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Puffins on the Farne Islands, Northumberland

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Puffin on the Farne Islands, Northumberland

The 2022 puffin count has begun on the Farne Islands 

This year’s puffin count, which will take until the end of July to complete, will be vital for understanding how the seabirds are faring following two years of restricted surveys due to coronavirus.

Learn about the puffin count
Wetland landscapes attract a variety of wildlife

'Super' National Nature Reserve created in Somerset  

We're celebrating the creation of the Somerset Wetlands, which will protect rare wildlife, including skylark, bittern and avocets. The declaration of the nature reserve, which brings together six reserves on the Somerset Levels and Moors, kicks off Natural England's Festival of National Nature Reserves. We'll care for the site in collaboration with Natural England, Environment Agency, RSPB, Somerset Wildlife Trust, Hawk and Owl Trust and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

Painting is rehung on a wall at Anglesey Abbey by National Trust staff

Constable revealed at Anglesey Abbey 

The largest known painting by artist John Constable has been brought back to its full glory by our conservators, revealing a long-vanished Thames skyline view. The painting, the Embarkation of George IV from Whitehall: the Opening of Waterloo Bridge, 1817, records the scene on the second anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. It has now returned to display at Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire as part of a celebration of Constable works in its collection.

See the conservation in action
Senior Propagator Ellie Pay inserts rhododendron cuttings into a hydropod propagation unit.

Plant Conservation Centre turns 40 

This year we're celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Plant Conservation Centre, which plays a vital role in conserving rare and historically important plants for the gardens and parklands in our care. The centre, which began life in 1982, is even more important as plant collections age and as we experience the impacts of climate change.

A young Paul McCartney and John Lennon sit with their guitars next to the fireplace in the front room of 20 Forthlin Road. They are in the process of writing and practicing 'I Saw her Standing There'.

Bringing live music back to the birthplace of the Beatles 

20 Forthlin Road in Liverpool is where four friends became the Beatles, and we've been searching for new artists to bring music back to this historic place. Find out who the winning music acts are and how you can tune in for this once in a lifetime event.

Discover the winners of The Forthlin Sessions
Tapestries on three walls in The Vyne's Tapestry Room with fireplace

Rare surviving tapestries return to The Vyne 

Full of colourful scenes and fantastical animals, these highly decorative Soho tapestries captured how Europeans imagined the 'Far East' in the early 18th century. They were removed eight years ago for safekeeping when a succession of storms caused damage to the former Tudor powerhouse. On inspection their fragile state was revealed, from degrading yarns to warped backings that were putting strain on the fabric. After several years of conservation the tapestries are back on display at The Vyne in Hampshire.

Nightjar

Five-year project to restore and improve Brownsea's habitat begins 

Nestled in Poole Harbour, Dorset, Brownsea Island is embarking on the largest conservation project in the island’s history, to create a better space and the right conditions for nature to thrive, providing a more sustainable future for the conservation of species dependent on its varied habitat. Funded by the Rural Payments Agency under the government’s Countryside Stewardship scheme, the project aims to improve, expand and link up existing wildlife-rich areas of Brownsea.

Discover more about the project
A native white-clawed crayfish at Wallington, Northumberland

Refuge created for endangered crayfish 

The white-clawed crayfish, one of the UK's most endangered species, has been given a fresh chance of survival thanks to a refuge created at the Wallington Estate in Northumberland. We'll be taking up to 100 of the crustaceans from the River Wansbeck to an old cattle drinking hole, which has been made into an isolated and self-contained area known as an 'Ark' site. The decline of white-clawed crayfish is largely due to the rise of American signal crayfish, which spread disease and monopolise food and habitat.

An artist impression showing how the viaduct could look

Work gets underway on urban sky park 

Plans to create a new urban sky park for Manchester are a step closer to reality with work about to get underway on Castlefield viaduct. Due to open in July, we're aiming to turn the imposing 330 metre steel viaduct into a temporary park in the sky and create a meeting place to benefit people and nature that celebrates the industrial heritage of Castlefield. The pilot phase of this project will see a green space created to stretch half way across the elevation of the viaduct.

See the vision for the viaduct
An adult clothes moth

Common pests at the places in our care 

Last year our staff identified and logged 56,742 insects at the places we care for. The five most common insect pests found in 2021 remain the same as those recorded in 2020 but the webbing clothes moth has knocked silverfish out of the number-one spot. Learn more about these small but destructive creatures and discover how we reduce the damage they cause to houses and collections.

Woodland at Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire

Our largest tree planting project at Wimpole 

We're making headway on our target to be carbon net zero by 2030 with our largest tree planting project to date. At the Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire we'll be planting 90,000 trees across the 1,000-hectare site. New woodland, wood pasture and agroforestry will be created as part of the project, which has received funding from the Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund and HSBC UK.

Learn about green recovery
A ranger and volunteer planting a grafted tree inside a cage in the ochard

Supporting the Queen’s Green Canopy 

This year, we’re supporting the Queen’s Green Canopy at the places in our care to mark the Platinum Jubilee. We’re creating a legacy that honours Her Majesty’s 70-year reign. 70 unique and inspiring Jubilee tree planting projects will take place to mark this significant moment in history.

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