Webchat Transcript

Sir William Proby says: Welcome to the live webcast of the 112th Annual General Meeting of The National Trust.

We would really like to hear from you, so please use this opportunity to take part. Anybody may submit questions to the webchat via the form to the left. Members are invited to raise questions to the AGM, but please ensure you include your membership number.

We will try to answer as many of your questions as we can.
Thank you.

Sally Wright-Holmes: How will you be dealing with the threats posed by climate change?

National Trust replies: Climate change is a huge challenge for us – it affects just about everything we do   We know we will need to adapt to the changes already underway, as well as do everything we can to reduce our own emissions of greenhouse gases.

Over the last few years, we’re been identifying where we face the biggest risks from climate change impacts e.g. from flooding, drought. We’re now putting in place plans to adapt and ensure we are resilient to future climate.

We have committed to reducing our environmental footprint - wasting less energy and water and cutting our waste. Wherever possible, we are looking to install small and micro scale renewable energy at our sites e.g. solar thermal and biomass heating and systems to harvest and store rainwater.

Clearly this is a significant and long term programme of work for us. We’re building partnerships with others, learning what works, and developing practical solutions not only for ourselves, but also to offer to our visitors and members, like National Trust Green Energy that launched in September.

If you haven’t seen it already, the Trust’s climate change story has been captured by the lens of some of the UK’s leading photographers in a touring exhibition Exposed. Details are on our website.

We are keen to hear your thoughts, ideas and solutions. Email exposed@nationaltrust.org.uk

To find out more visit our website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/climatechange

Nigel Ellard: What is your policy in 2008 on the sale of Trust property for private development?

Peter Nixon replies: We very rarely sell land for development. This only happens if the land has been left to the Trust specifically for this purpose, so the proceeds can fund the long term conservation of the property. Any development would have to be consistent with the local authority's housing plans and be built to the Trust's sustainability standards. In 2008, the only private development in the pipeline is at Erddig in North Wales.

Gareth Ridewood: Why do the National Trust Houses close at the end of October? We wanted to visit one today but are having difficulty finding one open. Surely they should be open at least every weekend through the year? I am very dissapointed and will not be renewing my membership, as you pay for a year but only get 7 months use.

National Trust replies: While there are many practical reasons for us having a “closed season” in the winter we are increasingly making many of our houses and gardens open for visiting - along with the areas of countryside and coastline in our care - throughout the year. We are moving towards more standard core opening times and these times will extend further into the winter months. In addition most of our historic houses are increasingly open for special events (such as Christmas activities) during the winter, for some weekends and at high demand periods such as school half-terms. These additional opening periods are being publicised on our website.

We do feel that - irrespective of these extensions to opening times - membership of the Trust remains excellent value for money. The fact that we have more members joining and staying is testament to the way in which we are regarded as providing what our supporters want. We do hope that changes to our opening times will reinforce this.

Ian Hart: I agree with the National Trust's stance on protecting the green belt as articulated by Mr Proby this am on the BBC Today Programme. I am sure that all National Trust members will support your action and that they would equally support the purchase of threatened land (and encourage others to donate it). The people of this country now have little faith in the Government to protect green spaces and this has been exacerbated by the gradual erosion of the department responsible for nature conservation and countryside. I would like to see a consortium of major conservation organisations, eg NT, RSPB, CPRE & etc.. (perhaps call in Greenspace)acquiring threatened land and managing it sympathetically in perpetuity. You will find that such a bold move will find support from huge numbers of people. You have little time left. I suggest you Go for It!

Yours sincerely, Ian Hart

National Trust replies: Thank you for your support. We have had many messages and questions relating to the need to protect vital green spaces for the wellbeing of people and wildlife, now and in the future. Members have also been raising the challenges and dilemmas the Trust and wider UK society faces in doing so. We have put many of these questions to be considered by the AGM.

Emma Roberts: We've recently had a baby, and whilst the baby changing facilities are generally good where we have visited, parent and child parking spaces at properties would be very handy indeed...any plans to introduce any?

National Trust replies: Although there are no specific examples being developed at present we are currently including these considerations when planning new and refurbishing existing visitor facilities.

Susannah Kidd: What do you consider the biggest challenge for members of the National Trust in 2008?

National Trust replies: An interesting and difficult question with lots of potential answers! What about finding more time to relax and enjoy quality time with family and friends. So many people have busy and stressful lives, it's vital for our health and wellbeing that everyone has the time and opportunity to find peace and quiet, get close to nature and have beautiful places to play and explore. Providing these 'open air living rooms' for people was one of the reasons for creating the National Trust.

Jake & Tomas Watkins: Is there really a monster under the heart stone at St Michael's Mount?

National Trust replies: Question raised at AGM.  Here's the response in full in case you missed it.  Well – no monsters as such….but we have heard tell of a Giant called Cormoran who is said to have created the Mount.  He terrorised the local townsfolk of Marazion and a reward was offered for his slaying.  A local boy called Jack took up the challenge. One night Jack dug a great hole halfway up one side of the Mount and covered the opening with straw   The following morning Jack blew his horn and the giant came running to catch him – he did not notice the hole and fell straight into it. Jack filled in the hole and returned as a local hero.  I have been reliably informed that if you walk up the side of the Mount on a quiet morning you can still hear Cormoran’s heart beating.

Sally Wright-Holmes: How much of your land is used to grow GM crops on?

How much is organic?

National Trust replies: Of the c.250,000 hectares of countryside that we own, about 80% is farmed, largely by tenant farmers. Approximately 7% is farmed organically. Presently, none of the Trust’s land is used to grow GM crops.

Thomas Carter: Why not lead the way with regard to housing instead of shaming the government. I propose a new type of housing built in association with the NT promoting carbon neutral living using natural and sustainable and local resources. Volunteers (youngsters) would get reduced price housing for 'mucking in' with the build! I would be willing to help organise this off a shoe string budget and I'm sure many others would. Oh - and who said the NT couldn't profit from this to fund their good work?

National Trust replies: You’re right to challenge us to show leadership in demonstrating solutions to sustainable housing in the UK. Two recent examples where we have tried to do this reflect some of your ideas. The ‘footprint building’ education centre near Lake Windermere was built with lots of volunteer energy and enthusiasm and it was designed to have a low environmental impact by using local and sustainably sourced materials.

At a different scale, Stamford Brook is a development of 700 houses near Manchester that was built to demonstrate mainstream sustainable building practices and inform the latest revision to the Government’s building standards. There is more information on the Trust's green building projects on our website: HERE

Paul Weaver: Connecting trust properties to major tourist areas - What will the Trust do to help promote climate friendly access to Kingston Lacey?

I live in Poole, Dorset and while access to Brownsea Island, Corfe Castle and Studland is reasonably easy we find it extremely difficult to access Kingston Lacey if we don't have our own transport.

I believe it will make sense for the climate and for tourisum to promote public transport from Poole and Bournemouth, major tourist areas.

National Trust replies: We are very keen to promote the use of public transport. We have gone to great lengths in the members’ Handbook and on our website to give clear information on how to get to our properties without using a car. That said, we do also recognise the limitations of public transport to certain properties. In many areas, we work with the local authority and other partners to improve public transport provision. I have forwarded your enquiry to the Visitor Services Manager at Kingston Lacy so that he can provide you with a property specific reply.

Alasdair Price: Disabled access future plans?

National Trust replies: All built properties now have recent access audits and the resulting action plans have identified any modifications and changes required in order to increase access. This will include accessible car-parking. For further information please see HERE

Susan Parker: Well done to Sir William Proby - we would definitely wish to express our emphatic support of his proposals for the Trust to buy greenfields to prevent development.

National Trust replies: Thanks for your support.  Watch this space for further responses to questions relating to this subject within the next hour.

Tom Bowman: Young adults today are fortunate to have so much at their disposal (literally). Do you think that teenagers could really make the sacrifices/compromises necessary to fight climate change?

National Trust Youth Panel replies: It is a slow process and not going to change overnight.  There needs to be an incentive to be green, at the moment it is too expensive to be a practical solution for young people.  We believe that there needs to be more lobbying of the government and business to change the way things are done in order to make lifestyle changes easier. At the moment we feel that it is not practical for all young people to change their lifestyles drastically.  Instead young people need to put pressure on the government, businesses and NGO's to change the way they operate in order to make the choice of a green lifestyle and easy one.

dido berkeley: The NT urgently needs to address our Rivers and floodplains, not just the Green Belt. As director of Thamesbank we now have legal proof that neither the Gov or Mayor is protecting our heritage of the River Thames - one of our finest environmental assets.
Flooding, pollution and water supply as well as a living working river are serious issues being ignored. Will this AGM please acknowledge this issue & begin to address the problem housing etc is having on all the river's functions in the River's flood plain and catchment area? Looking after the Green Belt is half the problem - after all it is made green by water and our rivers - PROTECT OUR RIVERS FIRST!
My apologies for not being with you today, and wish you all a good meeting.
Lady Berkeley
Thamesbank, Director

National Trust replies: Sorry there wasn’t time to address your question during the AGM. We share your concern for the UK’s precious water resources and agree that the ‘Bluebelt’ is not properly understood, valued or invested in. We have been working to restore the water resources and assets in our care for many years, but it has now become one of the top priorities for our conservation work because of the urgent challenges you identify.

Recent research has showed us that 43% of the land in England and Wales drains to the boundary of Trust-owned spaces, closely connecting us to communities and landowners upstream and downstream. We are starting to manage our land and buildings within their ‘catchment’. We have identified the areas suffering from poor water quality and those at greatest risk of pollution to begin to tackle problems at source. We also have done some exciting river and floodplain restoration projects, including one of longest river restorations in the UK at Stamford Brook, and are looking to do more.

But the challenge is huge and we can’t do this alone. We are part of the Blueprint coalition of water, fishing and environmental organisations, that has developed an action plan for Government, the water industry, land managers and water consumers, so that together we can safeguard the future of the UK’s water resources. See www.blueprintforwater.org.uk

Michael Wiltshire: I agree with the purchase of green belt land to stop house expansion. We hear a lot about the conomic benefits of migration, but no one counts the negative benifits such as this topic. I would be prepared to join the national trust if it takes a stance against goverment plans to create so many houses. I currently work in China, and every one lives in skyscrapers, they do not have to turn into slums, as most in the london area do. They are very nice places, where people want to live. This would give a low cost start that our youngsters need and use far less land space.. Best regards. Michael

National Trust replies: Thanks for your comments - I hope you are enjoying the panel debate with Simon Jenkins which is discussing some of the areas you have raised.

Dave Reynolds: How many hunt incursions onto Trust land in the Quantocks have been recorded in the last year?

Peter Nixon replies: Thanks. We don't have a central record of this; our regional and local staff follow up with the relevant hunt any reports of unauthorised activity by hunts on Trust land.

Paul Weaver: In Poole, Dorset there is 938 acres (approx figure) of very rare south facing heathland protected by the local council with national nature reserve status. This area is a very important area with many protected species and very important to the town. This area is very vunerable to land grab under the requirements of finding some where to build over 300,000 new homes in the south west dorset area. What if anything can the Trust do to help protect such an area?

National Trust replies: We are concerned too that the heathland around Poole is vulnerable, not only to development, but also to climate change. The main thing we can do is to try to ensure the Local Plan protects the existing heathland for its value to wildlife and as vital greenspace for the communities of Poole and Bournemouth. We can also seek to ensure the Plan identifies new areas for heathland restoration. The Trust is joining up the management of the heathland we own in that area, with that of our neighbouring landowners, including RSPB and the Local Authority, so that the heath as a whole is big enough to function more naturally and adapt to a changing climate. Perhaps most crucially, we need to ensure the local community understand, value and enjoy the heath, so they champion and are involved in its conservation for the future.

haydn taylor: I find some of the comments from The Trust ,made today, regarding building on 'green land' and open space as somewhat misleading. Is it not true that The Trust are activly encouraging building on Trust land on the Erddig estate nr Wrexham? Such proposed development flys in the face of public opinion. Myself along with other members are not happy with the idea that such land is being developed . Previous attempts to develop were opposed in the local plan and one wonders whether the Trust's actions at Erddig are in conflict with the statement made this morning on the Today programme

Peter Nixon replies: The Chairman has made clear that the Trust doesn't oppose all development on greenfield sites, but rather that the greatest care should be taken before such development takes place. The Trust's proposals at Erddig are consistent with this - every care has been taken to ensure that it is appropriate for its location, consistent with the local plan, and that it is as sustainable as possible.

The Trust has carried out extensive local consultation over the scheme and this has helped define the nature of the development, which aims to be an exemplar of sustainable design integrating very closely with the local community. The affordable housing that will be provided - 55 affordable homes for local people - has been welcomed by the Community Council.