News

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

Puffins on the Farne Islands, Northumberland

I'm interested in...

Coronavirus update Our latest media statement
Archaeologists taking samples from the giant.

Archaeologists surprised by likely age of Cerne Abbas Giant 

After 12 months of scientific analysis, we can for the first time reveal the likely age of the Cerne Giant, Britain’s largest and perhaps best-known chalk hill figure. Using state-of-the art sediment analysis funded by the National Trust, the University of Gloucestershire, Allen Environmental Archaeology and the Pratt Bequest, archaeologists have concluded the giant was probably first constructed in the late Saxon period.

Read the full story behind the discovery
Mating Common blues at Thurstaston Common, The Wirral

Restoring a 19th-century parkland at Oxburgh Hall 

We're working with Natural England and Historic England to restore the historic parkland at Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk, using a Victorian survey map to recreate the 19th-century landscape. We'll establish a native wood pasture there to create a vibrant habitat and attract more wildlife. Learn more about the conservation project and what this means for Oxburgh Hall.

View of the river Tamar looking down river at Cotehele, Cornwall

Turning back time with the creation of wetland at Cotehele 

We're turning back the clock almost 200 years at Cotehele in Cornwall by returning Victorian farmland to the River Tamar. This will create a wildlife-rich wetland that will support rare birds, lock up carbon and make the river more resilient to climate change. Find out more about the project that will be carried out in partnership with the Environment Agency and supported by Natural England and Plymouth University.

Our work at Cotehele
Magnolia blossom at Greys Court in Oxfordshire

Celebrating blossom with the UK’s first ever #BlossomWatch day 

24 April 2021 is the UK's first ever #BlossomWatch day. So far, 45 Members of Parliament have pledged to plant a tree in their constituency to bring the joy of blossom to more people, and a few celebrities have been getting involved in #BlossomWatch. Discover more about the buzz around #BlossomWatch.

Work is being carried out to fix the footpaths at Scafell Pike

Work begins to fix footpaths on Scafell Pike 

We're working to repair paths and prevent damage to the landscape on one of the Lake District's most popular walking routes at Scafell Pike. Find out how five sections of path will be repaired on England's highest mountain, which is climbed by more than 250,000 people every year.

What we're doing at Scafell Pike
White damson blossom at Brockhampton

Nature poetry: your first day of spring 

We asked nature lovers to share their observations of the arrival of spring. These have now been woven together into a poem by writer Elizabeth-Jane Burnett. Delivered in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council, this project shines a light on the important role nature has played in our lives throughout the pandemic and the sense of hope that has long been associated with spring.

Chocolate and Boer War Helmet Oxburgh Hall

121-year-old chocolate discovered in Boer War helmet case 

Chocolate commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1900, still within its original wrapper and tin, has been discovered in a Boer War helmet at Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk. The chocolate and helmet belonged to the 8th Baronet, Sir Henry Edward Paston-Bedingfeld, who fought in the Second Boer War (1899-1902).

Learn more about this remarkable discovery
Shade from a beech tree

How you're supporting our tree planting ambition  

Our ambition to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030 is progressing at pace thanks to your support. After you helped us raise almost £500,000 through Plant a tree, we've been able to plant thousands of young saplings across the UK. We've also identified sites for a further 1.5 million trees to be planted during the next two years.

A beaver swimming in the river at Holnicote

Two beavers released in the South Downs 

We've released a pair of beavers into a sheltered valley at the edge of the South Downs as part of our efforts to restore nature. The beavers will help us create a wildlife-rich wetland landscape and improve water quality. The project follows our successful reintroduction of two beavers at Holnicote in Exmoor early last year.

Read about the project
Pink blossom blooms at The Vyne, Hampshire

Nature poetry: share your first day of spring 

We asked nature lovers to share their observations of the arrival of spring. These have now been woven together into a poem by writer Elizabeth-Jane Burnett. Delivered in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council, this project shines a light on the important role nature has played in our lives throughout the pandemic and the sense of hope that has long been associated with spring.

Read the full poem

Read more news stories

Visit our media centre to read all of our latest news stories.

See all our press releases