Nottingham Trent University and National Trust mark strategic partnership with formal Memorandum of Understanding
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and the National Trust have celebrated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), formally recognising a long-established and wide-ranging relationship between the two organisations.
By Sarah McLeod | Published on 12 May 2026
The MOU establishes a Strategic Partnership that will support the National Trust’s new strategy, People and Nature Thriving, with a shared focus on restoring nature, ending unequal access to nature, beauty and history, and inspiring millions more people to care for and take action for the environment.
This partnership is the National Trust’s first Strategic Partnership with a university in the Midlands and East of England region.
A celebration event, held at NTU’s Brackenhurst campus, brought together colleagues from across NTU and the National Trust to reflect on current collaborations and explore opportunities for future joint working.
Historically, NTU and the National Trust have worked together across a wide range of disciplines and Schools. Collaborative activity spans peatland management, carbon foot printing and sustainability initiatives, visitor experience, diversity and inclusion, social prescribing, faith and nature, and improving access to green and historic spaces. This work engages students, researchers and academic staff at all levels.
The event also welcomed Austin Brady, Independent Chair of the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s (EMCCA) Nature & Biodiversity Taskforce, who shared insights into EMCCA’s priorities and highlighted the importance of partnership working to support nature recovery and the region’s visitor economy.
Dawn Scott, Executive Dean, School of Animal Rural & Environmental Sciences (ARES) at Nottingham Trent University, said: “This Strategic Partnership with the National Trust builds on many years of successful collaboration and creates a strong framework for the future. By bringing together our research, teaching and civic mission with the National Trust’s leadership in caring for nature, beauty and history, we can make a meaningful contribution to restoring nature, widening access and inspiring positive environmental action across our region.”
“We are delighted to celebrate this announcement with Nottingham Trent University” said Emma Hawthorne, Assistant Director for the National Trust in the Midlands and East of England. “We have already achieved a much greater impact through working together, and this next chapter enables us to continue this partnership, supporting our ambitious new strategy for both people and nature to thrive.
“Collaborating with students and academics alike enables the National Trust to better restore habitats for nature, take action to mitigate climate change, and improve access to nature and history for the benefit of everyone.”
NTU and the National Trust hope the partnership will continue to foster innovative research, impactful student learning opportunities and practical projects that support nature recovery, tackle inequality in access to green and historic spaces, and contribute to a thriving visitor economy across the Midlands and East of England.
Notes for Editors
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About Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has been named UK ‘University of the Year’ five times in six years, (Times Higher Education Awards 2017, The Guardian University Awards 2019, The Times and Sunday Times 2018 and 2023, Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023) and is consistently one of the top performing modern universities in the UK.
It is the 3rd best modern university in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023). Students have voted NTU 1st in the UK for student employability (Uni Compare 2025)
NTU is the 5th largest UK institution by student numbers, with over 40,000 students and more than 4,400 staff located across six campuses. It has an international student population of almost 7,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.
NTU owns two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for outstanding achievements in research (2015, 2021). The first recognises NTU’s research on the safety and security of global citizens. The second was awarded for research in science, engineering, arts and humanities to investigate and restore cultural objects, buildings and heritage. The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent.
NTU was awarded GOLD in the national 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment, as it was in 2019.
NTU is a top 10 for sport (British Universities and Colleges Sport league table 2023).
NTU is the most environmentally sustainable university in the UK and second in the world (UI Green Metric University World Rankings, 2023).
About National Trust
The National Trust is an independent conservation charity founded in 1895 to preserve historic and natural places in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and open them up for everyone to enjoy. 131 years later and that mission is still at the heart of what we do.
Over the next decade, our cause will be delivered through our People & Nature Thriving strategy. We have three ambitious goals: to restore nature - not just on National Trust land, but everywhere; to end unequal access to nature, beauty and history; and to inspire millions more people to care and take action.
With our 5.3m members, 40,000 volunteers, and our supporters, partners and communities, we collectively represent a cause that's bigger than just ourselves: it's about caring for nature and heritage everywhere, for everyone, for ever.