Yesterday, our Director, Natalie, joined Ben Goldsborough, MP for South Norfolk to meet with Sarah Jones, Minister of State for Policing and Crime, to highlight the increasingly urgent challenge of heritage and rural crime at both local and national levels. This meeting provided us an opportunity to outline the real and escalating impact of these crimes on our sites — from repeated and costly damage, to the mounting strain placed on our volunteers, staff, and limited resources. Ensuring that these issues are understood by government is important to help us to look after these Nationally Important places in our care.
“As Director, I appreciated the opportunity to ensure that heritage crime is recognised as a pressing national issue. We are committed to working collaboratively to protect the historic landscapes in our care, continuing the legacy of a hundred years of our work to safeguard these irreplaceable places for future generations.”
— Natalie, NAT Director
Natalie emphasised the significance of safeguarding these irreplaceable places and the importance of working collaboratively to strengthen national responses to heritage and rural crime. We are encouraged by the shared commitment shown during the meeting and hopeful that increased national awareness, combined with stronger partnership working, will lead to meaningful and long‑term solutions.
Protecting our heritage is a responsibility we all share — and yesterday’s discussions represent a powerful step forward in ensuring these precious places can be safeguarded for generations to come.
Photo credit: Ben Goldsborough.
Please contact Natalie directly for further information: info@norfarchtrust.org.uk
