To think the NT need to reopen their houses.

[Toddlerteaplease]

They already have online booking systems, many houses already have a timed entry system. And they already have one way visitor routes. I don't know why it's taking so long!

(Disclaimer, I'm going on holiday next week and NT properties were a big part of my itinerary!)

I'd guess most of their volunteers are retired and don't want to spend full days indoors in a possibly coronavirus-ridden environment.
Is it even fair to ask them?

Most of the 'staff' in the houses are volunteers and the majority are over 70. So not as easy as having one way systems.

My guess is because they rely on volunteers to staff the rooms, and most of those volunteers are of an age where they may be wary of exposing themselves to lots of people.

Looks like they're starting to open up some soon:
<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/how-to-book-your-visit-and-what-to-expect&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjDsau-48nqAhVsVBUIHcelC_YQFjABegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw0nCKGOVJKh43cZ3WACUaTH" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?q=www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/how-to-book-your-visit-and-what-to-expect&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjDsau-48nqAhVsVBUIHcelC_YQFjABegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw0nCKGOVJKh43cZ3WACUaTH

No - volunteers are elderly.

We have like two NT properties very close to us a couple of miles away and to be honest the one way system has really sucked the joy out of them!

Because those roped off areas aren’t big enough to allow social distancing.

Because most of their volunteers, who do the room stewarding, are post retirement age and many won’t come back, and they can’t keep them 2m from the public in the rooms even if they can muster enough.

Because you can’t use sanitizer on historic surfaces and items.

Because people seem incapable of following rules so would bunch up once inside.

They are, the first few are opening this week. Limited numbers, booked timeslot etc. They are all so different, I can well imagine not all will be able to open, or perhaps not open fully.

I think they are staffed by volunteers, many who are older.

If you want more to open maybe you could consider being a volunteer in a local one to help out, if you have the time. They probably need more younger volunteers on their books at the moment.

Just here to mention that the volunteers are older. I don't think anyone has mentioned that yet.

I visited a NT garden at the weekend and a volunteer there told me that they are opening up 7 houses in a trial very soon. I believe they will try different ways with each house as a model to see which works best and if they can open up the others.

Wow really? Have you considered that they are trying to find a safe way to do so?

Yabu

BBC Breakfast shows some are opening up quite soon ,with measures in place for Social Distancing and so on .Dont know whether shops or cafe is open though .

bother the cafés being open its the loos that are more important -are they open?

My SiL has been volunteering as a guide for our local NT property for the past 5 years. Shes not going back this year because she's worried about carrying the virus home to my bil and our inlaws who are all vulnerable. And she's 10 years younger than the rest of the volunteers.

I agree that NT need to find some way of reopening, they are being financially crippled.But it's not as easy as you are making out.

So in other words, you don't want to have to find something else to do on holiday, you'd rather volunteers put themselves at risk?

Would you be willing to pay more for NT properties so they can employ younger workers?

There was an item on exactly this from Lyme Park this morning on BBC Breakfast. They're starting with a few properties first.

mumwon, the places that have already opened are doing a one in one out system. A lot of our toilets aren't now fit for purpose. The handwashing and drying facilities are rubbish.

They are opening up a few, but it is a tricky balancing act as others say, because of the age of the volunteers.

Someone I know has already been "sacked" from a similar volunteering job in a property that is open because of very, very minor health issues that simply wouldn't even come under discussion if it weren't for Covid. This is a far larger building where there is no need to cram people together by roping off vulnerable items. Even so, they don't feel it is safe for him to come in.

@wowfudge, I saw that too, my ears pricked up when they showed us Petworth.

Anyone who likes paintings and lives within a reasonable distance would be well advised to visit, they have an amazing collection of Turners. I had no idea, and must have driven past Petworth House hundreds of times before actually visiting.

The demographic is particularly vulnerable.

thanks @Ponoka7 for the information
I feel sympathy for all charities at the moment especially as they mostly run by & rely on older volunteers who are wonderful - & we need to support them - we chose to keep paying even if we couldn't visit - they gave us a choice to stop paying while they were closed

I thought most NT places more or less had a one way system anyway.

I'd be quite happy if the volunteers weren't there, it's a bit intimidating when they jump on you when you enter a room and spend 10 minutes telling you the minutiae of detail about something and are often so sycophantic about previous owners/residents. I guess they need someone to watch the room, but given they're usually elderly anyway they can't really be expected to take on someone who is stealing or damaging something, so why bother at all.

I thought the NT made a massive meal of all of this. They could have opened the outdoor sections much more widely much earlier.

MumWon Dont know about loos ,but would have thought they would be open anyway ,as Gardens/grounds have been open dont forget.

@mumwon

bother the cafés being open its the loos that are more important -are they open?

Yes, in my area. With some changes for social distancing.