The National Trust Announce Five Year Restoration for Kinder Scout

SWINDON, England, November 22, 2010 - The National Trust has announced that one of the key sites in the history
of the battle to improve access to the countryside, Kinder Scout in the Peak
District, is set to get a major GBP2.5 million restoration over five years,
starting in the spring of 2011.

Work carried out by the National Trust, who have owned Kinder Scout since
1982, will see vast areas of the bare and degraded blanket peat landscape
restored by gully-blocking, brash spreading and the planting of cotton grass,
heather seed, and dwarf shrubs such as bilberry.

To help with the restoration of the site, which is part of the country's
national heritage (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-chl.htm), the
project will involve installing a temporary sheep-proof fence to allow the
newly planted vegetation the time to become established while keeping open
access to Kinder Scout for walkers.

A public consultation will be launched in December to decide on the final
location of the temporary fencing and where the access points for walkers
should be located*.

Mike Innerdale, general manager for the National Trust in the Peak
District said: "Kinder Scout is one of our most iconic landscapes because of
its vast open moorland, the diversity of wildlife that calls it home and it
was the location for the world famous mass trespass in 1932, a key moment in
the campaign for better access to the countryside.

"However, it is also one of the most damaged areas of moorland in the UK
and its future is in jeopardy as a result of catastrophic wildfires, a long
history of overgrazing, air pollution and the routes that thousands of
visitors have taken. We need to take action now with our partners, to save
Kinder for future generations."

The benefits of the Kinder Scout restoration (
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-global/w-news/w-latest_news/w-news-five-year-restoration-to-give-kinder-scout-a-new-lease-of-life.htm)
reach beyond the improvements to the landscape and the wildlife it supports.
The amount of carbon stored within blanket peat on Kinder Scout is
significant and whilst healthy peatlands take in and store carbon, damaged
peatlands emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

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In addition, most upland moorland is the source for drinking water and
because the moor is so degraded, the exposed peat gets washed away, finding
itself in our water supplies which presents huge water quality and treatment
problems for our water providers such as United Utilities who collect water
in Kinder Reservoir.

Terry Howard, chair of the Kinder advisory group, said: "Whilst there is
an ongoing search for other options we may have to accept the need for a
fence if no other solution is sufficient. It's important to know that walkers
would still have access, attempts will be made to minimise the visual
intrusion and the fence would only be temporary until such a time that Kinder
flourishes again. This is a short term price to pay for the long term
sustainability of Kinder Scout."

Funding for the Kinder restoration project has been secured from the
Biffa Awards Scheme, United Utilities, Natural England's Environmental
Stewardship scheme and the National Trust.

About The National Trust:

The National Trust was founded in 1895 with access to green spaces and
the preservation of places of natural beauty at the heart of its founding
principles.

With more than 250,000 hectares of countryside and 710 miles of coastline
across England, Wales and Northern Ireland there are plenty of opportunities
to enjoy the great outdoors with the National Trust. The National Trust
offers many places to visit including countryside walks (
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-visits-walks.htm), days
out (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits.htm) and the ability
to hire a wedding venue through the National Trust.

Notes to Editors:

* There will be local public meetings about the fencing at Kinder Scout
and from 1 December you can also give feedback and find out more information
at - www.nationaltrust.org.uk/peakdistrict

    PR Contact:
    Mike Collins
    Senior Press Officer
    The National Trust
    Heelis
    Kemble Drive
    Swindon
    Wiltshire
    SN2 2NA
    +44(0)1793-817708

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

PR Contact: Mike Collins, Senior Press Officer, The National Trust, Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 2NA, +44(0)1793-817708