National Trust

In the National Trust we care for 221 gardens and almost 200 designed parklands. This is the largest portfolio of historic gardens and parks in Europe and contains the largest collection of historically and botanically significant plants, including trees that have born witness to historical events such as Isaac Newton’s apple tree, still growing in the garden of his former home, and the Tolpuddle Martyr’s tree. 

Our designed landscapes, plant collections and associated archives and objects represent 500 years of garden and landscape history.  In addition to this many of our properties have historical associations with men and women associated with landscape and garden design, plant collecting, cultivation and display. 

The archives that we keep permanently about our history and our conservation work tell the story of the organisation and the history of our properties, landscapes and collections. The archive includes our most important records to do with the history and administration of the Trust and our most important records of our properties, land and collections over time. We also collect and preserve publications and publicity material produced by the Trust.  

The archives of the National Trust as an organisation are central to understanding our history and development. Our current vision is for a wider, more inclusive National Trust, where people are front and centre to everything we do, and where our places are accessible and relevant to all. To achieve this, we will focus on ensuring that our places and collections play an active part in the quality of our national life, health and wellbeing, as living cultural resources. We still have much more research to do to reveal more about the people’s lives. We must also uncover, and give voice to, the names and stories of many whose experiences have become hidden by histories written by, and for, the voices of privilege and authority. 

Accessing our collections: 

Contact for garden and plant history 

Pamela Smith, Senior National Consultant for Gardens and Parklands