Trust shares key to Scotland’s treasures
Families across Scotland are being handed the key to Scotland’s treasures this summer – when they join the National Trust for Scotland.
That’s the message from Scotland’s largest conservation charity as it launches its biggest ever recruitment drive with TV, radio and outdoor advertising.
The TV advert shows a family approaching a mysterious door in Ayr High St with an ornate key. The family turns the key and are transported to a beautiful beach, an impressive castle and a dramatic battle scene all in a few seconds.
Miss Scotland Lucy Kerr tried out her own key on a recent visit to Pollok House, Glasgow. Lucy, 19, from Bearsden, was joined by children on her visit to the historic property where the NTS was created 86 years ago.
Director of customer and cause Mark Bishop said: ‘Becoming a member of the National Trust for Scotland is like being given a very special key – the key to spectacular scenery, the key to Scotland’s amazing history and the key to experiences you will never forget. We wanted to showcase all of this with our exciting new campaign and encourage families to open up the trust’s treasures which are just waiting to be shared and celebrated this summer.’
The charity says that it has deliberately taken a fun, family focus to help show new recruits that it is ‘attainable, affordable and relevant to all’. The fresh campaign comes as the trust is investing £17 million in visitor improvements at Brodick Castle, Culzean Castle, Brodie Castle and Newhailes.
As a result Brodick Castle is closed until spring next year for the installation of vital fire protection works, but the gardens and country park remain open and a new adventure playground is due to open later this month.
The NTS is Scotland’s largest conservation charity with 360,000 members and growing. The only charity to care for both built and natural heritage, it looks after the nation’s top heritage treasures including St Kilda, the UK’s only dual World Heritage Site; the Robert Adam-designed masterpiece, Culzean Castle; the iconic Glencoe; the site of the final defeat of the Jacobites at Culloden; one of Scotland’s last remaining working grain mills at Barry Mill and the beautiful Pitmedden Garden.
Family membership starts at £7.50 per month. For more information, visit: www.nts.org.uk.