Size Isn’t Everything In the north-west of England, the Lake District National Park gets most of the plaudits when it comes to picturesque countryside. However, just to the south, on the border between Cumbria and Lancashire, there’s a gem of a destination known as Arnside and Silverdale. Named after the two villages that reside in the area, Arnside and Silverdale …
England, Scotland, Wales
Protecting Our Oceans
Protecting Our Oceans is a campaign and mission statement by the National Trust which supports the designation, and effective management, of all protected areas along the British coastline. This includes shoreline and marine environments, and even areas of land bordering the coastline that are of ecological or environmental importance. As a large British coastal land owner, maintaining marine and shoreline …
Endangered Species on The Shores of Loch Linnhe
Picture Perfect Stretching over 50 kilometres long, Loch Linnhe is a large sea loch in the west coast of Scotland. Following the line of the Great Glen Fault, it forges a path inland, eventually striking the heart of the highlands. The northeast end of the loch lies just south of the town of Fort William and the loch itself is …
Shifting Shores
Shifting Shores is a report that was produced by the National Trust in 2005, which investigated how the British coastline is likely to change over the next 100 years, particularly in response to projected rising sea levels. It centred around the likely impacts that increases in coastal flooding and erosion rates would have on both the coastal environment, and land …
The Booming Birds of Kenfig Nature Reserve
Glamorgan’s Largest Natural Lake Towards the southern tip of Wales, there is a dune system that makes up one of the largest active sand dune systems in the whole of Europe. The system once stretched across much of the southern Welsh coastline, from the Ogmore River to the Gower Peninsula. It has shrunk in size since then, but remains a …
England, Scotland, Wales
The National Trust – Its Role in Protecting the British Coastline
The National Trust is a charity that owns and maintains large areas of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the aim of conserving the heritage of a multitude of buildings and natural landscapes. In Scotland, a separate and independent National Trust for Scotland exists, with the same aim. The charity maintains areas including country estates and stately homes, sections of …
Melodic Songs on the Devon Coast – Berry Head
The English Riviera England’s southern coast is well known for its warm summer days and beautiful rolling downs, characteristics which have given it the title of the English Riviera. The county of Devon epitomises this in many ways, offering some fantastic scenery. The south-east region of the county has some great coastline, with one of the most interesting headlands being …
Long Walks on the Beach – Annstead Dunes
Diverse Dune Systems The furthest north of the English counties, Northumberland has over 40 miles of coastline to its name and is home to some of the finest beaches in the country. Well known for its rugged cliffs, remote headlands and coastal views, the area is recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Much of the Northumberland coast is …
England
A Treasure Made of Chalk
Stunning Countryside When thinking about rare ecosystems, the first that often spring to mind are the rainforests or coral reefs that can be found in tropical climates. But the UK is home to its fair share of rare biomes, with one of the most unique being the chalk downs of southern England. This landscape is characterised by rolling, grassy valleys …
England, Scotland, Wales
How does the National Trust Tackle Litter Pollution? – Beach Clean-Up Events and Other Initiatives
Many of the coastal areas owned by the National Trust include beaches that are popular with visitors, particularly during the summer months and other holiday periods such as around Eastertime. Although the majority of visitors ensure that they leave no litter behind, a small but unfortunately significant proportion of people are not very aware of the environment, and leave waste …