Trust warns of 'tangible' climate threat to heritage sites

A large medieval stone abbey stands in the centre of a wide, bright green lawn. The abbey is in ruins, with tall walls, large pointed Gothic arches, and rows of narrow windows. Behind the ruins are tall green trees, while above them is a bright blue sky with large white clouds.

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Fountains Abbey is feeling the impact of extreme weather, the National Trust says

ByNick MorrisYorkshire

Published38 minutes ago

Protecting all heritage sites from the impact of climate change "just may not be possible," according to a National Trust manager.

Justin Scully, manager of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, said extreme heat, heavy rainfall and wildfire risk were already affecting gardens, moorland and historic structures.

He said heavy rain could overwhelm drainage systems and penetrate walls, causing damp and erosion, while repeated cycles of wetting, drying, freezing and thawing could harm stonework.

Flooding could also undermine foundations, while hotter, dry conditions could increase the risk of subsidence and wildfires.

Scully said the organisation may have to accept it cannot save everything as it is today.

"These last two summers have really brought this home to ourselves and to our visitors," he said.

"Climate change isn't a thing that's happening out there to other people, it's actually impacting ourselves and the places we love. The threat is tangible."

The National Trust is planning for more extreme weather by looking at what could happen to the properties and landscapes it manages over the next 40 years.

"We've got to think about what could be the worst possible outcome and then work backwards from that," Scully said.

At Fountains Abbey, this could include increasing drainage capacity and gutters to cope with heavier rainfall.

It could also result in changing the appearance of the gardens.

Scully said the trust needed to be "more open to how we would adapt," with gardens potentially becoming "less manicured".

"People expect things to look perfect and crisp," he said.

A wide coastal landscape stretches out beneath a clear blue sky. In the foreground, a walking path leads downhill through tall grass and bushes. Two people are walking away from the camera along the path. Beyond them is a large sweeping bay, with blue water curving around a long beach.

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Coastal areas like Ravenscar are difficult to protect from climate change

The trust looks after properties including Beningbrough Hall, Nunnington Hall and Treasurer's House in York, as well as miles of coastline from Loftus to Filey.

It said coastal sites were among those facing the greatest climate pressures, including erosion and rising sea levels.

A National Trust spokesperson said: "Climate change is affecting many of the places we care for, and our conservation work has to evolve with it."

Conservation decisions would consider the significance of a place, the benefit it brings to people and whether an approach is sustainable long term, they added.

Composite image showing concrete steps into a lake. In the left image, white water is gushing into the lake, while on the right it is mostly dry with some green algae.

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The water cascade into the Studley Lake ran dry during hot weather in 2025

The National Trust is a charity and receives no guaranteed government money, although it can apply for project grants from public bodies and lottery funds.

Scully said some adaptation processes could be "very expensive".

The trust did not give a figure for those costs, but said it would continue to invest significantly in conservation.

It also called for climate resilience to become a national priority, led by a Cabinet-level minister coordinating preparedness across government and supporting long-term investment.

Scully said people should not despair.

"There are small things that we can do as communities [such as reducing carbon footprints] that will make a big difference over the longer term."