Our cause

We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. We look after hundreds of houses and close to a million objects, along with vast areas of coastline, countryside and green spaces, for everyone’s benefit. With our staff, members, volunteers and supporters, we’re the biggest conservation charity in Europe. Everyone can get involved, everyone can make a difference.

Following two difficult years affected by the pandemic, we continue to carry on the ambition set out by our founders to care for nature, beauty and history. Here’s a reminder of what we’re here for and how the values of our founders are still at the heart of everything we do.

Nothing beats the sound of birdsong on a still morning, or the smell of the sea as it crashes against the shore. Discover more about nature and wildlife at our places and find out how we're looking after it for the years to come.

With close to one million objects at over 200 historic places, we care for one of the world's largest art and heritage collections. Discover a wealth of treasures around every corner and experience the stories behind every object.

We look after many rich and diverse archaeological sites, from the awe-inspiring Anglo-Saxon burial ground at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk to Levant Mine and beam engine, part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. Archaeology helps us to learn more about them and protect them for the future.

We're working with partners to plant blossom trees in cities so more people can enjoy the beauty and comfort of nature near where they live.

Trees are the best natural armour we have against the climate crisis, so we're working hard to plant and establish 20 million of them by 2030. Discover how your support and working with partners is making all of this possible.

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.

Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature, a new exhibition about Beatrix Potter and her love of nature, is running throughout 2022 at the V&A Museum in London. It's created in collaboration between the V&A Museum and the National Trust and explores the life story of this beloved children's author-illustrator. Discover more about our connections with Beatrix and book tickets from the V&A.

From squirrels to seals and ancient trees to plants, the places we care for are home to a huge amount of diverse nature and wildlife. Give today and protect these green spaces and animals for years to come.

We look after over 300 historic buildings and nearly one million works of art, which need constant care to maintain them. You can help protect these important buildings and collections by donating today.

We care for over 780 miles of coastline, which is under ever-increasing threat due to climate change. Help protect the coastal landscapes you love, and the wildlife that call it home, so everyone can enjoy the coast.