The National Trust

In Poland outdoor pursuits are held in high esteem; camping, hiking and nature watching in particular. The best way to enjoy these pursuits if you have a young family and live in the North East, I am finding, is to join the National Trust.   

The National Trust is a UK conservation charity which was founded in 1895. It aims to protect the nation's heritage and open spaces. It protects historic buildings, gardens, parts of the coastline, farmland, woodland, archaeological remains, nature reserves and villages of historical significance and much more. The charity’s main concerns are about the environment, food, farming, transport and heritage.

Family membership to the National Trust gives you unlimited free access to 300 historic houses and gardens, and countryside and coastline spaces.  National Trust owned estates in the North East include Gibside, Wallington, Seaton Delaval Hall and Cragside. All have fantastic play facilities for children, with large playgrounds and lots of open space for running!  Gibside has the famous ‘Strawberry Castle’ children’s space: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/home/view-page/item405111/248903/  - which is surrounded by fields and trees, and Wallington has a large playground in the woods: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wallington/things-to-see-and-do/for-families/ - which includes dens built from branches. Fantastic!

Also, membership to the National Trust allows you to park in any National Trust car park for free, and if you like visiting the Lake District this comes in very handy- lots of National Trust car parks there.

Family membership currently starts at £70 a year so to make it value for money go to a National Trust property (or playground! ) at least once a week. Most of the properties are well connected by public transport but check timetables especially for Sunday services which often see buses run infrequently.   

This weekend Gibside and Wallington are hosting various Jubilee related events, with lots of free activities for all the family.

For more information about the National Trust go to: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk