Hilary McGrady, the Director-General of the National Trust, has disclosed receiving death threats following the organisation’s 2020 report acknowledging links between over 90 of its historic properties and slavery and colonialism.
As Europe’s largest conservation charity, overseeing more than 500 sites across the UK, the National Trust faced intense backlash after the report’s publication.
Several Conservative MPs accused the trust of pursuing a “woke agenda,” urging the culture secretary to review its funding. Some disgruntled members even threatened to cancel their subscriptions.
Reflecting on the threats, Ms McGrady, who hails from Northern Ireland, told The Times: “I often think, ‘Seriously, you’re getting so worked up about this that you think it warrants a death threat?’ It’s completely bizarre.”
She added that criticisms ranged from claims that the Trust should avoid discussing its colonial past to accusations of not doing enough on the issue.
Despite past controversies, Ms McGrady noted that the tone of this debate felt distinctly personal.
She remarked, “The culture wars we’re trying to grapple with are never something I supported or tried to attract. Often it’s felt as if [attacks] have been used as a mechanism to push other agendas, and we’re caught in the middle.”
The National Trust has since offered guidance to other charities embroiled in similar cultural debates, such as the RNLI, which faced accusations from figures like Nigel Farage for its rescue of asylum seekers.
New 10-Year Strategy to Tackle Climate and Nature Crises
Amidst ongoing scrutiny, the Trust is launching an ambitious 10-year plan as part of its 130th-anniversary celebrations.
Following the charity’s largest-ever public consultation, involving 70,000 participants, the Trust is committing to create 250,000 hectares of nature-rich landscapes—an area 1.5 times the size of Greater London.
This includes restoring peatlands, which store more carbon than the forests of Britain, France, and Germany combined, reducing flood risks for thousands of homes, and improving soil health to sustain a habitat for one billion earthworms.
The Trust also plans to transform urban green spaces in 100 towns and cities, working in partnership with the mental health charity Mind to enhance access to nature.
Ms McGrady emphasised the urgency of their mission: “People are really conscious the nature they have been familiar with is disappearing and, in the context of climate change, isn’t going to be around for future generations.”
Balancing Conservation with Housing Development
This commitment coincides with the Labour government’s push to address the UK’s housing crisis by building 1.5 million new homes.
The balance between preserving nature and addressing urban housing demands will undoubtedly test the Trust’s resolve as it aims to safeguard Britain’s heritage and environment for future generations.
By tackling climate and nature challenges head-on, the National Trust seeks to reaffirm its place as one of the UK’s most cherished institutions, despite ongoing debates over its role in modern society.
