visit search arrange a visit special events contemporary arts and theatre environment coastline science in trust evaluation contact us education group membership fellowships research	Coastline The coastline of England, Wales and Northern Ireland is approximately 3,100 miles long. Nearly one mile in every five is protected by the National Trust. Today the Trust safeguards 53,000 hectares of coastal hinterland to provide vital protection and management. The National Trust spends £3 million a year on buying coastal land. Many people support this work with generous donations. Recently, the Trust has added its voice to the Marine Charter, a call for reform of law and policies relating to the seas around Britain, aimed at protecting their ecology and the social and economic needs of people whose lives depend on them. The charter has been produced by Wildlife and Countryside Link, and you can view it in PDF format here. We have a special Surf the Coast site, which carries details about our ongoing campaign to preserve our country's coastline.