Meridian National Trust

Peter Miller from High Speed 2 Limited has responded to concerns raised by the National Trust that the proposed rail link will seriously damage historic properties in the region.

Concerns over the high speed rail link - HS2 - took a new twist today - with The National Trust saying it feared the route would badly affect historic land and property.

The Government wants to build the £32 billion pound scheme from London to Birmingham - but there are many opponents.

The Trust says four key historic sites will be seriously affected by the route through Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire - tourist attractions like Claydon House, Waddesdon Manor, Hartwell House and Coombe Hill.

Our transport correspondent Mike Pearse reports.

Mike Pearse spoke to Ian Wilson from the National Trust.

The National Trust has launched a campaign to show children that ditching their computer games and enjoying the great outdoors can be more fun.

And to prove the point the Trust invited a group of youngsters to The Vyne near Basingstoke to show them how to climb trees, use rope swings and test their courage on the zip wire.

A host of celebrities are backing a campaign by the National Trust to buy a stretch of Dover's famous white cliffs. The Trust launched a public appeal last month to raise the 1.2 million needed to buy the land which is around a mile long.

Kent based presenter Paul O Grady, Dover born singer Joss Stone, Dame Vera Lynn and Dame Judi Dench are among the celebrities backing the campaign. The charity says they've already raised nearly half the money needed.

The National Trust is launching a public appeal to buy a one-mile-long stretch of land attached to the iconic White Cliffs of Dover.

The organisation said it needs to raise £1.2 million to purchase the land so it can ensure public access to the coastline for future generations.