Fortunes looking up for National Trust

THE finances of the organisation that runs Scotland’s best-loved historic sites have “improved significantly”, a meeting heard yesterday.

Two years ago the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) was brought to the brink of insolvency by a financial crisis which threatened its future but the body’s annual general meeting in Dundee was told the situation was looking up, with more money in its coffers and rising membership.

The 230 members of the charity at the meeting were told that during the year ending 28 February, NTS’s financial reserves had “improved significantly, giving reassuring stability to its finances”. They heard that the General Income Fund - the free reserves of the Trust, said to be the true measure of its financial health - increased to £13.4 million from £8.5m.

Membership also continued to rise in the last financial year from 306,000 members to 308,000 members - representing £10.5m in income. The meeting heard that from next year local assemblies will be held alongside its annual meeting to improve communication.

Trust chairman Sir Kenneth Calman said: “The trust is proud to be celebrating its 80th year - it is an organisation with a long history. But, we are also an organisation with a bright future too and one which is embracing change. That’s why from next year, we will be taking the Trust out across Scotland to engage in dialogue with members, communities and partners in a more meaningful and productive way.

“This is an important cultural shift for the organisation, showing our commitment to both accountability and co-operation, key principles our new strategy.”

Chief Executive Kate Mavor added: “We now have a clear direction and are determined to build a more robust organisation.

“The involvement of our members and local communities is vital.”

Last month it emerged that a major heritage a campaign was to launch to help NTS carry out a radical transformation of its vast estate and save sites from closure, with bosses saying at least £100m was needed to put the organisation on a sound financial footing over the next few years.

But Mavor confirmed they had completely ruled out disposing of any flagship sites after a hit-list of 11 was drawn up in 2009, and four eventually mothballed. The 11 sites were the Hill of Tarvit Mansion House, Kellie Castle, Inveresk Garden, Leith Hall, Hutchesons’ Hall, Haddo House, Barry Mill, Hugh Miller’s Cottage, Arduaine, the David Livingstone Centre, and Ben Lawers Mountain Visitor Centre.Yesterday’s meeting also heard more about a new project with Historic Scotland to transform the visitor experience at the Battle of Bannockburn site for 2014.