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Original poster

National Trust

181 replies

UncleBillyLostHisWilly · 21/03/2020 14:48

AIBU to think the National Trust have made the wrong decision to allow free entry in the current Covid-19 pandemic?

I live near a NT site and the place has been swarmed today, cars abandoned all over the place and mass swarms of people of all ages congregating in quite a small area.

Surely this goes against the advise of social distancing?

What were the NT thinking when they made this decision I do not know but there is a difference between going out to get some fresh air on a country walk as opposed the opening up well known tourist attractions for the masses to descend on and socialise.

OP posts:
Wauden · 21/03/2020 23:54

That will teach the masses who enjoyed the fresh air and beautiful places. Hmm

ChristmasCarcass · 22/03/2020 00:04

Also, unless you are following the full self-isolation guidelines (separate washing and cooking facilities, him staying in one room and having food left outside the door, etc), just sitting at opposite ends of the sofa isn’t going to do much good.

Though I do agree about social isolation in general. Just not really practicable within the same household for the length of time needed (probably six months, realistically).

Alsohuman · 22/03/2020 00:10

unless you are following the full self-isolation guidelines (separate washing and cooking facilities, him staying in one room and having food left outside the door, etc), just sitting at opposite ends of the sofa isn’t going to do much good

Those things apply if one of you has symptoms. We don’t. He’s a hypochondriac.

stuckinthemiddlewithtwats · 22/03/2020 00:40

@Oldieandgoldie yes he did. Found a quiet spot with no one around, he proposed and then we got out of there before anyone could breathe near us Confused. It was where we had our first date so he really wanted to propose at that place.

ffswhatnext · 22/03/2020 01:30

I'm not being ridiculous.
You think because you share a toilet with someone you are immune to catching something from them?
The distance remains the same regardless of where you are.

You may think it's ridiculous. Unfortunately, there will be lots of households in the UK alone who have to socially isolate themselves. from each other. Many live in households where there is someone in the at-risk group. With summer colds and seasonal flu, they have to put themselves into isolation on a regular basis.

Never mind popping in the car for a nice day out doesn't come under essential travel.

After self-isolating, 7 days later, jump in the car together. And when you get out, keep a safe distance.

Sounds like as well as someone to guard supermarkets to keep staff safe, we also need roadblocks to ensure, all the none essential travel stops.

agonyauntie2020 · 22/03/2020 03:48

Cynical I know but I agree it's a ruse to pre-empt being asked for refunds since properties are closed. I got signed up to the NT for a family membership in a car park once by a guy who said I could cancel if I decided I didn't want the membership. Well it took a year of back and forth and finally they admitted their error in not canceling but declined to give me even a penny of a refund, despite admitting their error and continued direct debit for 6 months, saying they were a charity and they couldn't afford it. Outrageously badly run membership office if you ask me. And I am not a fan of their land stewarding either (damage to sheep farms etc). So I think this decision is all about their money and not about helping people get outside. And even when it's pointed out to them it's encouraging congregation and violation of social distancing, they won't stop.

EarringsandLipstick · 22/03/2020 04:08

Congratulations @stuckinthemiddlewithtwats 💍 that's lovely!

EarringsandLipstick · 22/03/2020 04:14

ffswhatnext
You think because you share a toilet with someone you are immune to catching something from them?

You've got it the wrong way around! If you share a house with someone, you are touching door handles, sharing bathrooms, plates, cutlery and so on. Whether you avoid touching or not makes no difference.

Social distancing requires that you limit your wider circle of contact to reduce catching it. Observe good hand hygiene within the home. Trying to stay apart within the home as you suggest has no effect.

ffswhatnext · 22/03/2020 04:22

It does if those within the home also take a few precautions.

If it was impossible to avoid family members catching something. Impetigo for example, highly infectious. It's possible to stop others within the home catching it. Stomach bug, one toilet, again possible to stop others from catching it. Colds and flu are trickier, but again possible to stop it from taking down the whole family.

Tescodelivery · 22/03/2020 06:17

I'm so glad NT parks have now closed completely.

They were swamped yesterday by idiots treating it as if it were a bank holiday.

user1471605495 · 22/03/2020 06:50

To those NT members worrying about membership refunds. Stop it! Start worrying about how many people will die!

Take action.
Flatten the curve.

If corona has taken away your livelihood then of course request refunds from places if that is the only way you have to feed your family.

If the virus hasn't taken away your livelihood then don't ask for refunds. We have to spread the cost. In fact, if corona hasn't affected your livelihood then keep paying for everything you can even if it is cancelled.

I say this as an NT member.

Prawnvolauxvent · 22/03/2020 07:05

Completely agree with the above post, well written.

mabelbagel · 22/03/2020 07:48

National Trust was stupid to open up for free, what did they expect. Brainless.

FrankieManca · 22/03/2020 08:07

Ironically we never really see other dog walkers on any of our three daily walks but today, on being asked to stay at home, every man and his dog is out. People are just stupid

So it was alright for you to walk your dog but not them ? Confused

People are doing things at different times. People who normally take the dog out before or after work can do it in daylight, for example.

LOL at all the posts on this thread by people who had gone out and were complaining about all the other people who had gone out.

hopeishere · 22/03/2020 08:44

It was a nice idea but as someone said people are morons.

In two weeks time when there's no beds, not enough ventilators and 100s dying every day will people finally understand? I doubt it.

I truly despair.

WhentheDealGoesDown1 · 22/03/2020 08:59

DH and I are NT members and won't be asking for a refund, hopefully they will be able to open in some part later in the year, maybe to members only if limited opening.

JudyCoolibar · 22/03/2020 09:15

They may well end up extending memberships to account for the shut-down.

Aragog · 22/03/2020 09:36

I think they will end up having to close due to people not taking heed of the advise.

I'm hoping it was just a blip this weekend if people using it as their last time out, and be sensible thereafter. Then they could stay open or maybe they could restrict entry somehow to only a certain number at a time.

I know Clumber Park have now closed their gates due to the amount of people who descended that it was impossible to maintain social distancing.

We did go out but not to NT or a park. Just the countryside walking distance from the house. I know we are lucky to have this in our sights. For the vast majority of the 2.5 hours out we didn't see a soul. Only hearing home did we see people and even then at a distance and definitely more than 2 metres away.

Bogg · 22/03/2020 10:02

You only have to read a quarter of the posts on this thread to understand why Italy went the way it has done and why we are also heading that way. Social distancing doesn't mean that everyone flocks to woodland (because it's spread out) and walks two metres apart. It means that you stay at home as much as possible and avoid being anywhere near people as much as possible. The two metres apart is basic guidance for in busy places like supermarkets. We are not going to get on top of this virus any time soon because of the idiocy of the British people. Stay at home!

Tescodelivery · 22/03/2020 10:33

I just can't understand the mentality of people whose first thought is
'Will I get a refund?'
Do you even know what the NT is about?

NT are a charitable organisation. The parks still need to be looked after and maintained in our absence. NT won't be leaving them to overgrow, deteriorate!
Management of estates will continue!

RandomlyChosenName · 22/03/2020 10:50

  1. Please don’t cancel membership if you can afford not to. Your membership pays the wages of the lady you bought your coffee from in the cafe last month. If everyone cancels membership, she will loose her job as the NT can’t afford to pay the staff if people on mass cancel memberships. The NT still has costs when they are closed. The places still need to be cared for.

  2. Any limiting numbers of people or members only options involve Staff or volunteers being there in social contact with people and therefore unnecessarily putting their lives at risk. The NT had two options- close completely or open for free. They tried open for free but because of the number of people who saw “free” and wanted something for nothing they now have to close.

The gates don’t open and close by magic.

Original poster
UncleBillyLostHisWilly · 22/03/2020 11:25

@RandomlyChosenName
They didn't just have 2 options.
They could of left it as usual and had a considerably lower turnout thus reducing risk to everyone including their staff.

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 22/03/2020 13:31

I am a NT member, as is my daughter , we had no issue with them closing , I expected them to close , we did have an issue with making it a free for all .Before the free to everyone we ( both high risk with various ailments) were taking our dog to local places , by opening it to masses of people meant we couldn’t access places at all because we knew they would be too busy ( we also have a lead reactive dog) . So basically I would have been paying for everybody but me to have access .

OffToSingapore · 22/03/2020 19:30

I’ll be called selfish for saying this, but I’m glad this free entry thing has been stopped. Even if it has resulted in everywhere being closed.

National Trust members got a really shit deal here: we pay membership and we can’t access any of the houses for the foreseeable future, with no right to a refund/discount (totally sensible and not their fault, I’m not complaining about this part). But then we also see our local properties packed with non-members getting freebies (I had to stay away from my favourite NT place this week because I knew the tiny car park would be full of non-members taking advantage of the offer).

Whereas non-members get all the good bits: free entry to the grounds/gardens and free car parking. It doesn’t seem very fair. The NT could at least have thrown a few cake vouchers our way, as a little perk for members when the cafes reopen.

It’s a shame they didn’t go the other way and allow access to members only (and suspend new membership applications). Although with how everything’s going they probably would have decided to close up soon enough anyway.

mabelbagel · 22/03/2020 19:58

Members moaning about membership - membership is not hugely expensive, in fact it's very cheap for what you get - £6.40 a month for free entry everywhere, free parking , magazines etc. That's the cost of less than three coffees. Bargain and should be more expensive imo.

Memberships for everywhere are null and void right now, it's not just NT. Yes people were allowed in free for ONE DAY, but it shouldn't have been open in the first place.