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CARL C
CARL Oct 20, 2015 18:57:14
Replying to Lubin

I don't have a problem with paying to park / get into sites (as long as it is a reasonable price) The money raised is what protects the historic / prehistoric sites we all love. I visit a lot of English Heritage / CADW / Historic Scotland sites each year so have become a member of CADW. I save a small fortune each year. I don't visit many N.T. sites so choose to just pay on a site by site basis. On a personal note, the one thing I don't like about the N.T. is that the people who work at the sites tend to be a bit 'snobby'. I find EH / CADW / HS site staff more 'down to earth' and friendlier. It's like how shop workers at M+S seem to think they are a cut above those working at Tescos etc. I am not saying all N.T. staff are like this ( have met some nice ones) but there are a lot I meet who fall into the 'Hycinth Bucket' category! ;)

T tjj
tjj Oct 20, 2015 20:37:41
Replying to CARL

Earlier in the year I bought 'Coastlines' by Patrick Barkham as a gift for a friend. We have sort of been reading it together over a cup of tea (my friend likes reading aloud). At first I was disappointed to learn that all the areas of coastline Barkham visited for his book are owned by the National Trust. I have since learnt it has been the 50th anniversary of Enterprise Neptune and the NT are now custodian's of 742 miles of coast. They are responsible for cleaning up the Durham coast which was completely destroyed by coal slag from undersea mining.

On the way down to Devon a few weeks back we stopped off at Dunster Castle (owned by the NT) - a rather amazing place built around a keep/hillfort.
So I lay my own inverted snobbery down and applaud the NT and all its volunteers who give their time and skills for free.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/09/coastlines-the-story-of-our-shore-patrick-barkham-review

L Lubin
Lubin Oct 20, 2015 22:38:26
Replying to CARL

CARL wrote:
I don't have a problem with paying to park / get into sites (as long as it is a reasonable price) The money raised is what protects the historic / prehistoric sites we all love. I visit a lot of English Heritage / CADW / Historic Scotland sites each year so have become a member of CADW. I save a small fortune each year. I don't visit many N.T. sites so choose to just pay on a site by site basis. On a personal note, the one thing I don't like about the N.T. is that the people who work at the sites tend to be a bit 'snobby'. I find EH / CADW / HS site staff more 'down to earth' and friendlier. It's like how shop workers at M+S seem to think they are a cut above those working at Tescos etc. I am not saying all N.T. staff are like this ( have met some nice ones) but there are a lot I meet who fall into the 'Hycinth Bucket' category! ;)
I do agree with you in part Carl ,re the "bit snobby' quote. I have visited many houses and do find there are many who are that way. Some are so snobby it is unbelievable but in my experience they are in the minority.