Genteel custodian of grand houses turns eco-warrior to save green spaces

October 27, 2008
Valerie Elliott, Countryside Editor

The National Trust is to take up an aggressive eco-stance to protect green spaces and prevent desecration of the countryside.
The trust, one of the country’s biggest landowners, has decided to shift its focus to become the leading champion for the protection of green fields - a move that puts it on a collision course with the Government over housebuilding, development of eco-towns and the proposed expansions of Heathrow and Stansted airports.
The tough new position announced today by the trust, which is the biggest voluntary organisation in Europe with 3.5 million members, follows a year-long consultation of its membership and polling of the public. It signals a dramatic shift from the trust as genteel custodian of grand historic houses to warrior-like defender of green spaces that improve the lives of most citizens.
The approach is part of the legacy envisaged by Sir William Proby, chairman of the trust, who steps down at the annual general meeting next weekend. The vision also has the backing of Sir Simon Jenkins, a former Editor of The Times, who is to take over as chairman.

Sir William first gave warning of the trust’s exasperation with the persistence of ministers’ desire to build over green fields in an interview with The Times last year. He said then that the trust was prepared to buy up land if necessary to prevent the destruction of vital green spaces.
Now, after public feedback, the trust has decided to go on the offensive to save green spaces and woodlands and give people more opportunity to enjoy the coast. It will still keep the option to buy up land but only as a last resort.
Instead, the trust is to use its mandate to adopt a high-profile crusade against incursions on open spaces that threaten the quality of life in communities.
About 94 per cent of people in three separate surveys have called on the trust to be more robust in defending green places.
Sir William said: “We have asked National Trust supporters and the public whether we should be doing more to protect green places. The answer has been a resounding ‘yes’ but we are not going to start buying land from in front of the bulldozer. That isn’t what our supporters want.
“The public has told us that the National Trust should work more in partnership with communities to protect and look after their green spaces, and stand up for the importance of green places to people’s quality of life. They also want us to share our experience of managing local green spaces with local councils and other parties to improve the quality of local green places.”
Research for the trust shows that one in four people suffers from “green place poverty”. Tony Burton, its policy adviser, said that people would notice the organisation becoming more vocal and high-profile.
“We are going to lead the charge in places where significant development is proposed and we will be standing up and saying loudly that these plans are not acceptable.”
The trust has already been a vehement critic of government projects but its teeth have been more labrador than rottweiler. For example, it briefed lawyers to defend the tranquillity of Hatfield Forest at the planning inquiry over the proposed expansion of Stansted airport.
Mr Burton said: “We intend to spotlight the passion people have for green spaces The Government has not yet recognised that they are so important to our quality of life. The protection of land may in future eclipse the attention we have paid to historic houses. This is a clear new direction.”
The trust believes that the new stance brings the organisation closer to its roots. It was established more than 100 years ago primarily to protect public spaces for the benefit of everyone. The founder, Octavia Hill, first spoke of the need for “open-air living rooms” when she fought a bitter but unsuccessful campaign to save fields around Swiss Cottage, northwest London, as a public amenity.
The trust’s remit is in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A separate body exists in Scotland.
Buying up land to keep the developers at bay
Analysis: Valerie Elliott
The creation of a new national nature reserve at Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire is already under way and shows how the National Trust can use its influence to protect open land. The aim is to create a green lung for the people of Cambridge to visit for walking, cycling and horse-riding.
The trust is now ready to champion similar green spaces around Plymouth, Nottingham, Bristol, Gravesend and Bishop’s Stortford, places where development is being proposed. The east of England is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country and 47,500 new homes are planned in Cambridgeshire alone. By using capital from donations and other grants, the trust is acquiring land around Cambridge to ensure that it will remain free from development. So far the trust has increased the reserve from 320ha (800 acres) to 600ha and the plan is to continue to acquire land over the next 90 years so that the reserve will eventually cover about 55sq km (22 square miles). This buying up of land will not be automatically used to safeguard green living spaces for other communities. Instead the trust will work with other landowners. This already happens at Wicken Fen when owners do not wish to sell their land. The trust then works with them to ensure that land is managed to the highest environmental standards.
Some 40,000 people a year visit the fenland. Otters and water voles have returned and the reserve has the first pair of breeding bitterns in 36 years.
The National Trust
3.5 million members
£350 million annual income
15 million paying visitors
52,000 volunteers
5,000 full-time staff
700 miles of coastline under its management
250,000 hectares of countryside
350 holiday cottages
300 historic houses and gardens
37 pubs,
220 shops and
24 inns
28 castles