National Trust gardens and parks to open for free during Coronavirus epidemic

The National Trust has announced that they will be opening their gardens and parks for free to the public during the Coronavirus epidemic in an attempt to encourage more people to get outdoors as the virus continues to spread throughout the United Kingdom.

As the number of cases in the UK continues to rise daily, the National Trust has taken the decision to scrap entry fees to their parks and gardens, however, the trust has insisted that those parks which have enough open space to practice ‘social distancing’ will be the only ones to remain open. 

The trust has however taken the decision to close all of its houses, shops, and cafes, as the country attempts to stop the spread of the coronavirus. 

A statement on the National Trust website read: 

Following the Prime Minister’s briefing yesterday, Director General Hilary McGrady announced that the National Trust’s pay-for-entry sites including houses, cafes and shops, would close by this Friday (March 20).

McGrady said the charity would work hard to keep as many of the Trust’s gardens and parklands open, free of charge, alongside coast and countryside, to encourage the nation to enjoy open space, if appropriate, during the pandemic, while adhering to the government’s social distancing guidance.

Hilary McGrady said: “The National Trust was founded 125 years ago for the benefit of the entire nation. We want to honour our mission – to enable people and nature to thrive. 

Over the coming weeks we will do all that we can to keep on providing public benefit through caring for places and giving people access wherever possible.

“While we will close our indoor areas to help fight the spread of coronavirus, we recognise that people are likely to need access to open space and to nature, beauty and history."