/2017 has been released.

A red squirrel sits on a branch gnawing at a hazelnut

Reviving the red squirrel population  

Threatened red squirrel numbers are thriving against the odds on one of Britain’s largest estates, after painstaking work by one of our dedicated rangers.

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Artic Tern

Arctic terns take flight 

More than 500 Arctic terns - and five internationally threatened little terns - have fledged thanks to rangers camping out on 24-hour watch against predators, such as stoats and foxes.

A view of the White Cliffs of Dover

Dame Vera Lynn backs £1m appeal to secure future of White Cliffs  

Dame Vera Lynn pledges her support as we launch a £1 million appeal to further protect the future of the White Cliffs of Dover.

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View over East Anglian countryside

Long leases and modern ground rent  

The Trust grants many leases of houses to tenants up and down the country. We have around 300 leaseholders who may be affected by modern ground rent, and are in discussions with those who have approached us in order to agree a solution.

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High Brown Fritillary in the sun on a plant

Rare butterflies booming after conservation boost 

A new study by Butterfly Conservation has found that rare butterflies like the Adonis Blue are booming at our places.

Read about our progress
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.

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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.

More about Helen's news
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.

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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.