In conversation: The National Trust in Cumbria episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 2, 2026 · 33 MIN

In conversation: The National Trust in Cumbria

from Northern Lights · host Nigel Thompson

The geese are making their presence felt on the shores of Derwentwater as watery sunshine and the odd crisp clump of snowdrops hint at warmer days to come.The National Trust is the biggest conservation charity in Europe. The breadth and depth of the charity’s role is varied and maybe nowhere more so than in Cumbria.Yet news that the charity had to cut around 500 jobs nationally to save £26 million caused concern about the impact change could have in the county.In this edition we meet Jez Westgarth, the National Trust’s Assistant Director Operations for Cumbria and North Lancashire, who talks to the podcast about the changes and challenges the charity faces plus his hopes for the future.

The geese are making their presence felt on the shores of Derwentwater as watery sunshine and the odd crisp clump of snowdrops hint at warmer days to come.The National Trust is the biggest conservation charity in Europe. The breadth and depth of the charity’s role is varied and maybe nowhere more so than in Cumbria.Yet news that the charity had to cut around 500 jobs nationally to save £26 million caused concern about the impact change could have in the county.In this edition we meet Jez Westgarth, the National Trust’s Assistant Director Operations for Cumbria and North Lancashire, who talks to the podcast about the changes and challenges the charity faces plus his hopes for the future.

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In conversation: The National Trust in Cumbria

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The geese are making their presence felt on the shores of Derwentwater as watery sunshine and the odd crisp clump of snowdrops hint at warmer days to come.The National Trust is the biggest conservation charity in Europe. The breadth and depth of the...

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