Merlin Waterson traces the remarkable development of the tiny charity, founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley, into a world famous conservation body protecting over 240,000 hectares of countryside, 500 miles of coastline, some 200 historic houses and 160 great gardens.
"The Trust is a nobly thing, and humanly speaking - immortal. There are some silly mortals connected with it, but they will pass" - Beatrix Potter
