The National Trust

Hello. We are The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, but that’s a very long name, so most people simply call us the National Trust. Our purpose is to protect special places throughout England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. We do this with a simple but powerful promise: to care for these places for everyone, forever.

Our story began in London, England, on a winter day, January 12th, 1895. Three people with a shared idea decided to create something new. Their names were Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter, and Hardwicke Rawnsley. They looked around and saw that many of the most beautiful outdoor spaces and most interesting historic buildings were owned by just a few people. They believed this wasn't right. They thought that these treasures—the green hills, the ancient woodlands, the grand old houses filled with history—should be saved for the public to enjoy. Everyone, they argued, should have the chance to walk through nature and connect with the past, not just the wealthy who could afford to own such places.

From this important idea, our work began. At first, we cared for small pieces of land. We didn't start with a grand castle or a famous estate. Our very first purchase was a beautiful cliffside meadow in Wales called Dinas Oleu. It was a small beginning, but it was a real and solid start. It showed that we were serious about our promise to protect land for the public. It was the first step in a long journey of gathering and caring for the nation's special places.

As time went on, our work grew in a way our founders might never have imagined. A major turning point for us came after the World Wars. These wars changed the country deeply. Many families who had owned large country houses and vast estates for hundreds of years found that they could no longer afford to keep them. The cost of repairing the roofs, tending the gardens, and managing the land was simply too high. These owners faced a difficult choice: sell their historic homes, which might then be changed or torn down, or find another way to protect them.

Many of these owners chose to turn to us. They saw that our mission was to preserve places, not to profit from them. They began giving their homes, gardens, and lands to our care. In return, we made a solemn promise to them. We promised that we would take on the great responsibility of caring for their beloved properties. We also promised that we would keep them open for visitors. This meant that the history and beauty of these homes would not be lost or locked away. Instead, they would be shared with everyone.

With the help of generous donations and the growing support of our members, we became the guardian of an incredible collection of treasures. Our collection expanded to include hundreds of historic homes, each with its own unique story. We also began to care for ancient castles, carefully designed gardens bursting with color, and huge stretches of natural landscapes. We took on the protection of miles and miles of beautiful coastline and vast areas of rolling countryside.

Today, we continue our original mission as a charity. The scale of our work is enormous. We now look after more than 500 historic houses, castles, parks, and gardens. We protect over 780 miles of coastline, ensuring that people can walk along the cliffs and enjoy the sea views. We also care for more than 250,000 hectares of land, including forests, moors, and farmland. This is a huge responsibility, and we could not do it alone.

Our work is made possible by the people who believe in our mission. Millions of members support us, and their contributions help us pay for the constant work of conservation and repair. Just as important are the thousands of volunteers who give their time and energy to help us. They welcome visitors, help in the gardens, clean the historic houses, and work to protect the natural landscapes. They are a vital part of our team.

Everything we do today connects back to that simple idea from 1895. Our job is to make sure these national treasures are protected from damage and the effects of time. We work to ensure that people of all ages can visit them to learn, explore, and have fun. We want families to picnic in our parks, students to learn about history in our houses, and hikers to walk through the countryside we protect. We are still working to fulfill the dream of Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter, and Hardwicke Rawnsley: to keep these special places safe for everyone, forever.