A giant cause

The National Trust has launched a campaign urging the general public to be ‘part of something giant’ and help raise £2.25 million towards protecting and enhancing Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.

Situated on the North Antrim coast, Giant’s Causeway is renowned for its natural beauty and derives its name from a Celtic myth. Over 38,000 hexagonal basalt columns are part of the dramatic rock formation on the Atlantic shore. Legend has it that a 52ft tall giant named Finn McCool used the hexagonal rocks to build a causeway to Scotland to battle his rival Benandonnar. Other rocks can be found on the Isle of Staffa but the most breathtaking display remains on the North Antrim coastline.

The Trust’s campaign, ‘A Giant Cause’, hopes to raise the shortfall needed to complete an £18.5 million project to build a new visitor centre, improve access to the site and ensure its protection and conservation, which is a habitat to a number of rare and endangered species. The state-of-the-art visitor centre has been designed to sit underneath the headland and will have a grass roof keeping it largely hidden.

The National Trust is encouraging fund- raising activities including a sponsored walk on 24 October and has allowed a limited number of the stones to be ‘sponsored’ by individuals or groups for a year.

To find out more, or to donate to the campaign, visit www.agiantcause.com