Overview
- Donor Humphrey Battcock, a 71-year-old philanthropist recently awarded a CBE, said he will have no say over how the money is spent.
- The Trust’s 2026 programme includes rewilding and species restoration, with further beaver releases planned subject to licences from Natural England.
- Estate decarbonisation will advance with solar panels and four air-source heat pumps at Stourhead and a reed-bed wastewater scheme at Clent Hills.
- Public engagement plans feature mobile wildlife broadcasts into towns and cities, added seating in historic houses, and new play initiatives tied to a Disney and Pixar partnership.
- The charity also intends to take on operational management of Heartlands in Cornwall, aligning with a ten-year strategy launched in 2025 after cost savings from about 500 job cuts.