The National Trust Announces Partnership With Garmin

SWINDON, England, May 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Trust is offering visitors an exciting new way to explore its great outdoor places by partnering with GPS experts Garmin this summer.

Geocaching ( http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-chl/w-countryside_environment/w-activities/w-activities-geocaching.htm), a family friendly 'digital' treasure hunt, will be taking place at over 40 National Trust places across the country*. Visitors will be able to borrow a Garmin handheld GPS device to guide them to treasure 'caches' hidden in the countryside and coastland of National Trust sites.

(Due to the length of these URLs, it may be necessary to copy and paste the hyperlinks into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the space if one exists.)

These modern-day treasure-hunts are a fun way for visitors to get out and really experience the outdoors with the National Trust.

Andrew Silver, senior product manager for fitness and outdoor at Garmin said: "Geocaching is a great way for families and people of all ages to get outdoors and discover hidden places using a Garmin GPS and opencaching.com. At National Trust places this summer, you can have fun and get rewards, but also learn useful techniques such as how to read maps and co-ordinates. Garmin is really pleased to be able to offer this new activity to people who love to experience beautiful National Trust places."

The partnership between the National Trust and Garmin is part of the Trust's vision to encourage more people to enjoy the outdoors.

Over the forthcoming months, Garmin will be hosting taster sessions at National Trust places, so visitors from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland can become 21st century treasure hunters.

About the National Trust:

The National Trust is a charity with a statutory duty to preserve places and countryside ( http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-chl/w-countryside_environment.htm) across England, Wales and Northern Ireland 'of historic interest and natural beauty for the benefit of the nation'.

As Europe's largest conservation charity it protects over 350 historic houses, 160 gardens, 1,100 kilometres of coastline, 254,000 hectares of land of outstanding natural beauty, six World Heritage Sites, 28 castles and 60 pubs, including coastal walks ( http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-chl/w-countryside_environment/w-coastline/w-seabritain-coastal_walks.htm) and family days out ( http://nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-family_days_out.htm).

About Garmin:

The global leader in satellite navigation, Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications since 1989 - most of which are enabled by GPS technology.

Notes to editors:

*In partnership with Garmin, the National Trust will be creating new geocaches at over 40 of its estates, gardens and countryside locations across the UK during 2011. Visitors can already enjoy the challenge of geocaching at a number of Trust locations.

    
    PR Contact:
    Louisa Green
    Co-ordinator
    Press Office
    National Trust
    Heelis
    Kemble Drive
    Swindon
    SN2 2NA
    +44(0)1793-818548

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk