The National Trust has landed a £10million cash gift, the largest in its 131-year history, and is set to spend it on a string of projects.
The donation came from philanthropist and venture capitalist Humphrey Battcock, who said he wants to "emphasise" the organisation's limits are "unrestricted".
The unrestricted nature of the gift means the conservation charity has complete freedom to spend it however it sees fit.
The focus continues to be on nature restoration and net-zero projects.
Director-General Hilary McGrady called the pledge a "huge boost" for the organisation, which boasts 5.3 million members and stands as Europe's largest conservation charity.
The Trust has now unveiled its ambitious programme for 2026, with plans spanning nature restoration, tackling unequal access to heritage sites, and inspiring more people to connect with the natural world around them.
Building on last year's first licensed beaver release into the wild at Purbeck in Dorset, the charity is planning to introduce more this year, pending approval from Natural England.
And beavers are not the only wildlife getting attention. The Trust wants to help white-tailed eagle populations in Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Wight spread further into England and Wales.
The National Trust has landed a whopping £10million cash gift, the largest in its entire 131-year history, and is set to spend it on a string of projects
| GETTYEfforts are also underway to create connected habitats that will help hazel dormice thrive.
All of this feeds into a broader 10-year vision announced in 2025; an ambitious plan to establish 250,000 hectares of nature-rich landscape across the charity's land and beyond.
The Trust is pushing ahead with its goal of reaching net zero by 2030 and Stourhead in Wiltshire is getting a green makeover.
Solar panels and four air-source heat pumps are being fitted at the historic property.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Hilary McGrady called the pledge a 'huge boost' for the organisation
|X
At Clent Hills near Birmingham, a reed-bed system, a natural and environmentally-friendly water treatment system, will soon be put in place for visitor facilities.
Visitors to the Trust's stately homes can also look forward to a more comfortable experience. The charity is adding extra seating areas at The Vyne, Hardwick Hall, Lacock Abbey, Upton House and Dyrham Park.
The teasels and pine cones traditionally used to discourage sitting are being removed, giving people proper places to pause and take in their surroundings.
Mr Battcock, who sits on the board of Cambridge Innovation Capital, explained his thinking behind the gift.
Humphrey Battcock said: 'The National Trust represents what is best about our society'
|CAMBRIDGE INNOVATION CAPITAL
"The National Trust represents what is best about our society, preserving our shared heritage for all the people," he said.
"In making this donation, I want to emphasise that it is unrestricted; I will have no say over how the charity spends it and that is because I trust the National Trust to know how best this money can be used."
Ms McGrady responded warmly to this show of faith, saying: "We believe the challenges we're setting out to tackle through our new strategy will define our generation.
"We must halt the freefall decline in nature before it becomes irreversible; end unequal access to nature, beauty and history; and inspire millions more people to care for the world around them."
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter