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Explora: Environment
and Resource Conservation, recreation, or both?

importance of NTS’ networks of influence, cultivated in country park in the late 1960s. The idea’s roots lay in a
particular by Jamie Stormonth Darling during his tenure burgeoning desire for access to the countryside that
as NTS Secretary, and the prominence of partnership as began in the first half of the 20 century, accelerated by a
th
a means to achieving the desired outcome. The second massive expansion in car ownership during the 1950s and
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booklet also emphasises partnership, alongside the need 1960s; by 1966, 45% of British households owned a car,
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to educate visitors, sustaining and stimulating interest in and much larger numbers of newly mobile people now
the disciplines the Trust seeks to showcase. The most wished to enjoy leisure time in countryside settings. Their
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effective treatment of NTS history is that of Bremner, who numbers, and their sometimes inappropriate behaviour,
explores this chronologically, identifying different themes attracted strong criticism from rural interests, and several
and priorities – funding, partnership, voluntarism, for commentators noted the paradox of large numbers of
example – as each gained prominence. The book achieves visitors damaging the very scenic quality and tranquillity
its probable objective of celebrating the Trust’s work over they wished to enjoy. Perhaps the most influential
a 70-year period but lacks a more penetrative and critical argument came in a 1965 article by Michael Dower, in
analysis. 21 which he not only described the present ‘battalions of
It is therefore helpful to find Calder giving attention to the cars…pour[ing] out of the city,’ but also forecast an
context in which the NTS works, an approach that allows her apocalyptic millennium in 2000 if the problem were
to discuss more freely the difficulties and tensions the NTS allowed to grow unchecked. 29
had to grapple with. An important example of this is her Dower suggested setting aside countryside specifically
treatment of ‘Unna’s rules,’ conditions set by the celebrated for recreation, an idea taken up in a Government
mountaineer Percy Unna, who generously donated to NTS announcement introducing the country park as a new
for the acquisition of several iconic Scottish wild areas – under landscape designation, leading to the Countryside
stringent conditions. These ‘rules’ included restricted public (Scotland) Act of 1967, which gave Scottish local
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access to protect the land’s wilderness quality, and banning authorities powers to create country parks and offered
field sports, signage, or access improvements, conditions grant support of up to 75% to assist with this. The parks
readily accepted by the NTS at the time. However, these would provide a wider choice of countryside destinations
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‘rules’ did not anticipate later growth in enthusiasm for public for motorists, thus reducing congestion at scenic sites,
exploration of wild land, a trend the NTS has found difficult and spaces where insensitive behaviour would be less
to resist, which has, in turn, led to accusations of failing to problematic. The parks would not need to be especially
honour the donor’s original intentions. 24 attractive in themselves but would have to look the part

This illustrates one of the great tensions affecting and provide for motorists’ essential needs, including
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the NTS’ work: the need to maintain a balance between parking, toilets and litter disposal. The underlying idea
conservation on the one hand, and public enjoyment on the was separation, removing vehicles and disruptive activities
other. This problem was by no means confined to Scotland: into less sensitive spaces, and leaving scenic beauty to
the NT’s chairman asserted in 1966 that ‘The trust’s job those better able to appreciate it. This was a perspective
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is not to involve itself in the entertainment industry;’ shared, at least initially, by the NT, whose Annual Report in
responding to a growing enthusiasm, described in detail 1968 noted the importance of distinguishing the needs of
by Tinniswood, whereby country house owners in England those wanting ‘a happy day in pleasant rural surroundings’
developed ‘attractions’ to draw visitors in, ranging from from those wanting ‘a special experience…of tranquil
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safari-park animals to naturist conventions. The NTS beauty or rugged grandeur.’ It is not difficult to discern
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may have balked at ideas of this type, but always recognised an underlying elitism in this approach, with the masses
the importance of attracting visitors and keeping their encouraged to use more expendable countryside while
interest; Stirling-Maxwell was committed to this view from beauty was reserved for a more cultured and appreciative
the outset, describing the NTS in 1936 as ‘a cabinet … audience.
where [valuable things] will be perfectly safe,… and where On the face of it, country parks would therefore seem
they are open to be seen and enjoyed by everyone.’ This to have little connection to the work of the NTS. They
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balance has proved delicate, however, because increasing were not expected to be the places of natural beauty that
visitor numbers, while generating welcome revenue, has were the NTS’ focus, but rather landscapes of expediency,
also presented problems of facilities provision, visitor acting as magnets for motorists for whom any countryside
management, and pressures on-site quality. would suffice and thus protecting scenic and heritage
It was this same tension between conservation and properties from being overrun. However, the NTS took a
recreational access that lay behind the creation of the very active interest in country parks, and it is interesting

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 3 doi: 10.36922/eer.5890