Managing Heritage Landscapes of Cultural Value: A View from the National Trust Portfolio in Purbeck, Southern England

This chapter will explore themes and issues in the management of landscapes of cultural value using as a core case study the National Trust portfolio on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset (UK). Key ideas and issues to be drawn out include: an assessment of the challenges faced by the National Trust in a post-COVID-19 environment in managing and interpreting portfolios based on natural landscapes, coastal sites, prehistoric and later archaeological sites and post-industrial and military training spaces, and above all, how the Trust engages with local stakeholders and navigates issues around climate change and tourist pressure. Recent political interest in the work and outreach of the National Trust will also be considered within this context.