Hilary McGrady, National Trust Director General

The National Trust could lose £200 million this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Trust has asked the Government for “urgent, practical” support after several projects have been forced to stop.

The NT had to close its homes, parks and gardens when lockdown was introduced.

Hilary McGrady, the NT’s Director General said “a sharp drop in income” is threatening the country’s environmental sector.

She said: “We lost about 50% of our annual income literally overnight.”

Ms McGrady urged ministers to step in and “address nature, wildlife and environmental organisations with an immediate offer of support”.

And she called on the Government to be environmentally minded in its economic recovery plan.

She said: “Delivering green infrastructure will create new jobs and makes economic sense and there have been some encouraging signs from Government.

“No doubt some will argue for high-tariff fixes […] in some cases cutting back on environmental checks and spending to deliver these.

“Others will want the Government to dilute its proposed new nature-friendly farming legislation.

“They must not win.

“If we sacrifice the environmental progress we have made, everyone will suffer.”