The National Trust of England, Wales & Northern Ireland
The National Trust was founded in 1895 by three Victorian philanthropists who were concerned about the impact of uncontrolled development and industrialization in Britain. They conceived of the Trust as a guardian for the nation of special places, by acquiring and protecting threatened coastline, countryside and buildings. Its Parliamentary Acts mean that, almost uniquely, the National Trust can declare inalienable the land and property that it owns: once a property is acquired by the Trust, it is held forever, for everyone.
Now more than a century later, the National Trust conserves and protects over 626,000 acres of beautiful countryside in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - including forests, woods, fens, farmland, downs, moorland and islands - plus 707 miles of coastline. The Trust owns and stewards more than 300 houses, castles and gardens of outstanding interest and historical importance, including many of the world-renowned British country houses.
Over the past 110 plus years the Trust has grown into one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, and one of the United Kingdom’s largest professional organizations. It is the largest private landowner in the UK, and its holdings include vernacular buildings, lighthouses, industrial monuments and mills, pubs, restored inner-city slums, prehistoric monuments and archaeological remains, even historic villages.
The Trust serves - and is served by - 3.7 million members, as well as 52,000 volunteers who gave 2.3 million hours in 2007-08. They currently receive over 12 million visitors per year at admission-based properties and an estimated 50 million at open-air properties.
