National Trust aims to protect urban green spaces

Earlier this week, there was a new National Trust strategy launched, which set out to change the way that the charity works to support the countryside. This is a re-focussing of their work beyond the large stately homes which they are associated with for many people, and towards green spaces, particularly some of the urban green spaces that exist. This means they are aligned a little more towards other aspects of landscape. The strategy will run for the next 10 years.

It's called 'Playing our Part'.

Details from the National Trust website:

Recognising threats to nature and heritage

Climate change now poses the single biggest threat to the places we look after, bringing new, damaging threats to a natural environment already under pressure. It also poses a growing conservation challenge for the houses and gardens in our care.

The countryside had been damaged by decades of unsustainable land management, which has seen intensive farming and now climate change undermine the long-term health of the land. Sixty per cent of species have declined in the UK over the last 50 years, habitats have been destroyed and over-worked soils have been washed out to sea.

Protecting the natural environment

We’ll develop new, innovative ways of managing land on a large scale, which are good for farmers, the economy and the environment. We’ll work with partners to help look after some of the country’s most important landscapes, reconnecting habitats and bringing back their natural beauty. 

The next decade will mark a new chapter in our history, which will see us increasingly join forces with other charities, government, business and local communities to improve the quality of the land and attract wildlife back to our fields, woods and river banks.

Playing our part in mitigating climate change will also be a priority and we’ll cut our energy usage by 20 per cent by 2020 and source 50 per cent of that from renewable sources on our land. We’ll also explore what role we could play in helping to safeguard the future of public green spaces.

Investing in the nation’s heritage

We’ll spend more than ever on looking after our historic houses and collections, clearing the backlog of repairs.