Our campaign
Let’s stand up for our heritage
The National Trust carries out a vital and complex task in looking after historic buildings, collections, gardens and countryside. It needs to maintain high standards and cannot afford the distraction of ephemeral trends and political activism.
Why does it matter?
We are long-time supporters of the National Trust who want to see the charity go from strength to strength while doing what it does best: looking after historic buildings, interiors and artefacts, gardens and countryside to the highest standard; drawing on a wide range of expertise; and making these places accessible to everyone.
The National Trust is something our country can be very proud of. We would like to leave it in good shape to those who come after us, and that means managing its finances wisely. It also means nurturing the large body of expertise which has been built up over generations and ensuring that the skills and opportunities are there for future generations of curators and heritage craft practitioners to serve to the highest standard.
Maintenance before gimmicks
Time, money and energy should go into the necessary upkeep and repair of properties to keep them looking their best and enable them to withstand the elements. This must always be the National Trust’s absolute priority. Temporary exhibitions, art commissions and funding applications for ad-hoc projects must never consume resources that could be spent on upkeep. The head office exists to serve the properties, not the other way round.
Be authentic
The National Trust should not compete with theme parks to attract visitors. Young people have made it clear that they look for authenticity, not mindless distraction. Children deserve wonder — and wonder is inspired by the real thing.
Consult. Really consult. Then listen.
Too many decisions are made over the heads of local people on matters that affect them. Instead of quoting numbers, the National Trust needs to listen to what members and the public really think. The Quick Vote has turned AGM voting into a charade and was used to silence the 60,000 members who said they don’t want it.
Stick to the charitable purpose
The National Trust was set up to own and look after the properties in its care. Nature has many champions — the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and many more. These houses, gardens and collections have only one.
Value people
People come together to appreciate the things which the National Trust protects regardless of their background. Volunteers give their time and form attachments to the places they serve. Their commitment deserves respect. Expert curators cherish historic buildings and collections and want them to look their best now and in the future. Rangers care for landscapes. Farmers earn their living from the countryside while they feed us. The National Trust should be the best landlord or neighbour a farmer can have, not a byword for unsympathetic bureaucracy.
What the National Trust needs to do
Publish the split between head-office and property spending and the maintenance backlog every year.
Maintain a dedicated general manager for each property and make the general managers answerable to specialist expert curators (not ‘curators of visitor experience’).
Move money and people back to the front line.
Bring back honest, consistent reporting.
Publish an interpretation policy based on scholarship and neutrality
Don’t alienate the members. Don’t divide people according to their identity, but welcome them as lovers of countryside and heritage.
Respect the work of our farmers.
What has gone wrong
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'Flexing the mansion experience’ – the leaked report
A superficial and confused vision of the future where houses are no longer on show and objects are placed in storage. It shows a poor understanding of what matters to members and an alarming lack of focus on the mission of the charity.
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Properties closing to the public?
The leaked report ‘Toward a 10-year vision for places and experiences’ sets out a strategy of showing fewer house interiors to the public, using houses for more varied activities and encouraging visitors towards outdoor spaces.
At some properties changes have already been proposed or implemented.
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Loss of specialists
Management of properties has been delegated to property managers, who are appointed for their managerial qualities rather than historical knowledge or land-management skills.
A political agenda has also come to dominate the Trust, further undermining the curators’ efforts to reveal these beautiful places at their best.
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The Colonialism & Slavery Report
The findings are presented selectively, showing a largely negative picture of the country houses in the care of the National Trust. It is unfairly implied that some aspects of history have until now been “hidden”.
The report presents a strongly negative view of Britain, which does not properly represent the scholarly consensus.
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The Eastern Museum at Kedleston
Lord Curzon is not accurately represented on the Trust’s website, and the historic arrangement of the Eastern Museum is under threat.
The website suggests that the Trust want to change the presentation of the Eastern Museum. This is fraught with risk, not least of irreparable damage to the historic layout and labelling of the collection.
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Let's bring Clandon Park back to life
The National Trust has announced that the fine rooms of Clandon Park will be left as a burnt-out shell, or, as they describe it, an “evocative space”. We think the £63 million paid out by the insurer should be used to reinstate the fine rooms on the ground floor by Giacomo Leoni and an opportunity created to train the next generation in crafts such as woodcarving and plasterwork.
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Member democracy in crisis
The Quick Vote block voting mechanism has made the outcomes of AGM votes a foregone conclusion. By manipulating the layout of the ballot to nudge voters towards their preferred choices, the Trustees and the Nominations Committee of the Council have taken complete control over which resolutions are passed and who is elected to the Council. Member democracy has been transformed from a safeguard to a sham.
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Member democracy in crisis
The Quick Vote block voting mechanism has made the outcomes of AGM votes a foregone conclusion. By manipulating the layout of the ballot to nudge voters towards their preferred choices, the Trustees and the Nominations Committee of the Council have taken complete control over which resolutions are passed and who is elected to the Council. Member democracy has been transformed from a safeguard to a sham.
