Election of Appointing Bodies

Have your say on the 18 organisations elected as Appointing Bodies to the Council

About the election of Appointing Bodies

The National Trust’s constitution requires the Council to hold an election every six years to determine the 18 organisations which will have the right to appoint someone as a member of the Council – we call these organisations ‘Appointing Bodies’.

The Council established a Nominations Committee to conduct a review of Appointing Bodies and make recommendations as to which organisations could best appoint someone to assist the Council in carrying out its responsibilities. The members of this Committee were Caroline Kay (Chair), Min Grimshaw, Sarah Hollingdale and Nigel Hallam (independent external member).

An open consultation was held in 2023 to publicise the review, and the Council, following consultation, agreed the selection criteria for the applicant organisations to meet; which included:

operating in the third sector or being a body with broad sectoral representation in an area of the Trust’s strategy, charitable purposes or commercial interests;
having a core aim to deliver public benefit and a proven track record of delivering benefit in a complementary field of work to the National Trust, and demonstrating how this will continue into the long-term;
demonstrating an affinity with the Trust’s values and having a core purpose relevant to the work of the Trust;
demonstrating an understanding of the role and responsibilities of a Council member and the ability to identify an appointee with the potential knowledge, skills and experience for the role; and
being prepared to give their appointed candidate sufficient support and time to attend Council meetings, and make use of personal development opportunities.

All potential Appointing Bodies, both new organisations and those which currently appoint a member, were invited to submit an application. The Committee reviewed all the applications; there were a large number of high-quality submissions, and the Committee thanks all those who took part in the review. Considerable thought was given to the breadth and quality of submissions, the balance and range of organisations, and organisations whose appointees would be best placed to make a full contribution to the specific role that the Council fulfils for the Trust. Account was also taken of an organisation’s ability to reflect diverse communities, including the National Trust’s geography across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Elected organisations will become or continue as Appointing Bodies for six years from the AGM and will have the right to appoint someone to be a member of the Council.

Click here for more information about the role of the Council and the other elections being held this year.

having a core aim to deliver public benefit and a proven track record of delivering benefit in a complementary field of work to the National Trust, and demonstrating how this will continue into the long-term;
demonstrating an affinity with the Trust’s values and having a core purpose relevant to the work of the Trust;
demonstrating an understanding of the role and responsibilities of a Council member and the ability to identify an appointee with the potential knowledge, skills and experience for the role; and
being prepared to give their appointed candidate sufficient support and time to attend Council meetings, and make use of personal development opportunities.

organisations, and organisations whose appointees would be best placed to make a full contribution to the specific role that the Council fulfils for the Trust. Account was also taken of an organisation’s ability to reflect diverse communities, including the National Trust’s geography across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Elected organisations will become or continue as Appointing Bodies for six years from the AGM and will have the right to appoint someone to be a member of the Council.

Click here for more information about the role of the Council and the other elections being held this year.

Find out more on the next page >

The Council’s recommendations

The Council considered the Nominations Committee’s findings and accepted its recommendations.

The 18 organisations recommended by the Council are:

Action for Conservation
Council for British Archaeology (CBA)
English Heritage
Gardens Trust (The)
Historic Houses
Institute of Conservation (Icon), (The)
Keep Britain Tidy
Marine Conservation Society
Museums Association
National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales (NFU)
Open Spaces Society
Ramblers
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
RSPB
Soil Association
Sustrans
Wildlife Trusts (The)
World Heritage UK

While the Council has made its recommendations, you can, of course, vote for whichever organisations you choose. The profiles of all the organisations are set out on pages across this section.

Action for Conservation
Council for British Archaeology (CBA)
English Heritage
Gardens Trust (The)
Historic Houses
Institute of Conservation (Icon), (The)
Keep Britain Tidy
Marine Conservation Society
Museums Association

National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales (NFU)
Open Spaces Society
Ramblers
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
RSPB
Soil Association
Sustrans
Wildlife Trusts (The)
World Heritage UK

While the Council has made its recommendations, you can, of course, vote for whichever organisations you choose. The profiles of all the organisations are set out on pages across this section.

Your Appointing Body candidates

Click the organisations' names to find out more

Open Spaces Society
Plantlife
Ramblers
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
RSPB
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)
Soil Association
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS)
Sustrans
Tenant Farmers Association (TFA)
Victorian Society (The)
Wildlife Trusts (The)
World Heritage UK

How to vote

Voting in this election can only be done in advance of the AGM. Voting closes at 11:59pm on 25 October.

Vote here

Find out more about voting and registering to attend here

Action for Conservation

Action for Conservation’s mission is to bring the magic of nature into young people’s lives, inspiring a youth movement committed to conservation, restoration and the Earth. 83% of the UK’s young people want to do more to protect and restore nature, but most, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, lack the opportunities to do so. In partnership with the National Trust and others, we are changing this story. We empower young people to access and connect with nature, lead hands-on nature restoration, and be part of decision-making about the future of our landscapes. We provide an antidote to ecological anxiety, grow essential skills needed for green jobs, and help create a more diverse, resilient sector. In doing so, we are addressing a fundamental challenge shared by the Trust: how to ensure our natural heritage is for everyone, for ever. A vote for Action for Conservation is a vote for restoring nature’s wonder to children’s lives, diversity to our environmental movements, and a culture that listens to the voices of young people today as custodians of tomorrow.

Action for Conservation website

help create a more diverse, resilient sector. In doing so, we are addressing a fundamental challenge shared by the Trust: how to ensure our natural heritage is for everyone, for ever. A vote for Action for Conservation is a vote for restoring nature’s wonder to children’s lives, diversity to our environmental movements, and a culture that listens to the voices of young people today as custodians of tomorrow.

Action for Conservation website

Bumblebee Conservation Trust

Without the Bumblebee Conservation Trust working to ensure our wild bees thrive, the joy we get from our gardens and landscapes will be diminished, not everything will be ‘for ever’ as the countryside we currently enjoy disappears and is replaced by a less interesting, colourful and productive one.

Pollinators play a vital role in all our lives. They make it possible for us to grow fruit and vegetables, enable other creatures to flourish, and for us to enjoy thriving parks and gardens and the wider natural landscape. Without them, our diets, health, and lives will be less rich and our food scarce and expensive, with much less variety. 70% of crops grown rely on pollination, much of this dependence is linked to wild pollinators.

Biodiversity loss is one of the biggest future risks, it will affect every one of us. All of us are responsible for improving biodiversity, at the Trust we focus on creating and restoring land for our wild bees, those at risk.

Our landscapes could change for the worse without bumblebees.

Bumblebee Conservation Trust website

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The Conservation Volunteers (TCV)

The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) is a national environmental volunteering charity.

We bring people together to create, improve and care for green spaces. From local parks and community gardens to Local Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest; from school and hospital grounds to waterways, wetlands and woodlands; we connect people to the green spaces that form a vital part of any healthy, happy community.

TCV delivers a diverse range of practical volunteering programmes and provides local community groups with support and free membership benefits through our Community Network. Our teams are open to learning and have a wealth of skills and experience to share with partners from across our sector.

Like the National Trust we believe everyone deserves to have nature in their lives. We create safe, welcoming spaces for and with people who face barriers to accessing green space. We want to ensure those people who have the most to gain can access high quality green spaces that enhance their health and wellbeing and offer them opportunities to engage more fully through volunteering.

The Conservation Volunteers website
Organisation seeking re-election

have a wealth of skills and experience to share with partners from across our sector.

The Conservation Volunteers website
Organisation seeking re-election

Council for British Archaeology (CBA)

The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) is the leading UK charity championing archaeology and public participation within it (especially of the young).

As the UK’s archaeological voice we bring together community groups, commercial units, academics and heritage organisations to create and share opportunities to take part in and be inspired by archaeology. Our activities include our annual Festival of Archaeology, our Young Archaeologists’ Club (80 branches and 2,000 places nationally) and our awardwinning magazine British Archaeology (circulation 9,000 copies six times a year).

Our vision is to enable anyone to have the skills and opportunity to tell the stories of the people and places that connect us to our world, which is also core to the National Trust’s work. The Trust owns and manages one of the most important ‘archaeological estates’ in the UK and has a proven track-record of deploying archaeology as a powerful tool for community engagement. CBA’s presence on Council will ensure the Trust’s important work in this area is supported effectively by an inclusive, representative and dynamic partner.

Council for British Archaeology website
Organisation seeking re-election

Our vision is to enable anyone to have the skills and opportunity to tell the stories of the people and places that connect us to our world, which is also core to the National Trust’s work. The Trust owns and manages one of the most important ‘archaeological estates’ in the UK and has a proven track-record of deploying archaeology as a powerful tool for community engagement. CBA’s presence on Council will ensure the Trust’s important work in this area is supported effectively by an inclusive, representative and dynamic partner.

Council for British Archaeology website
Organisation seeking re-election

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CPRE, the countryside charity

CPRE, the countryside charity and the National Trust have walked side-by-side for nearly 100 years, sharing a common purpose to ‘promote the preservation’ of our wonderful countryside. During all that time CPRE has held a seat on the Council and encouraged the Trust, alongside its management of land and buildings, to promote its charitable purpose through campaigns. Like the Trust, our interest is broad and we look for positive solutions, connect competing agendas and promote holistic approaches. Today we are a nimble, powerful campaigning voice, focused on balancing the competing, contested needs for land in a climate-stressed and nature-depleted country.

CPRE brings this view of the bigger picture to Council meetings; we do not see things in silos – e.g. history versus nature – but as layered landscape, nature, history and social dimensions. This resonates with the approach of the Trust. We are therefore disappointed not to be on the recommended list in this election, but would encourage everyone to vote for us and maintain this vital historic link between our two organisations.

CPRE website

Organisation seeking re-election

CPRE website
Organisation seeking re-election

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is here to empower young people; to support them as they learn new skills, overcome obstacles, and build confidence and resilience. At any one time, over 400,000 young people aged 13–25 are taking part in a DofE programme, undertaking expeditions around the UK, volunteering in a wide variety of contexts (including in National Trust properties) and challenging themselves to develop physically and mentally.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award website
Organisation seeking re-election

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English Heritage

English Heritage is a charity that cares for over 400 heritage sites and around one million historic artefacts on behalf of the nation. We work in close partnership with the National Trust to support the care of 16 historic sites.

Like the Trust, a core purpose of our charity is to conserve the heritage sites we look after for current and future generations. We have developed a set of Sustainable Conservation Principles to guide this work and to share insights and learnings gleaned from our role in caring for the National Heritage Collection, as we know other heritage organisations are facing similar challenges in conserving the historic environment amidst a changing climate and dwindling traditional heritage skills – areas of focus we share in common with the Trust.

As two of the largest organisations looking after the nation’s heritage and working to ensure more people can benefit from engaging with our history and heritage, we feel English Heritage and the Trust can maximise the impact of our efforts by continuing to work together.

English Heritage website
Organisation seeking re-election

climate and dwindling traditional heritage skills – areas of focus we share in common with the Trust.

English Heritage website
Organisation seeking re-election

The Gardens Trust

The Gardens Trust, together with the 37 County and Country Gardens Trusts affiliated to it, works to conserve and support historic parks, gardens and other designed landscapes for the enjoyment of everyone. Like the National Trust, the Gardens Trust strives to protect these special places so that they may be enjoyed and cared for by a wide range of people today and in the future.

The Gardens Trust is the statutory consultee for all planning applications in England that may affect nationally designated historic designed landscapes, helping ensure they can be enjoyed for generations to come. Recent changes in national legislation have strengthened the status of historic landscapes as designated heritage assets, which makes our work all the more important at a time when the planning system is under review.

Our public engagement and volunteer support encourages lasting care for historic designed landscapes. This includes online and in-person events, outreach and social media. We are determined to make our unique invaluable body of expertise freely available through skill sharing and training.

The Gardens Trust website

as designated heritage assets, which makes our work all the more important at a time when the planning system is under review.

The Gardens Trust website

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The Georgian Group

The core purposes of The Georgian Group, as a statutory advisor in the planning systems in England and Wales, and through public engagement as a membership organisation, are: to save Georgian buildings, gardens and designed landscapes from loss or damage by inappropriate repair and reuse; and to stimulate public understanding of Georgian architecture, town planning, design, craftsmanship and their social context. Our critical advisory work in the historic environment could not be more relevant to that of the National Trust – the UK’s largest single owner of Georgian buildings, designed landscapes, and collections – and its mission to move, teach and inspire. In voting for The Georgian Group you could not choose a better partner to help ensure that our extensive experience in planning matters, conservation and education are made available to the Trust and its extraordinary properties.

The Georgian Group website

Georgian Group you could not choose a better partner to help ensure that our extensive experience in planning matters, conservation and education are made available to the Trust and its extraordinary properties.

The Georgian Group website

Historic Houses

Historic Houses is the representative association for the owners of significant (Grade I and II*) historic buildings, gardens and landscapes in the UK. Even today, most of this important heritage remains in independent and private ownership. From our foundation more than 50 years ago, we now represent around 1,450 properties.

Many Historic Houses member places look very similar to those that the National Trust owns and maintains. Our purpose is the long-term preservation of these places for the benefit of the nation, as delivered through the advice, support, and representational work we provide for our member properties. Hence, we pursue our objectives not through direct custodianship but by assisting private owners in the fulfilment of their important responsibilities.

Many of our members are actively engaged in landscapescale nature conservation projects, ambitious historic building restoration schemes, and local community engagement. Given the similarities with the Trust’s own work, we believe it is vital that the Council features representatives of private owners of landscape and heritage, alongside charitable and public sector candidates.

Historic Houses website
Organisation seeking re-election

custodianship but by assisting private owners in the fulfilment of their important responsibilities.

Historic Houses website
Organisation seeking re-election

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The Institute of Conservation (Icon)

The Institute of Conservation (Icon) is an independent charity and the leading UK-wide membership body for conservators. With an overview across all conservation disciplines, we support the heritage that is particularly relevant to the National Trust and its members.

Icon’s core purpose is to set and promote professional standards of conservation enabling Icon and its membership to champion and safeguard cultural heritage. As a charity and a professional membership body we work to protect, preserve, and promote cultural heritage through cultivating skilled conservation professionals, supporting meaningful collaboration across the national and international cultural heritage sector, and delivering public benefit through engagement and advocacy.

Our members work with vitally important heritage collections across the public, private and non-profit sectors, advising on everything from preventive collections care to treatment conservation, and enabling large-scale filming at historic sites. Icon supports its professional conservator members to ensure historic sites can be accessed by the public, collections can be viewed, and archives can be digitised and accessed as widely as possible.

Icon website

and international cultural heritage sector, and delivering public benefit through engagement and advocacy.

Icon website

Keep Britain Tidy

Leading independent environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy works to inspire, educate and enable everyone to value the environment on their doorstep. It’s our belief the environment belongs to everyone, and everyone has a part to play in protecting it.

We aim to create a clean, healthy environment, rich in wildlife, by reducing resource use, waste and litter, improving the quality of public spaces and helping people to live more sustainably.

Our campaigns and programmes support and encourage people to protect and care for our parks, neighbourhoods, coasts and countryside. In 2024, our Great British Spring Clean campaign saw 326,099 volunteers remove 425,626 bags of litter from the environment.

We are committed to the mutual aim our organisations share of tackling the threat to our nature, heritage and environment, and to be impactful we must work together, and galvanising communities into action.

As operators of Eco-Schools – the world’s biggest environmental education programme – and the Green Flag Award and Blue Flag schemes, we believe we have the skills and knowledge to underpin the National Trust’s crucial work.

Keep Britain Tidy website

remove 425,626 bags of litter from the environment.

Keep Britain Tidy website

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The Land Trust

The Land Trust is a national land management charity that is committed to the long-term sustainable management of high-quality green space for social, environmental and economic benefit.

Like the National Trust, the Land Trust emphasises the importance of ‘placekeeping’ and in-perpetuity stewardship, caring for our green spaces to allow people and nature to thrive. The Land Trust is guided by its five core charitable objectives, where we seek to add value and positively impact the communities we operate in: environment and biodiversity, health and wellbeing, education, economic vitality, and community cohesion. The Land Trust delivers these benefits directly.

The Land Trust’s deep understanding and affinity with the values of the National Trust, alongside a proven track record of complementary work, positions the Land Trust as an ideal Appointing Body candidate.

The Land Trust website

The Land Trust delivers these benefits directly.

The Land Trust website

Marine Conservation Society

The Marine Conservation Society is an obvious choice to be on the National Trust’s council, as the UK’s leading ocean charity. For more than 30 years, the Marine Conservation Society have worked tirelessly for the wellbeing of our ocean, resolutely defending our coastal nature and biodiversity. The charity’s background in working with local communities across the UK to improve the poor health of our seas aligns with the Trust’s remit to protect more than 780 miles of the UK’s beautiful coastline.

It’s well known that time spent by the coast and sea – in blue spaces – makes us feel happier and healthier. But it’s not so well known that a healthy ocean helps protect us all against climate change and plays a vital role in sustaining life on earth. We want a cleaner, better protected, healthier ocean. Through our work with communities, businesses and governments we are instrumental in educating people about the wonders of our seas.

Together, we will achieve our vision of an ocean full of life, that benefits people and nature.

Marine Conservation Society website

role in sustaining life on earth. We want a cleaner, better protected, healthier ocean. Through our work with communities, businesses and governments we are instrumental in educating people about the wonders of our seas.

Together, we will achieve our vision of an ocean full of life, that benefits people and nature.

Marine Conservation Society website

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Museums Association

The Museums Association believes that museums and heritage sites across the UK play a vital role in bringing our communities together, looking after our collective heritage, supporting us to understand our past and helping us to shape a fairer and greener future.

The Museums Association is a dynamic membership organisation which advocates for museums and supports socially engaged practice across the sector. We represent over 10,000 museum and heritage workers and over 1,500 museums of all types and size across the UK, including museums at National Trust properties.

We believe that museums and heritage sites can make a positive difference to people’s lives, enhancing health and wellbeing, creating better places for us to live and work and providing space for conversations about contemporary issues. We support this work through our funding streams and through our professional development programmes and workforce support.

If successful, the Museums Association will use its extensive sector networks and expertise to support the appointment of knowledgeable and diverse candidates to the Trust’s Council.

Museums Association website
Organisation seeking re-election

If successful, the Museums Association will use its extensive sector networks and expertise to support the appointment of knowledgeable and diverse candidates to the Trust’s Council.

Museums Association website
Organisation seeking re-election

National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales (NFU)

The National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales (NFU) is the prime body representing 45,000 family businesses involved in agriculture and horticulture. The NFU strives to champion farming’s needs through lobbying opinion formers, decision-makers and connecting with rural communities. The NFU aims to build a stable and sustainable future for British farmers, championing responsible land management, seeking fairer supply chains, and advocating for farmers and growers to be present and participating in debate, as these are the bedrock for sustainable farm businesses. Our interests coincide closely with the National Trust in areas such as rural landscapes and conservation, as our members are the countryside’s principal stewards.

National Farmers's Union website
Organisation seeking re-election

areas such as rural landscapes and conservation, as our members are the countryside’s principal stewards.

National Farmers's Union website
Organisation seeking re-election

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Open Spaces Society

The Open Spaces Society is Britain’s oldest national conservation body, founded in 1865; our founders went on to create the National Trust in 1895 and we have maintained close connections ever since. With our network of local volunteers, we work to protect, increase, enhance and champion the common land, village greens other open spaces and public rights of way of England and Wales, and the public’s right to enjoy them.

Our expertise and interests are critical to the Trust. They include the protection and management of common land, much of which is owned by the Trust. We advise communities on how to protect their green spaces close to home, aligning with the Trust’s aim to look after places where people live. We defend all categories of public path and promote accessibility by all. We have a unique set of skills which are of value to the Trust.

We shall discuss with the Trust the skillset required, advertise to our members, and interview candidates.

Open Spaces Society website
Organisation seeking re-election

spaces close to home, aligning with the Trust’s aim to look after places where people live. We defend all categories of public path and promote accessibility by all. We have a unique set of skills which are of value to the Trust.

We shall discuss with the Trust the skillset required, advertise to our members, and interview candidates.

Open Spaces Society website
Organisation seeking re-election

Plantlife

Plantlife’s mission to create a world rich in plants and fungi recognises that healthy plants are the foundation of natural world conservation and restoration. We have worked with the Trust over many years, providing botanical expertise, training and support to help deliver a thriving and resilient estate. This has helped the Trust to restore species-rich grassland, temperate rainforest and deliver species recovery activity across its properties.

We partner with the Trust in three primary ways:
• Leading and working together on funded multi-party projects by providing expertise to enable direct conservation work on the Trust’s estate, including current work on rainforest and Pasqueflower projects.
• Upskilling Trust staff through the provision of bespoke training and attendance at our wider botanical/fungi knowledge development courses.
• Supporting restoration, re-introduction and species recovery work at Trust properties through the provision of botanical expertise and land management advice.

Plantlife would be delighted to be considered as an Appointing Body as our work together directly addresses the challenges of a depleted natural world and climate change mitigation from a shared societal perspective.

Plantlife website

and Pasqueflower projects.
• Upskilling Trust staff through the provision of bespoke training and attendance at our wider botanical/fungi knowledge development courses.
• Supporting restoration, re-introduction and species recovery work at Trust properties through the provision of botanical expertise and land management advice.

Plantlife website

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Ramblers

The Ramblers exists to help everyone, everywhere enjoy walking. We’re committed to campaigning to keep our countryside open to all and to fighting for the things that matter most to walkers.

Through our history, we’ve helped open parts of the countryside that were previously out of bounds, fought to establish National Parks and National Trails and successfully campaigned for everyone to be able to enjoy Britain’s coastline. Today, we continue the work to improve everyone’s access to nature and give people the skills and confidence they need to enjoy walking.

Our objectives and strategy align closely with those of the National Trust, particularly in areas such as conserving and providing access to green spaces and important landscapes, championing nature, helping look after local places where people live and making the outdoors more accessible for more people – particularly those facing additional barriers. We’re lucky to work with amazing staff and volunteers and, if selected, we will work closely with the Trust to identify a suitable appointee, with the right skills and experience.

Ramblers website
Organisation seeking re-election

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is the UK’s leading gardening charity working to encourage and improve the science, art and practice of horticulture. Our vision is a world where gardening is embraced as a way of life and a source of joy and fulfilment, building healthier lives, stronger communities, and thriving environments. To achieve this, our mission is to be there for everyone on their lifelong adventure with gardening.

The RHS and the National Trust enjoy a strong working relationship, sharing an aligned purpose, and partnering closely across many common areas to make a positive difference for nature conservation, climate change, communities and the enjoyment of green spaces for everyone. The work of the RHS complements the Trust’s core strategic areas to protect nature, beauty and history and look after the places in its care.

It would be an honour for the RHS to once again be chosen as an Appointing Body for the National Trust Council to help make a positive impact through our aligned values by participating in its governance and strategic decisions.

Royal Horticultural Society website
Organisation seeking re-election

work of the RHS complements the Trust’s core strategic areas to protect nature, beauty and history and look after the places in its care.

Royal Horticultural Society website
Organisation seeking re-election

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RSPB

The RSPB’s vision is for a shared world where wildlife, wild places and all people thrive. We protect habitats, save species and help to end the nature and climate emergency.

Our conservation work is delivered through five main work areas: science, species, places, policy and people.

We take a bird’s eye view of the issues facing the natural world; seeing the bigger picture and focusing on the detail. We use our capability in natural and social sciences to seek evidence-based solutions to the nature and climate emergency, and enabling people to live in harmony with nature. We take action to protect species from direct threats, such as habitat loss or persecution, and work in partnership with others (including the Trust) to create bigger, better, joined-up well-managed areas for nature.

As estate managers ourselves, we understand land management and the challenges arising from changing management. As a membership organisation, we understand the importance of engaging and empowering supporters. We also share the imperative to enable more, and more diverse people to enjoy and act for nature.

RSPB website
Organisation seeking re-election

habitat loss or persecution, and work in partnership with others (including the Trust) to create bigger, better, joined-up well-managed areas for nature.

RSPB website
Organisation seeking re-election

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) is a building conservation charity. We have worked in partnership with the National Trust since the 19th century and were involved with its first building project at the Old Clergy House, Alfriston, Sussex. SPAB has donated buildings and loaned antiques to the Trust, but it has contributed more as a supporter of the care, maintenance and appreciation of all historic structures. The SPAB is well-respected within the heritage sector as an adviser on conservation repair techniques as well as being a specialist trainer in craft and conservation skills, including those for historic mills. We also carry out research with the Trust into traditional building materials and sustainability. SPAB has trained and supported Trust staff over many decades. We currently offer courses for the public with the Trust at the Coleshill Heritage and Rural Skills Centre.

SPAB website
Organisation seeking re-election

sustainability. SPAB has trained and supported Trust staff over many decades. We currently offer courses for the public with the Trust at the Coleshill Heritage and Rural Skills Centre.

SPAB website
Organisation seeking re-election

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Soil Association

The Soil Association is committed to protecting nature by working with everyone, including farmers and caterers, school children and politicians, to build a better future by transforming the way we eat, farm and care for our natural world.

We help people understand the vital relationship between the health of soil, plants, animals and people, and enable farming and food systems that will help stabilise the climate, reverse the biodiversity decline and allow everyone to eat a healthy, sustainable diet.

We support farmers and foresters to transition to the most environmentally sustainable, ethical and socially responsible approaches. For some, this is organic and FSC certification, but we ‘start where people are’ and work with everyone wishing to improve.

We make good food more accessible by developing local food partnerships and help school children enjoy nutritious and sustainable meals and to learn to grow, cook and visit a farm through our Food for Life programme.

We advocate for government and business action to support the agroecological management of land and the availability of healthy, sustainable food.

Soil Association website
Organisation seeking re-election

For some, this is organic and FSC certification, but we ‘start where people are’ and work with everyone wishing to improve.

We advocate for government and business action to support the agroecological management of land and the availability of healthy, sustainable food.

Soil Association website
Organisation seeking re-election

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS)

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) is a nationwide marine conservation and campaigning charity that has been protecting the UK’s inland and coastal waters, and the people that rely on them for livelihoods creation, recreation, excitement and solace, for over 33 years.

We are water lovers working for thriving beaches, rivers and oceans. Just like the National Trust, we want to protect and restore nature in the places we love. We support and mobilise thousands of volunteers who are passionate about our cause, and we are working hard to increase the diversity of the people and communities we engage by improving our approach at every level.

Through our ambitious campaigning and education programmes, we’re building a community that cares deeply about the planet we live on. That cares passionately about the ocean. And that knows the difference people power can really make. We take action on the ground that triggers change at the top.

The heritage of our organisation is anchored in the ocean. Yet our reach and influence now permeates communities and institutions nationwide.

Surfers Against Sewage website

The heritage of our organisation is anchored in the ocean. Yet our reach and influence now permeates communities and institutions nationwide.

Surfers Against Sewage website

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Sustrans

Sustrans is a charity that works for and with communities to create healthier places and happier lives for everyone. We are the custodian of the National Cycle Network – the UK-wide network of over 12,000 miles of signed paths and routes for walking, wheeling, cycling, and exploring outdoors.

Both Sustrans and the National Trust are seeking to protect nature and the environment, and help people and nature thrive, so the objectives of each charity are both relevant and aligned to one another. At the Trust’s AGM in November 2023, a resolution was carried to review the walking and cycling routes to pay-for-entry properties from nearby urban areas, and if safe and direct walking and cycling routes do not exist, to plan to create these.

Our desire is to further improve routes and access to Trust properties as an alternative to the car; we operate across England, Northern Ireland, and Wales; and would bring a mix of experience, skills, and diversity to the Council reflective of the varied communities and interests you serve.

Sustrans website

direct walking and cycling routes do not exist, to plan to create these.

Sustrans website

Tenant Farmers Association (TFA)

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) is the only organisation dedicated to the agricultural tenanted sector in England and Wales. It works to enhance the sector, advocating and advising on both tenancy and ancillary matters. It also aims to improve the professional and technical knowledge of tenants, to increase the number and quality of tenancies and assists with the application of tenancy legislation. The TFA’s CEO, George Dunn, is a National Trust specialist governance volunteer, working constructively with the Trust concentrating on its rural estate and acting as a critical friend. George was instrumental in securing the National Trust’s involvement in Matt Baker’s Our Dream Farm project for Channel 4 showcasing the tender process for farms within the tenanted sector of agriculture to a wide audience.

The TFA has many National Trust tenant farmers as members and sees the importance for them to understand its ethos and ways of working. Equally, the Trust needs to understand and value its tenants and work collegiately towards shared goals. The TFA helps make that happen.

Tenant Farmers Association website

process for farms within the tenanted sector of agriculture to a wide audience.

Tenant Farmers Association website

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The Victorian Society

Since 1958 The Victorian Society has campaigned for the protection of Victorian and Edwardian buildings, and works to further understanding and appreciation of the two eras.

While there are more buildings from this period than any other, there remains a profound lack of appreciation for Victorian and Edwardian architecture; this despite it being the period that produced many of the most beloved and significant buildings in the UK: Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, the V&A and the Natural History Museum; great cultural symbols such as the Albert Hall; and major country houses like Tyntesfield and Waddesdon. In addition, most churches and country houses will have had Victorian interventions.

In part through our formal role in the planning system, we advise on the restoration and re-use of buildings and oppose needless demolition. We fight high-profile campaigns, but our work involves thousands of cases a year, from the grandest to the humblest. Comprising some 3,000 members – academics, experts and enthusiasts – the Society represents a unique range of specialist expertise, and offers a vital resource for the National Trust.

The Victorian Society website

country houses will have had Victorian interventions.

The Victorian Society website

The Wildlife Trusts

The Wildlife Trusts are a grassroots movement of people from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life, who believe that we need nature and nature needs us. Between them, the federation’s 47 independent charities have more than 900,000 members, around 39,000 volunteers and 3,600 employees who work together to put nature into recovery throughout the UK and its Crown Dependencies.

The Wildlife Trusts exist to bring wildlife back, to empower people to take meaningful action for nature, and to create an inclusive society where nature matters. We are working together with communities across the UK and with like-minded partners such as the National Trust to achieve our shared vision of a thriving natural world, with our wildlife and natural habitats playing a valued role in addressing the climate and ecological emergencies, and everyone inspired to get involved in nature’s recovery.

Between them, The Wildlife Trusts manage more than 2,600 nature reserves and 120 information centres which attract 15 million visitors each year. They include parks, gardens and places of historic interest.

The Wildlife Trusts website
Organisation seeking re-election

Trust to achieve our shared vision of a thriving natural world, with our wildlife and natural habitats playing a valued role in addressing the climate and ecological emergencies, and everyone inspired to get involved in nature’s recovery.

The Wildlife Trusts website
Organisation seeking re-election

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World Heritage UK

World Heritage UK works to raise the profile and secure the future of the UK’s collection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) by advocating for their support, promoting a better understanding of their globally important values, and facilitating learning and knowledge sharing across the sector and beyond.

The National Trust is a key stakeholder in World Heritage through its custodianship of two complete WHSs (The Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast, and Studley Royal Park and the Ruins of Fountains Abbey). The Trust also significantly contributes to eight other WHS through individual Trust sites and destinations within them. World Heritage UK already participates in the emerging Trust internal WHS Group and has facilitated contributions from the Trust to the European Network of World Heritage Associations. It can also continue to assist the Trust in engaging and networking with the numerous and somewhat confusing cross-sectoral national agencies and organisations that are involved in UK World Heritage protection, planning and management.

World Heritage UK website

already participates in the emerging Trust internal WHS Group and has facilitated contributions from the Trust to the European Network of World Heritage Associations. It can also continue to assist the Trust in engaging and networking with the numerous and somewhat confusing cross-sectoral national agencies and organisations that are involved in UK World Heritage protection, planning and management.

World Heritage UK website

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