National Trust or English Heritage or Not?

Who is the boarder you keep talking about? Where does he live?

It is border, no a.

I didn't answer your poll because, though I am a member of the National Trust I am neither in the north nor the south, nor anywhere in between.

English Heritage prices are ridiculous £80 + for a couple,. The organisation is a state agency and therefore you are paying twice!

Dave

Hmm. It appears that Historic Scotland is also missing from the poll.

I am a member of Historic Scotland, not just because of the free entry in ENH, CAWD and even Manx Heritage Sites, or because I love wandering around old castles but because I believe that the preservation is important and I am happy to help fund it.

Have thought about joining EH when I visted Richmond Castle earlier in the year main reason being my sister could perhaps use it when I don't need it. She has sometimes let me use her NT one. I know shouldn't really do that but only way we can visit both. Anyway I didnt bother as so far lots of other places I want to visit that belong to niether but will think again next year.

Unfortunately not, there's no option to do that now. Sorry.

I have had an NT membership for the last 6 years, and it does get used.
I did consider canceling back in 2009 when the Photography issue and NT places came to the fore. However, NT backed off, and now you can take photos in most of their places (as long as you dont use flash - which is understandable) and they are not for commercial purposes. So, Flickr, here, Picasa, comps etc are fine. So because of this, I have kept mine going.
Even now I have covered my annual cost by going to Lyme Park several times.
I don't know what EH's view on photography is though.

Personally, if you are going to use either, they are worth it, as even just the cost of the car park several times will be covered by the membership.
That reminds me, I must get some more NT places under my belt.....

Not an opinion I share. I have no brief for the NT, but their acquisition of land has - in the instances I know of - stopped commercial interests serving their own ends and despoiling or 'shutting off' areas.

I agree. The diversity of the landscapes and habitats in the UK are largely due to the prevention of 'natural development' of the land. For instance much of the Peak district would turn back to forest, losing its moorland character.

Could it be that if the NT had been there when the forest was there you would not have had the moorland. If the NT had been in the Yorkshire Dales before the enclosures act you would not have had the classic fields, walls and barns. All our countryside has been developed by human use.

Can I put it this way. The Yorkshire Dales landscape evolved due to type of commercial farming required in that time. I love the area and can see why the Trust and others would want to preserve it.

What concerns me is, if preservation of that which we, as a generation, admire gets out of hand, how will our mark be left on the landscape.

I'm not going to get into whether we are leaving anything worthwhile but I doubt the Dales farmers thought about it either. To busy try to make a living.

It's up to following generations if they wish to add to the bank of preservation. We can not make England a Museum

Edit I seem to be answering a post that has been deleted

I need to change my vote.

Joined EH yesterday. Went to Bolsover Castle (and very nice it is too) and it was £8 in. I had been pondering EH for almost 12 months and decided to go for it sure I'd get my money's worth. Fair maiden then tells me if I pay by direct debit I get 15 months for price of 12 I'll have some of that right there thank you.

Intending doing Witley Court some time soon and ooooh look that's EH too ..kerching sorted.

EH when the kids are little (lots of ruins and castles to scramble over). NT when they can control themselves a bit and appreciate more subtle things. With roofs.

I like things without roofs (why isn't it rooves ??? - hoof is hooves !!)

NT only for us as few EH sites we have seen did not appear to be worth much time to visit

Have NT and EH... but there's not so much EH stuff around the south coast (but Dover castle pretty much makes up for it - a couple of visits a year for the family breaks even).

Always use NT for travelling too. We work out the closest NT restaurant and stop off for a bit to eat and a quick visit en route

Matt