SWINDON, England, May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Trust has announced that over GBP500,000 has been donated just one month after it launched an appeal to secure the future of one of Snowdonia's most precious landscapes.

The campaign to raise GBP1 million to secure Llyndy Isaf was given an extra boost as Welsh Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta Jones declared her support: "The National Trust plays a key role in protecting and managing the Welsh countryside, the beauty and landscape of Snowdonia ( http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-global/w-localtoyou/w-wales/w-wales-welsh_countryside/w-wales-snowdonia.htm) is truly unique and we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to protect Llyndy Isaf ( http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-global/w-news/w-latest_news/w-news-catherine-zeta-jones-supports-campaign-to-buy-llyndy-isaf.htm) in this stunning part of Wales for future generations. If we don't act now the threat of commercial development could spoil the tranquillity of this special part of Snowdonia. Please support the campaign."

Just over one month ago Welsh actor Matthew Rhys called on the people of Wales and beyond to help the National Trust raise the money to buy Llyndy Isaf, a 600 acre (248ha) upland farm on the shores of Llyn Dinas lake (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-global/w-news/w-latest_news/w-news-snowdonias-jewel-in-the-crown.htm) in Snowdonia, making it the National Trust's biggest countryside appeal in the UK in more than ten years.

"We're absolutely delighted with the response we've had from the public," said Richard Neale, the National Trust's general manager in Snowdonia. "We're well on our way to raising the GBP1 million needed to secure the future of Llyndy Isaf, thanks to the generosity of individuals who have made donations by post and online.

"When we launched the appeal I started a blog* and I've been amazed by the response. People have been asking me questions about the place, what the threats to it are and how they can donate, it all goes to show how much people care about protecting special places like Llyndy Isaf for the future. I know we're half way there but we can't rest, we still need another GBP500,000 to enable us to buy the farm and undertake immediate and essential environmental improvements."

Llyndy Isaf lies in the beautiful Nant Gwynant valley, near Beddgelert. It is one of the most well-known and environmentally important stretches of countryside in Snowdonia, untouched by intensive farming and home to many threatened wildlife species of international importance (such as kingfishers, otters and the chough). Without public support the farm and valley could be at risk of commercial development and the tranquillity destroyed.

The appeal to buy Llyndy Isaf is launched under the umbrella of the National Trust's Snowdonia Appeal. In 1998 with support from its president at the time, Welsh actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, it raised GBP4 million to buy the 4118 acre Hafod y Llan estate on the southern flank of Snowdon.

About the National Trust:

The National Trust was founded in 1895 to care for places of historic interest or natural beauty. In Wales it cares for over 45,000 hectares of countryside, 140 miles of coastline as well as some of the finest castles and gardens, which offer some great days out in Wales ( http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-daysout/w-daysout-area/w-daysout-north_wales.htm). The Trust is the largest conservation organisation in Europe, supported by 3.7 million members, 100,000 of whom live in Wales. As a charity it relies on membership subscriptions, gifts and other voluntary support to meet its GBP148 m annual conservation and maintenance costs. The Trust's properties have unique legal protection "inalienability" - they cannot ever be sold or mortgaged without permission of Parliament.

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    PR Contact:

    Mike Collins
    Senior Press Officer
    The National Trust
    Heelis
    Kemble Drive
    Swindon
    Wiltshire
    SN2 2NA
    +44(0)1793-817708
    http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk

SOURCE National Trust