The National Trust Mark World Heritage Day with Hands–On Activities

The National Trust will mark World Heritage Day on Thursday 18th April with a wild flower plug planting session at its World Heritage site, the Giant’s Causeway. A time to celebrate and promote cultural heritage, a wall will also be unveiled in the Visitor Centre showcasing all–natural world heritage sites worldwide.

As a leading conservation charity, the National Trust will celebrate by inviting visitors to the Giant’s Causeway to take part in a planting session from 2 – 4pm, where rangers will plant the fauna in the shape of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) logo.

Only countries that have signed the World Heritage Convention, an agreement to protect heritage sites, can be included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. But in order to be listed a site must meet at least one of the organisation’s strict criteria. Acclaimed as ‘beautiful’ and ‘important’, the Giant’s Causeway meets two and has enjoyed over 30 years of UNESCO World Heritage Site status – a title that brings with it global recognition and importance.

Commenting on the conservation work at the Giant’s Causeway, Max Bryant, General Manager at The National Trust said: “World Heritage Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the diversity and relevance of heritage and learn about the needs and benefits of its conservation. We know how much the Causeway is valued by both the local community and international visitors and we are passionate about preserving and protecting this special place. We are looking forward to the planting coming to fruition and the logo and the new wall being on display for everyone to see.”

The theme for this year’s World Heritage Day, proposed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, is to raise awareness about the relevance of rural landscapes, the challenges that encompass their conservation, the benefits that these efforts provide, and how rural landscapes are intrinsically related with sustainable development.

For more information on the World Heritage Day activities at the Giant’s Causeway visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway