National Trust Offering Free Entry to grounds for the duration

[SarahInAccounts]

A lovely idea for those socially isolating. Wide open spaces at no charge.

We're members anyway but I hope people make donations to keep the NT going.

I know - I saw their message this morning that it was for safety reasons because people weren't abiding by the social distancing rules.

I just don't understand the stupidity of some people. They've ruined a wonderful gesture from the National Trust. It is just so sad. That was a place we were hoping to be able to use for quiet walks.

If we all come out of this with our mental health in tact, I'll be surprised. Mine's feeling shaky already. And DH, who is normally so calm & rational, admitted he has bad anxiety. The DC are climbing the walls (autism & ADHD). It will be bad and it can only get worse.

The reality really wasn’t hitting those people.

Maybe if the price of parking wasn't so prohibiting, they wouldn't have been overwhelmed by those for whom it may be their first visit, or only chance?
The fact so many people were going just shows how greedy the National Trust have been so far.

My friends site had thousands yesterday. Normally it’s hundreds.

@Catting I don't understand your logic. Why would the prohibitive price of parking have meant so many visitors yesterday?

@ImaginaryCat perhaps because normally the cost puts people off, but now it's free they're going.

I don’t think the National Trust is expensive at all, not if you have an annual pass. You can get a hell of a lot for the money if you use it even more than a few times a year.

It was a misjudged gesture. Beautiful weather, everywhere else closed, Mother's Day weekend, free entry. They were bound to be mobbed. Glad to see they have closed now. We have an annual pass too and find it very good value for money.

I pay £10 a month don’t call that prohibitive 🤷‍♀️

It wasn’t just the NT. Chester Zoo had to do the same. Anywhere you could go was rammed. It’s too soon, people haven’t got the message yet...

I know. The gesture and lifeline for many has been spoilt by people who can’t follow instructions. I’m hoping they may well quietly relax this over the coming weeks when Mother’s Day etc is over so that people can still use the spaces.
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It was such a lovely idea! But it backfired when EVERYONE turned up!

Yes, gorgeous day here
Fountains abbey or benign rough hall for us

Are they all about to close now- parks and gardens?

And apparently not

@ImaginaryCat , it's usually £5 for parking no matter how long you stay.

That's just too much for most people who only want a walk, especially if there are free places to be (ie, the places we are asked not to be)

People who went were probably going there as an alter to being in a more busy place, not knowing it was going to be the busy place. We are not idiots for not being fortune tellers.

It's places like coast or inland walks that are open/free. Malham yarn, form by, heysham coast.

I do feel that this is why we can’t have nice things because people spoil them. Wales is saying they might shut snowdonia national park due to the amount of people going. Use your brains and don’t get everything locked down