Understand
National Trust warns of tangible climate threats to North Yorkshire heritage sites
Overview
The National Trust has warned that extreme weather driven by climate change poses a tangible threat to historic properties, gardens, and coastlines in North Yorkshire, such as Fountains Abbey. A senior manager stated that protecting every site may not be possible and that the organisation must adapt by improving drainage, altering garden management, and accepting that it cannot save everything in its current form.
Key points
- Extreme weather, including heavy rainfall, extreme heat, and wildfire risks, is actively affecting gardens, moorland, and historic structures.
- Heavy rain can overwhelm drainage, cause damp and erosion, and undermine foundations, while dry conditions increase subsidence and wildfire risks.
- The National Trust manager Justin Scully stated that protecting all heritage sites from climate change may not be possible.
- Adaptation measures at places like Fountains Abbey could include increasing drainage capacity and accepting less manicured, more adaptable gardens.
- Coastal areas under the Trust's care face severe pressures from erosion and rising sea levels.
- The Trust is calling for climate resilience to become a national priority supported by a Cabinet-level minister and long-term investment.