Heritage TO TREASURE

Whilst we have all missed regular visits to country houses, and their tea rooms, they have missed us, too. Most of them rely on entrance fees for maintenance and staff costs, so the pandemic has been devastating, and it is not just the small trusts, galleries and museums that have been suffered. “It was tough having to close everything down,” says spokesperson Allan King from the National Trust, “but it’s even harder to reopen because of the safety issues around staff, visitors and volunteers.” Where some have held art auctions, Crowdfunder events, paid-for lectures and virtual tours, others have appealed to benefactors both at home and abroad.

The good news is that there are a number of ways to help: becoming a member, a friend, buying a season ticket or making a donation, all are a means to invest in the nation’s heritage. Many of the locations have glorious gardens where restricted visits are now becoming a possibility, so autumn looks set to promise some wonderful