National Trust to restore nature across area bigger than Greater London

Charity reveals plans to create 250,000 hectares of nature-rich landscape as it marks 130th anniversary Steven Morris Fri 10 Jan 2025 05.00 GMT

In past decades the focus has been on protecting beautiful landscapes such as the Lake District, trying to save the crumbling coast or breathing life into historic country houses.

Now the National Trust is marking its 130th anniversary by unveiling “moonshot” plans to address what it regards as the current national need – the climate and nature crises.

The conservation charity has launched proposals to create 250,000 hectares (617,500 acres) of nature-rich landscape – equivalent to one-and-a-half times the size of Greater London – on its own land and off it in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.