The Bigger Picture

NATIONAL TRUST UNVEILS PLANS FOR ART TO SUPPORT NATURE

On its 130th anniversary, the National Trust has revealed a new 10 year strategy to restore nature, improve access and inspire millions of people to protect the world around them. These plans include working in partnership with environmental organisations, farmers, landowners and local communities to create a huge 250,000 hectares of nature-rich landscapes, co-producing a new natural history series for BBC One and showcasing new exhibitions, displays and commissions with captivating art to engage visitors.

The charity's director general, Hilary McGrady, said a "monumental effort" was needed. "For 130 years, the National Trust has responded to the crises and challenges of the time. Today, nature is declining before our eyes and climate change is threatening homes and habitats on a colossal scale. We will ramp up our work to restore nature, both on our own land and beyond our boundaries," she said.

Octavia Hill, co-founder of the National Trust once said, "On it the sun shines, over it the wind blows, and it belongs to you all and to every landless man, woman and child." so it seems fitting that 'Helios', a new seven-metre model of the sun by artist Luke Jerram, opened at Bath Assembly Rooms on 11th January 2025 and will be on display until work starts on another new visitor experience, when it will tour other National Trust sites.

With rippling lights, solar imagery and sounds of the sun recorded by NASA this audio-visual artwork follows Jerram's hugely successful Museum of the Moon and Gaia creations and has been described as shining a light on 'unique places, the benefit they offer to the nation, and the people who use and enjoy them'.

This year is also the 250th anniversary of one of Britain's most celebrated artists - JMW Turner. You can visit 'Turner's Vision' at another National Trust property - Petworth House and Park, West Sussex, from 21st June - 16th November 2025, where, for the first time in over twenty years a wide range of his studies of the Petworth landscape, on loan from the Tate, will be exhibited in the place that inspired him.

Other exhibitions include Listen to the Voices of the Fen (18th July - 28th September 2025) by artist Kathy Hinde, which is an installation revealing the hidden sound-worlds and unnoticed voices of the wildlife at Wicken Fen, one of Britain's oldest nature reserves. In Wales a new cultural project, Wanderland, will include a music commission on Ynys Mon, an outdoor art trail at Dyffryn Gardens, poetry in the landscape on the Llyn Peninsula, and a digital residency with artist Bedwyr Williams.

For more details of the National Trust's goals to see people and nature thriving, including plans for building and peat restoration, ending unequal access to nature, apprenticeships, fundraising, the new ambassador program and much more, you can read their new strategy in full HERE.