For Ever, For Everyone

The National Trust, established in 1895, is a non-government charity organization of England, which has important influence on the international environmental protection cause. It was founded against the deteriorating background of life environment and social order of England at the end of 19^th century, and its aim was to protect permanently the typical historic interests and natural beauties of England for British people.This dissertation is divided into four major parts: the social background of its establishment, its environmental protection actions, its principles and methods, and its contribution and influence. The social background part reveals that the establishment of the National Trust was not only a result of mediating the contradiction between economy development and environmental protection, but the need to inherit and glorify British culture and traditions. Through the analysis of the second part, the third part concludes the principles and methods of the National Trust in environmental protection actions. The principles of its protection are for ever, for everyone,protecting legally, no accepting without self-supporting, and non-government while the methods are emphasizing publicity, utilizing all kinds of social capitals actively, and managing financial expenditure respectively. Based on the former three parts, the fourth part analyzes the National Trust's contribution and influence from two aspects: its inheriting and glorifying of British historical culture and traditions, and its influence on all levels of British people. With the analysis of the fourth part, this article explains the important contribution the National Trust had made in inheriting and glorifying British historic culture and traditions. It also explains the significant influence on British people from household to commons.As a folk force, the National Trust's environmental protection actions are one complement of government functions of that cause, and it also is the expansion of England social folk charity traditions and it's range. The National Trust's actions are the result of dealing with the relationship between pre-industrial traditions and the need of industrialization properly. It was not only one important witness of the continuity of British history, but also one significant part of it.