This month we challenge you to join the 20 million visitors, including six million members, who enjoy the wonderfully diverse charges of Europe’s largest conservation charity. Make time this month to engage with something of the
- More than 780 miles of coastline
- More than 250,000 hectares of land
- More than 500 historic houses, castles, parks, and gardens
commit to visiting somewhere The National Trust are conservators of!
This month sees the Vernal Equinox take place, it is on March 20th, the start of Spring and it’s a time of hope, excitement and opportunity. The days are lengthening, nature is bursting into life and we all feel energy and excitement filling us with good thoughts.
Remember though, the clocks go forward on 31st March at 1am!
History, art, architecture and landscapes, there is an amazing wealth around the country and likely near you.
You may be well versed in their offerings and, as we do with Sissinghurst Castles Gardens, you may visit at different times of year to wonder at the changing colours and feel.
You may stroll footpaths through land they own, walk your dogs or take the kids for a fun day out to do a quiz, learn something new and engage with nature.
Look for somewhere you haven’t been or haven’t visited for many a year. The Trust don’t sit still and we see so many wonderful changes in many of the properties we visit. Changing gardens, displays and new rooms opened up.
As NHS Oxford Health so succinctly put it, for mental health week in 2021: ‘Green spaces are good for mental health. People who spend at least two hours a week in nature experience better health and higher psychological wellbeing than those who do not visit nature at all during an average week.’
The Mental Health Foundation tell us: ‘Some studies suggest that being around animals and wildlife may be beneficial for overall well-being. They have found that activities involving observing and interacting with wildlife in their natural habitat, such as watching birds in a garden, can improve people’s feelings of well-being, relaxation, and connection to nature.’
Do we need studies to tell us something we know deep down, probably not, but they may help trigger us into action.
We hope you embrace this months challenge, get out and about, enjoy our country’s history, art , landscape, historic buildings and support an amazing charity in doing so!
DO let us know where your favourite National Trust location is.
Volunteer for the National Trust
Matt’s ‘favourite building in Kent’
Mental Health Foundation – Thriving with Nature
Royal Greenwich Museums – when do the clocks go forward?
Royal Greenwich Museums – When does Spring start? (There are three main definitions!)
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