National Trust – serie

A gorgeous gift for the baker in your family and lovers of pies! 55 pie recipes – sweet and savoury, classic and modern – plus expert tips and techniquesAdvice on perfect pastry, plus using ready-made to save timeLittle bits of interesting and quirky pie historySupported by the National Trust, suppliers of fine pies to the British publicWhether you’re in the mood for a comforting classic – Shepherd’s Pie; Cheese and Onion Pie; Apple Pie – or something a little more surprising – Chicken and Tarragon Pot Pie; Spinach, Goat’s Cheese and Walnut Suisses; Pear, Hazelnut and Cardamom Cream Pie – these tried and tested recipes will have everyone coming back for more.With tips on making the perfect pastry every time (as well as advice on using the ready-made variety), these mouthwatering pies are easy to eat and a joy to create. Sumptuous fillings, which can be as simple as fresh fruit with a sprinkling of sugar or some tasty cheese with slow-cooked onions, make all these recipes guaranteed crowd pleasers.

From cucumber sandwiches to jam and scones, this comprehensive cookery book from the National Trust is chock full of recipes that go perfectly with a nice cup of tea. From cucumber sandwiches to jam and scones, this comprehensive cookery book from the National Trust is chock full of recipes that go perfectly with a cup of tea. Afternoon tea is the quintessential British ritual. And with over 100 tearooms across the country, the National Trust knows a thing or two about it.This gift-sized guide has delicious recipes for savory and sweet treats, whether you’re looking for a lively party, the last word in elegance or a hearty winter tea by the fire.From sandwiches and tarts to cakes, scones, macaroons and preserves – some are classic, some have a twist, such as cucumber sandwiches with minted cream cheese, toasted farmhouse bread with anchovy butter, the classic Victoria sponge, brandysnaps or scones.Plus there’s everything you need to know to brew the perfect pot of tea (not to mention the odd cocktail and bowl of punch).Food historian Laura Mason also includes some fascinating and amusing historical recipes that reveal how afternoon tea was taken in times gone by and the origins of some of our beloved dishes.

• A full-size folding map with over 600 National Trust and National Trust for Scotland places marked.• Packed with practical information and quirky trivia• Beautiful illustrations• Features the ‘UK 80’, a dream route around the best of the UKA must-have for National Trust and National Trust for Scotland members – and anyone who wants to plan amazing adventures in the UK. This full-size, double-sided, illustrated map marks over 600 National Trust and National Trust for Scotland properties and places, from country houses and castles to perfect beaches and breathtaking countryside. As well as all the practical information you need, like cities and towns, roads, railways and rivers, it provides a wealth of surprising and fun trivia too, like top 10s and the best place to go stargazing. And it’s all linked together with a dream route that you can try in whole or part, ‘The UK80’, a wonderful journey through the best of Britain.

A must-have cookbook and guide for food lovers who want to be greener A Good Appetite is packed with practical information and recipes for making the way you shop and cook more planet-friendly.There are brilliant bite-sized guides to everything from eating with the seasons, batch cooking and the best ways to use your freezer to foraging and growing some of your own food.And there are more than 50 delicious recipes that are designed to be adapted in hundreds of ways to suit what’s in season or your store cupboard. It’s the foundation of years of great meals.By avoiding food waste and stretching expensive ingredients, there’s a payoff for your pocket too, which is important in these thrifty times.Jenny Chandler has created an invaluable guide that can change the way you cook – for yourself, friends and family – for good.

Discover the history, legends and folklore of Britain’s most intriguing landmarks This beautifully illustrated book reveals the secrets and stories of fifty icons of Britain’s landscape.Some are natural wonders, such as Cheddar Gorge, Sherwood Forest and the white cliffs of Dover. Others were made by our distant ancestors: the standing stones of Avebury and Calanais, the Uffington White Horse, the burial mounds of Sutton Hoo.Discover how they came to be, the legends and traditions that surround them, and how they have inspired famous writers and poets. Reconnect with our ancient landscape with this fascinating and surprising guide..

Biscuits are the ultimate teatime treat. No cup of tea (or coffee) should be without one.This tempting collection of recipes from expert baker Linda Collister includes all the classics. There are ginger snaps and shortbread petticoat tails, deluxe chocolate chip cookies, Florentines and macarons, tiffin and flapjacks, as well as biscotti and savoury biscuits. And if you’re looking for something a little different, how about Chocolate, Sour Cherry and Pistachio Cookies? Sea Salt Praline Biscotti? Or Black Olive Palmiers? There’s a biscuit for every occasion.This beautifully illustrated book contains a generous side serving of history and is full of delicious tried-and-tested recipes that you’ll want to make again and again.

A beautiful and unique guide to Britain’s bees – a perfect gift for all gardeners and nature loversBees are much-loved and hugely important creatures. But most of us know next to nothing about them. There are actually over 200 species in this country. They live in burrows, holes in trees and even empty snail shells. They have favourite flowers. Some even sleep curled up in the blooms.They are more fascinating, beautiful and surprising than you can imagine. Once you start to notice bees, sitting in the garden or going for a stroll will never be the same.This handy little guide is the perfect way to start the journey. It’s beautifully illustrated and has a delightful and thoughtful text by one of Britain’s leading bee experts, Dave Goulson, author of the best-selling ‘Garden Jungle’.Discover mason bees and mining bees, cuckoo bees and carder bees, even a couple of convincing bee impersonators. Learn to distinguish your white-tailed bumblebee from your buff-tailed bumblebee, your pantaloon bee from your hairy-footed flower bee.

Escape reality and reconnect with natureJourney to 40 unforgettable getaways in Britain’s wild corners, from floating cabins to miniature castles, tree pods to moored boats. Lose yourself in cosy reading nooks after a day hillwalking in the Peak District, go foraging in Yorkshire’s woodlands, or warm up by the campfire after taking a dip in coastal Cornish waters. Stay in the heart of Wales’ myths and legends, or pitch up at the birthplace of scouting.These rural retreats are ideal for slowing down and switching off, with tips on local walks and watering holes on the doorstep. With spectacular photography on every page, just reading Wild Escapes is an escape in itself.

Information, inspiration, tips and trivia to help you make the most of your gardening yearThis guide to how to look after and enjoy your garden month by month is the ideal thoughtful gift for any gardener. It’s packed with inspiring writing and National Trust know-how that will help beginners and old hands alike.For each month, you’ll find:Something to pruneSomething to savourA task to start; a task to finishA thrifty projectHead gardener’s job of the month – advice from an NT expertPlant focus – spotlight on plants in seasonWildlife – what to look for, how to helpWeather charts – sunrise and sunset, average temperaturesTrivia – Facts too good to keep to yourselfQuotations – Wit and wisdom from famous gardeners, past and presentThere’s information on enjoying other gardens too – with dates for garden events around the country, including from the National Trust and RHS.

Positively Green is a guide to caring for the planet – and yourself.From journalist and Positive News partnerships editor Sarah LaBrecque, National Trust’s Positively Green is an informative and captivating guide to sustainable living. With chapters on energy, fashion, food and more, you’ll discover what works, what’s worth doing, and what’s not.Positively Green provides advice on how to reduce your environmental impact, all while easing climate anxiety and boosting mental wellbeing. From changing how you clean your home to putting food impacts into perspective, this book is the perfect resource for those wanting to limit their effect on the environment and reduce climate-based worries.Chapters include: A Green Home, Energy, Food and Drink, Fashion, Technology, Transport and Travel, and Nature. As well as useful tips and links for further information, the book features ‘Positivity Pauses’ – inspiring vignettes that pull in wisdom from leading thinkers, academics and writers about how to face the climate crisis with optimistic realism.

Discover the joy of growing and using plants indoors and outdoors, no matter how limited your space.This beautifully illustrated book is a modern, fresh take on gardening that shows how anyone can grow their own vegetables, create a mini wildflower meadow or learn how to make the most of their houseplants. And you don’t need your own garden to get started. Creating a thriving window box, choosing suitable plant pots for a desktop oasis or joining a local community garden are perfect ways to experience the joys of gardening.Learn which plants will encourage wildlife, discover what works best for your space (no matter how small), find inspiration, experiment with colour, texture and techniques. Whatever you choose to grow, you’ll be doing one of the best activities there is to enhance your sense of well-being and improve your physical health – so grab those seeds, pick up the watering can and get growing!

More than 100 poems about Britain's nature in a beautifully illustrated bookSeven chapters touch on different aspects of the British countryside, including seasons, birds and wildlife, woods, water, moors and mountains. This carefully chosen collection will inspire you to explore nature through a poet’s eye – the perfect antidote to ‘times when the world is too much with us’, as Wordsworth so beautifully put it.There are celebrated poems by the greats – Keats, Yeats, Tennyson, Robert Browning, Christina Rossetti, Philip Larkin, Sylvia Plath, John Masefield, Robert Burns, Dylan Thomas – as well as others by contemporary poets whose work you will want to seek out and explore further, including Carol Anne Duffy, Simon Armitage and Jean Sprackland. Where poems have links to National Trust sites, footnotes are included to explain the connections.

Versatile, nutritious and easy to cook – soup is the original one-pot wonder Inspired by soups from around the world, this beautifully illustrated book features 80 tried-and-tested recipes bursting with flavour, colour and goodness.From comforting classics to new and inspiring choices, you’ll be guided through the basics of making sensational soups. Find out how to swap ingredients, use up leftovers, and choose the right stocks, garnishes and accompaniments to turn this unsung hero into the star of the show.Whether you’re looking for a hearty meal-in-a-bowl or an elegant starter – or you just want to add a few more vegetarian and vegan recipes to your repertoire – this ultimate book of soups is one you’ll turn to again and again.

Supported by the National TrustQuirky and fascinating facts about Britain’s favourite subject – the weather.Includes all sorts of weird and wonderful weather words from around the country.Supercharge your small talk, never be stuck for something to say.Have you ever saved up for a rainy day, had your head in the clouds or generally felt under the weather? The British obsession with weather and the words we use to describe it have come to define us. We talk about it endlessly ­– five whole months of our lives to be precise. We use it to start conversations with complete strangers. It affects our moods, shopping habits and even how we vote. This book is packed with information you’ll want to share about this most important subject – quirky history, surprising facts, folklore, strange words and even stranger people.

Turn any beach into a treasure hunt with this beautifully illustrated book packed with surprising and delightful wonders of nature Looking for seashells and learning their names is the perfect way to explore Britain’s coastline at leisure. It’s a nostalgic simple pleasure, and a way to discover some of nature’s most exquisite wonders. From the common cockle to the blue-rayed limpet, The Shell Spotter’s Guide covers the beautiful and surprising range of mussels, oysters, periwinkles, scallops, cowries and whelks found on our beaches.This beautifully illustrated book written by marine biologist Helen Scales is the perfect companion for all aspiring shell spotters.

Dog-friendly country walks in Britain with places to eat and stay Supported by the National Trust, and includes their ‘pawprint rating’ system for dog-friendly placesBreathtaking walks that aren’t too challenging – 2-6 miles in length. Suggested stops.Walks are created with dogs in mind – all the info you need.Don’t just take your dog for a walk. Take your dog for one of Britain’s 100 best dog walks. These country routes are custom-made for you and your four-legged friend. Ranging from 2 to 6 miles, they cover the whole of the UK and take some of our most beautiful woods, coast, rolling hills and fields, not to mention fascinating and inspiring historic sites. For each walk, there’s a map and comprehensive directions, plus information on whether and where a lead is needed and suggestions for dog-friendly refreshment stops and accommodation nearby.

Information, inspiration, tips and trivia to help you make the most of your gardening year.Packed with new features and advice, the 2025 edition of this guide remains a perfect gift for any gardener. Month by month, there’s timely gardening advice and information from the National Trust, together with inspiring writing and beautiful illustrations.Every month include:Weather charts – sunrise and sunset, average temperaturesA task to start; a task to finishPruning made simpleA recycling projectIf you only do one thing…Crop of the monthSomething to savourHouse plant of the monthWildlflower focusTrivia – Facts too good to keep to yourselfQuotations – Wit and wisdom from famous gardeners, past and presentThere’s information on enjoying other gardens too – with dates for open gardens around the country, including from the National Trust and RHS.

Find edible wild plants in this seasonal foraging guide for beginners A friendly, honest guide for wary would-be foragersOnly plants that are easy to find, easy to identify and tastyClear photographic guides to the speciesWe all love the idea of foraging – as a way of being connected to nature and discovering new tastes. But in reality, most of us are very wary, and sometimes a bit underwhelmed when we do try. What’s needed is this totally honest, safety-first guide for softy first-time foragers. This book concentrates on 40 plants that are easy to identify and worth the effort – plants that are tasty and abundant in the wild or in gardens and parks. There are simple recipes to try as well. This isn’t an armchair guide for people dreaming of being Ray Mears or Bear Grylls. It’s for everyday people who lives in towns and suburbs as well as the countryside, and who want to get a little closer to nature and discover new tastes, without stress.

Supported by the National TrustThe latest medical and scientific research that shows connecting with nature is essential to our wellbeingEasy, small ways to feel the benefits, wherever you areA beautifully illustrated, inspirational and informative bookThis inspirational and informative guide shows how we can all benefit from spending more time in nature. Drawing on the latest research, it shows you don’t need to live in the countryside or have access to an abundance of green space to make valuable connections with the natural world around you. Often it’s the simple pleasures – like eating seasonally, identifying wild flowers, listening to birdsong, being close to water or nurturing a houseplant – that bring the greatest reward.Around the world, doctors have been experimenting with ‘prescribing' nature to help patients' wellbeing, and this book does just that. It can help you whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by the demands of modern life or just want to explore ways to slow down and truly appreciate the world around you.

Bake the best classic and modern cakes Supported by the National Trust, suppliers of fine cakes to the British public55 essential classic and modern cake recipes plus expert tips and techniquesLittle bits of interesting and quirky cake historyPacked with practical advice for baking the perfect cake every time, this beautifully illustrated book of tried-and-tested recipes includes all the classics – Coffee and Walnut Cake, Spiced Carrot Cake, Double Chocolate Brownies – as well as some new and exciting recipes to inspire and impress: Fresh Apricot, Saffron and Honey Cake; Sea Salt Caramel Sponge; Blood Orange Poppyseed Cake. Featuring loaf cakes, sponge cakes, small cakes and fruit cakes – with a side serving of cake-related history to go – these easy-to-follow recipes will appeal to anyone who enjoys a delicious homemade cake.

A beautiful tour of Britain’s greatest gardens, classic and modern. Inspiration and escapism for every gardener. A unique tour of thirty of Britain's most beautiful gardens, classic and modern. A great gift for gardeners on their days off or during the long winter nights – because gardening is as much about dreaming as doing.Packed with photographs, many specially commissioned, and evocative and entertaining text telling the stories of the gardens and the people who created them.The gardens range from legendary romantic gardens like Sissinghurst and Great Dixter to dramatic locations like Bodnant and Overbecks. There are intimate, historic walled gardens too, as well as gardens that point to the future, like Wildside, which works in harmony with nature. The book includes information on visiting all the gardens, and suggestions for the best times of year.

Discover the stories of Britain's greatest ghosts and ghouls with this spooky supernatural page turner, the perfect gift this Halloween. Supported by the National Trust, who look after many of the haunted locations.Beautifully atmospheric illustrations.Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these gripping accounts of eerie apparitions and paranormal activity are bound to capture your imagination. Brace yourself for a journey into the strange and supernatural world of some of Britain’s most historic and atmospheric places as we uncover the dark secrets and untimely fates of the people who once inhabited them.From mansions, inns and abbeys to forests, lakes and marshes – you’ll encounter smugglers, headless horsemen, mummified cats, phantom dogs, persecuted witches and many a lady in white in these uncanny tales from beyond the grave.

Fascinating and entertaining entries about Britain’s greatest dishes and ingredients.Includes recipes for 20 classics.Beautifully illustrated.Supported by the National Trust. Do you know your Bedfordshire clanger from your Dorset knob? Your Kentish cobnuts from your Cromer crab? This guide is packed with stories and facts about the food that makes Britain great. From regional specialities to national favourites, it explores our wonderful foodscape in all its diversity and vitality. You’ll find cherished classics alongside more recent additions – singing hinnies, pan haggerty and bara brith, as well as samosas, jerk chicken and urban honey. There are also some delicious recipes that make the most of locally produced ingredients to impress friends and family.

A beautiful gift filled with celebrations and customs. A fascinating journey through Britain’s folklore, season by season.Engaging text written by a folklore expert.Includes spells and charms from Britain’s folklore and magic.Shows where you can visit rituals and events today.Specially commissioned linocut illustrations throughout.Supported by the National Trust.Season by season, this book traces the colourful events, customs and rituals of Britain’s folklore and shows where you can visit many of them today. The book is studded with spells and charms too and has beautiful original linocut illustrations throughout.The book reveals the origins and history of some of our best-known customs like April Fool’s Day, maypole dancing and wassailing, and also introduces us to many lesser-known ones around the UK, such as Beating the Buns, Sanding the Streets, Hunting the Earl of Rone and Bawming the Thorn.There are entertaining (and often perilous) sporting traditions too, from worm-charming to wife-carrying, from nettle-eating to cheese-chasing.

100 delightful walks that reveal hidden treasures in our countryside – secret beaches, abandoned villages, mysterious caves, hidden waterfalls.Walks are 2-6 miles in length to maximise manageability.Every walk has ‘How to get there’ details and an easy-to-follow map, plus an OS Map reference.Supported by the National TrustThis is the curious walker’s guide to Britain’s most unique and unexpected destinations. In these pages you will discover rambling routes leading to secluded coves, secret beaches, lost lakes, abandoned villages, mysterious caves, fantastic follies and fossils, bizarre bothies, buried boats, weird woods, quirky cascades, covert wartime bases and bunkers, hidden hilltop memorials, ancient trees, storied shipwrecks, prehistoric tombs and idiosyncratic monuments celebrating wonderful moments of eccentricity throughout history.Whether you’re meandering through the countryside, ambling along the coast, wandering through woodlands or exploring city streets, the discovery of a secret transforms a simple stroll into a proper adventure.The routes are organised by region and graded according to degree of difficulty and suitability for families and dog owners. Each is accompanied by an easy to follow map and instructions on how to reach the trailhead.Secret Walks gives you cause to pause and take another look at the landscape that surrounds us; to contemplate some of the hidden treasures that lie waiting to be found, on well-trodden ground, let alone around the more remote corners of the country.Enjoy these trails of the unexpected.

A beautiful gift for fans of the BBC Hidden Treasures of the National Trust.Go behind the scenes with the National Trust as they uncover extraordinary stories and save our precious past. Accompanies a successful BBC series ‘Hidden Treaures of the National Trust’, on its 3rd season. Episodes average over 2m viewers.Explores unseen treasures in the National Trust’s care and their fascinating stories.Celebrates the skills and passion of the people who look after these objects.Foreword by Mary Beard.Supported by the National Trust.Accompanying the third series of this hugely successful BBC documentary, this book explores some of the Trust’s most treasured objects and places, uncovering their remarkable stories and celebrating the people who work behind the scenes to save them for the future, including curators, carpenters, conservators, cleaners, clock-makers, gardeners and volunteers. From digging up a lost castle to spring-cleaning a doll’s house, from restoring an Old Master painting to repairing an electric canoe, this is a unique treasure chest of intriguing and inspiring history. The third series of ‘Hidden Treasures of the National Trust’ will transmit in 2025. Six one-hour episodes, 9pm BBC2.

Information, inspiration, tips and trivia to help you make the most of your gardening year in 2026.Packed with new features and advice, the 2026 edition of this guide is a perfect gift for any gardener. Month by month, there’s timely gardening advice and information from the National Trust, together with inspiring writing and beautiful illustrations.Every month includes:Weather charts – sunrise and sunset, average temperaturesA task to start; a task to finishPruning made simpleA recycling projectIf you only do one thing…Crop of the monthSomething to savourHouse plant of the monthWildlflower focusTrivia – Facts too good to keep to yourselfQuotations – Wit and wisdom from famous gardeners, past and presentThere’s information on enjoying other gardens too – with dates for garden events around the country in 2026, including from the National Trust and RHS.

• How to make a beautiful garden that works better with nature.• Achievable, practical changes we can all make.• Benefits for health and wellbeing too.• Supported by the National Trust, who look after hundreds of Britain’s most important gardens. Does caring for your Garden ever feel like a battle with nature? Are you worried when you see a slug or snail? Do you wonder why you keep having to buy new plants? This book invites you to relax and think differently about the way you garden. You can bring nature closer to home while still having a garden to be proud of. Discover which plants, materials and techniques will attract wildlife to your garden and lower your ecological footprint.By rethinking how we care for our gardens we can start to work in harmony with nature, slow down and appreciate what we grow. This book is packed with advice about choosing plants which need less water and will last longer, creating places to attract wildlife and growing your own food.There are more than 20 million gardens in Britain – a bigger area than all our nature reserves combined – so it’s within our power to start building a greener, more sustainable environment. It’s time to embrace nature-friendly gardening – to welcome wildlife, benefit the planet and boost our sense of wellbeing.

A beautiful and unique little guide to Britain’s butterflies. A pocket-sized guide to every butterfly you’re ever likely to see in the UK.Beautifully illustrated and packed with surprising and delightful facts.Supported by the National Trust, who look after many of the UK’s butterfly hotspots.This beautifully illustrated little guide tells you everything you need to know about Britain’s butterflies. Whether you’re a beginner or an enthusiast, you will want to spot all of these winged wonders.All five families of British butterflies are featured – Skippers; Whites and Yellows; Browns, Fritillaries and Aristocrats; Metalmarks; Coppers, Hairstreaks and Blues – as well as five day-flying moths that are just as colourful and striking as their butterfly cousins.There are detailed descriptions and lifelike illustrations to help budding butterfliers or seasoned spotters identify these ‘jewels of nature’s crown’. This handy book, compiled by passionate butterfly spotter and naturalist Matthew Oates, is the perfect companion for anyone interested in exploring the wonderful world of British butterflies.