Tag Archives: National Trust Videos

Gardens, Historical, Reviews, Tours, Travel, Videos, Views

Historic Tours: Belton House In Lincolnshire, UK

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National Trust (August 23, 2023) – A behind the scenes at Belton House in Lincolnshire, built between 1685 and 1687 by Sir John Brownlow, which is looked after by the National Trust.

A filming location for Queen Charlotte: a Bridgerton Story, this 17th-century home has been used as a set for many popular TV series and movies. Belton can be seen in the 1995 production of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth and, most recently, has featured as King George III’s palace in the Bridgerton universe.

Along with a tour of some familiar scenes from the silver screen, you’ll take a closer look at a jewel in the furniture collection – a one-of-a-kind lapis lazuli cabinet. A deep blue gemstone, lapis lazuli has been used as decoration for centuries – perhaps most notably in the funerary mask of Tutankhamun. For a cabinet to be almost entirely covered in the material makes it an extremely rare object.

Gardens, Historical, Reviews, Tours, Travel, Videos, Views

Tours: Historic Gardens Of Wightwick Manor, UK

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National Trust (May 10, 2023) – The gardens surrounding Wightwick Manor, cared for by the National Trust, are influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement, which started in Britain during the late 19th century.

This means the garden design extends into the house, where visitors can see flowers such as roses used as motifs for interiors and artworks. Watch this video to discover how politics has also left its mark on the gardens that are still enjoyed by visitors today. You’ll see architectural artefacts from the Houses of Parliament and a tree planted by Clement Richard Attlee, the Labour Prime Minster who served from 1945 to 1951.

You’ll also learn about the history of the estate and its planting schemes and find out more about what the National Trust is doing to make the gardens more accessible for visitors.

Historical, Movies, Reviews, Tours, Travel, Videos, Views

Historic Tour: Locations In ‘The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry’ Film (2023)

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National Trust (April 27, 2023) – Based on the bestselling novel by Rachel Joyce, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry starring Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton is exclusively in cinemas from April 28 2023.

Recently retired, Harold Fry is an unremarkable man who is content to fade quietly into the background of life, until one day he learns that an old friend is dying. He sets off to the post office to send her a letter and decides to keep walking: all the way to her hospice, 450 miles away.

The Bath Skyline in Somerset and Minchinhampton Common in Gloucestershire were both used as locations for the film, which was shot sequentially across the UK over several weeks, mirroring Harold’s own pilgrimage through England’s many varied landscapes – from bustling cities to wild moorland.

Here Jim and Rachel tell us how being on location helped bring to life story’s themes of reconnecting with the land and embracing the unknown. Filming at National Trust places helps provide our charity with income which we use to keep those houses, gardens and landscapes in good condition for everyone to visit and enjoy.

Arts & Literature, Historical, Homes, Tours, Travel, Videos, Views

Views: A Tour Of Monk’s House, Sussex In Virginia Woolf’s Literary Words

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National Trust (April 18, 2023) – To this day, Virginia Woolf is still known for her novel ‘Mrs Dalloway’ and for her early involvement in the Bloomsbury Group, which was established in the early 1900s in London.

Monk’s House in Sussex was once the place she and her husband Leopold called home, and it’s now being cared for by the National Trust. In this video from the National Trust, you can experience what life was like at Monk’s House first hand. For more than 20 years, Virginia Woolf transformed Monk’s House into a place of beauty, art, creativity and contentment.

Virginia Woolf - IMDb
Virginia Woolf

From reciting lines in her bathtub to writing books in the tool shed, let this literary pioneer tell you in her own words how she finally found ‘a room of one’s own’. Throughout much of her life, Virginia Woolf experienced bouts of mental illness, and Monk’s House was used as a writing retreat by Virginia and Leopold.

The Sussex landscape captured her imagination, and this came through in much of her writing. She was also engaged in the conservation of the land – a legacy that lives on through the work that National Trust staff and volunteers do to care for this place of history.

Conservation, Ecosystems, Nature, Tours, Travel, Videos, Views

Conservation: Protecting Grey Seals At Blakeney Nature Reserve, England

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National Trust (April 10, 2023) – In this episode of The Wild Life, a new series of nature films from the National Trust, presenter Gemma Hunt discovers how the charity’s rangers are doing all they can to protect wildlife at Blakeney National Nature Reserve in Norfolk.

With an introduction from Julia Bradbury, this film will transport you to the four-mile-long shingle spit of Blakeney Point, cared for by the National Trust. The spit provides protection for Blakeney Harbour and the surrounding salt marshes are home to a vast array of wildlife. Blakeney Point is also home to England’s largest grey seal colony, over-wintering wildfowl and summer-breeding terns.

Join Gemma as she meets the National Trust rangers who work around the clock to care for this stretch of coastline, which is loved by walkers, sightseers and wildlife enthusiasts. You’ll meet ranger Duncan Halpin who spends seven months of the year living in a remote lifeboat house. During this time, he monitors the seal pups and makes sure endangered birds such as little terns have safe places to nest.

Conservation, Tours, Travel, Videos, Views

UK Riverlands: The Beavers Of The Holnicote Estate

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National Trust (April 2, 2023) – In this episode of The Wild Life, a new series of nature films from the National Trust, presenter Rob Bell meets the family of busy beavers at the Holnicote Estate in Somerset.

Rob takes part in some important conservation work and finds out how the beavers have been shaping the wetland habitat since they were brought to their enclosure in 2020. With an introduction from Julia Bradbury, this video also sheds light on wider work the National Trust is doing to reconnect rivers and streams to the surrounding landscape with its innovative Stage 0 project which is underway.

Rob learns how river restoration helps to ease challenges brought by climate change, including flooding and drought. The beavers also play a key role as ecosystem engineers and the dams they build hold water in dry periods and help to prevent flash flooding downstream.

Conservation, Tours, Travel, Videos, Views

English Wetlands: Wicked Fen Nature Reserve Tour

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National Trust (March 27, 2023) – In this episode of The Wild Life, a new series of nature films from the National Trust, Paralympic medallist and TV presenter, Ade Adepitan explores Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve – one of Europe’s most important wetlands.

The Fen, which has been under the care of the National Trust since 1899, supports more than 9,000 species, including a wide variety of plants, birds and dragonflies. The raised boardwalk allows easy access to a landscape of flowering meadows, sedge and reed beds, home to water voles and rare birds, including hen harrier and bittern. Introduced by presenter Julia Bradbury, this film sheds light on how climate change is affecting Wicken Fen and the biodiversity it supports.

You’ll also find out about the work being done to protect wildlife habitats and ensure the peat here continues to store carbon. Ade discovers how Wicken Fen connects people to nature and learns more about future plans to extend the site. He also meets the Konik ponies and Highland cattle, which help to support this fragile landscape through conservation grazing.

Conservation, Ecosystems, Travel, Videos, Views, Wilderness

Views: Celtic Rainforests In Eryri, Snowdonia, Wales

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National Trust (March 20, 2023) – In this episode of The Wild Life, a new series of nature films from the National Trust, presenter Jules Hudson heads to Eryri (Snowdonia) to learn about a tree planting project that will help to protect the landscape for the next hundred years and beyond.

Join Jules on his visit to Hafod Garregog – a Celtic rainforest and reclaimed seabed along Afon Glaslyn (River Glaslyn). National Trust rangers have planted native saplings here to store carbon, slow the flow of water and provide a boost for nature and wildlife. Jules discovers that local tree species such as willow, aspen and hornbeam are less susceptible to diseases and can adapt better to the climate.

These trees will also create homes for warblers, moths, bats and nearby otters, as well as encourage a diverse variety of plants to grow. You’ll also discover how the National Trust works with volunteers to plant trees and find out more about the charity’s wider ambition to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030.

Buildings, Gardens, History, Tours, Travel, Videos, Views

Tours: Plas Newydd House Snowdonia, North Wales

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National Trust – Set on the shores of the Menai Strait, visitors to the gardens at Plas Newydd in Wales can take in the sea air and enjoy views of Snowdonia.

The gardens, dating back to the 16th century, owe much of their dramatic beauty to landscape designer Humphry Repton who in 1798, who planted trees to make the most of the views. Repton’s legacy influences the way the National Trust cares for the gardens today.

Discover ornate courtyards, a vibrant rhododendron garden and a tree house – features when the 6th Marquess of Anglesey lived at Plas Newydd with his family. You’ll also pick up a gardening tip to help you keep your flower beds happy and healthy over winter. The gardens at Plas Newydd are only open at weekends during the winter.

Gardens, Landmarks, Tours, Travel, Videos, Views

Tours: The Gardens At Hanbury Hall In England

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The gardens at Hanbury Hall in Worcestershire are thought to be one of the most faithful recreations of the formal style used by 18th-century garden designer George London.

Watch this video to find out how the National Trust has created a sunken parterre, bowling green and veg garden using plans made in 1730. You’ll learn about how rhythmic planting scales, ordered planting and bare soil have been used to revive a long-forgotten style and approach.

The National Trust protects and cares for places so people and nature can thrive. Everyone can get involved, everyone can make a difference. Nature, beauty, history. For everyone, for ever.