Give us £100,000 to cover winter repairs, pleads National Trust

A CASH-STRAPPED conservation body has launched an urgent appeal after it emerged the severe winter weather is set to cost it at least £100,000.

Dozens of sites run by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) have been badly damaged by the freezing temperatures that gripped the nation. Burst pipes, crumbling roofs, flooding and damaged trees and shrubs have all been reported by staff.

NTS, the country's biggest conservation charity, has had well-documented financial problems in recent years, which forced it to shed 45 jobs and mothball four sites. An independent review recommended it hand over the running of many of its sites to bring its running costs down.

However, it emerged last month it is in line for a huge windfall after the death of secretive US millionaire William Lindsay, who is thought to have bequeathed his estate to the trust after taking his own life. He had donated 2.5m to the trust in the previous 18 months.

NTS, which spends 1.5 million a year on repairs and maintenance to its 130 historic sites, said 100,000 was a "conservative" estimate of how much extra it would have to find in the wake of the severe weather. It is understood its insurance cover will not foot the whole extra bill.

An NTS spokeswoman said the scale of damage at some sites was becoming apparent after Scotland's coldest December on record. Among the worst-affected sites have been the Mar Lodge Estate and Drum Castle, both in Aberdeenshire, Threave Garden and Estate, in Kirkcudbrightshire, and the island of Canna.

The trust has told its 300,000 members it is having to launch an urgent "snow damage appeal".

A message on its website states: "Severe weather that began in late November has tested many of our historic buildings, gardens and landscapes to the extreme. We need your help to repair terrible snow damage.

"Our staff are uncovering a long and growing list of damage - fallen trees, burst pipes, flood damage, leaking roofs, cracked masonry and damaged plants. Please help us."

At Drum Castle, flood damage has affected the interior of the Victorian gallery, the Jacobean drawing room and the reception area. At the Mar Lodge Estate, ice and snow has removed slates from the roof and destroyed guttering around the property.

Threave Garden's paths have suffered about 15,000 of damage due to snow and ice, while on Canna, the roofs of several buildings have been badly damaged, as has the pier's gangway.

NTS chief executive Kate Mavor said: "Like many householders, we've felt the force of the big freeze. With so many historic places in our care, we're only now beginning to understand the size of the repair bill.

"As a charity, we rely on our supporters to help us meet these unforeseen and unfortunate extra costs. A conservative estimate suggests that we could be spending in excess of 100,000 on extra repairs this year."Obviously insurance covers some of this, but to ensure we can cover the costs comfortably and start work on immediate repairs, we do need extra help now to ensure that these heritage gems get swift care and repair and that they are ready to welcome visitors in the spring."