The National Trust

[David Nicholson]

We were chatting to some friends last week about our mutual renewal of our National Trust Subscriptions when it became clear that our friend's joint membership was costing them £63.50 for the year whereas ours was going to be in excess of £97. The difference seemed to be that after they had been members for over five years, and both being beyond pensionable age our friends had asked for "pensioner membership" and we didn't even know that this existed. I got on the phone to NT and asked for similar and they agree without any problem. So, plant buying budget for this year goes up by £30.

So, if you have a NT subscription and  are of pensionable age you know what to do!

[Maggi Young]

That's a good deal David.
I discover that the National Trust for Scotland has a "Seniors" rate too - but there does not seem to be a membership time condition attached to that. http://www.nts.org.uk/Join/Glance/
There are, of course, reciprocal arrangements for NT and NTS properties and many other NT type organisations around the world.

[Tim Ingram]

One of the great benefits of opening your garden for the NGS is that you get a free ticket to National Trust properties and gardens, but I had no idea what the annual membership was! Of course the downside is that you have to spend so much time working in your garden that you have no time to visit anywhere! (But Sissinghurst is just down the road and we go there occasionally - but you come home wanting to start the garden all over).

[Palustris]

What annoys us is that there are so many offers made to people to get them to join, yet there are no apparent rewards for loyalty. (Bit like Insurance companies).
Having said that and living close to Powys Castle Gardens, Chirk Castle and Erddig and not that far from Bodnant we do get our monies worth from visiting those properties alone.  And yes, visiting some of these famous gardens really does make us want to rebuild ours. But then going round some of the NCCPG Yellow Page gardens makes us realise that ours is probably better than most of them! (Not our opinion, that one, that has come from a whole coach load of AGS visitors).
So if you are thinking of joining the N.T work out how many visits you intend to make and do the Maths. We reckon that 4 visits to Powys would cost us about the same as membership. So all visits elsewhere become free (apart from the Diesel).

[Helen Johnstone]

The NT arent unusual in this approach.  I discovered today that my RHS renewal was more than if I cancelled and took out a new membership, there is no discount for loyalty or long term membership. 

[jomowi]

More years ago than I care to remember, the NTS had a "Special Offer" on which preceded a subscription price rise.  This was for Life Membership and was £50 or £60 for joint Membership.  It has proved to be the bargain of a lifetime!

[Maggi Young]

What annoys us is that there are so many offers made to people to get them to join, yet there are no apparent rewards for loyalty. (Bit like Insurance companies).

I see what you mean- both NT and NTS offer a one year discount for payment by Direct Debit but after that you're back up to full whack for the subscription.