National Trust Acts

Earl of Devon Excerpts

Tuesday 21st January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I feel quite strongly that the National Trust is a charity, and as a charity, government needs to be really careful of the extent to which we take a view on how a charity that has democratic processes should operate. To note the point that the noble Lord made around the voting system, it is for the trustees of the National Trust to determine the running of elections in line with the charity’s governing document, but I note that the National Trust members voted in 2023 to keep the quick vote system. The noble Lord asked a number of questions, one of which was around Clandon Park. I also note that the trust’s proposals in relation to this historic building reflect in-depth conversations with heritage bodies, architectural specialists, community organisations and local residents, and also with over 75,000 visitors to Clandon since the fire.

[The Earl of Devon (CB)]

My Lords, the National Trust recently announced a bold ambition to return to nature some 250,000 hectares. Given that many of the trust’s holdings consist of unique heritage farmland of the sort immortalised by John Constable and wrestled from nature over centuries, do His Majesty’s Government have any concerns that this rewilding will fall foul of the trust’s statutory purpose to permanently protect places of natural beauty or historic interest for the benefit of the nation?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The Government are aware that the trust is working with farmers to restore nature, including those who are tenants on National Trust land. The trust will support the network of farmers across the land to be even bigger players in nature recovery and climate resilience while producing good, healthy food and running sustainable businesses. In the Government’s view, the two are not mutually exclusive.