Many of us enjoy our country’s uplands, coast, historic houses and gardens thanks to the generosity of people who gave their homes, land, time and expertise to the nation. Merlin Waterson, former director of historic properties at the National Trust, considers in A Noble Thing the motives behind these gifts. He explores what makes someone with little or great wealth give it away – or, in some cases, change their minds. Gifts vary from a small boat to a large cash donation from a lady recalling Colin Firth emerging from a National Trust lake in his wet shirt.