Sustainable decision making - change in National Trust collections conservation

How do organizations navigate change and remain viable for the future while remaining true to their core purpose? The National Trust's development of its Conservation Principles in 2008 was in response to the continuing need to rearticulate its purpose and vision in a changing socio-economic climate. They take account of the principles and charters produced by national and international conservation organizations. In fact, their timing serendipitously reflected the publication of those of English Heritage. This article is by one of the authors chiefly responsible for producing the Conservation Principles, working alongside the full range of conservation professionals involved in the National Trust's work. It explains how one set of principles can encompass butterflies and books, farms and furniture, coast and country houses. It will discuss how the Trust is developing the use of these principles to help the non-conservation specialists who manage our properties take decisions that are well founded not only in improving conservation and the environment, but which also address other sustainability factors to provide finance and social benefits, in particular through the way that conservation and access need to be considered as mutually beneficial rather than in conflict.