The National Trust for Scotland. the country's biggest conservation charity, bowed to pressure yesterday and pulled back from plans to cut almost a fifth of its workforce, reducing the number of proposed job losses from 91 to 65.

The Trust announced in March that it was to axe 91 of its 487 permanent employees and implement a freeze on the recruitment of some seasonal staff in an attempt to reduce costs. It also threatened to close 11 loss-making properties as part of the plans.

The measures caused a public outcry, with union bosses at Prospect, which represents 400 Trust staff, claiming the conservation charity's black hole had been caused by its fundraising drive for the new Robert Burns National Heritage Park, due to be built by the summer of 2010. Others launched local attempts to save some of the properties.

Following a consultation, the Trust said yesterday the number of staff being redundant had been reduced to 65, and that two of the 11 threatened properties, Kellie Castle in Fife, and the Hugh Miller Museum, in Cromarty, will remain open.

Arduaine Castle in Argyll, which was the focus of a high profile anti-closure campaign, has won a reprieve while funds are raised, and three other sites, the David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre, Barry Mill in Angus, and Inveresk Lodge Garden in East Lothian are awaiting decisions by potential funders.

Hutchesons' Hall, one of Glasgow's landmark buildings, Leith Hall in Aberdeenshire, and the Hill of Tarvit Mansion House in Fife will close as proposed.

The Trust said yesterday the new job cut total amounted to 13 per cent of the workforce, instead of the 18 per cent first suggested. However, it admitted that 44 of the redundancies would be compulsory redundancies, with a further 21 voluntary redundancies. The charity pointed out that further jobs may be retained, pending the outcome of consultation over some of the properties.

Yesterday the Trust reiterated its message that it had been forced into the measures by the difficult economic climate. It is anticipated that its annual review for 2008 to 2009 will record a loss of approximately £2 million, which it is now seeking to recoup as it sets its budget for 2009-2010.

The charity, which is responsible for 130 properties, looks after some of Scotland's most important natural and cultural treasures, ranging from stately homes to mountains. Among the iconic landmarks it manages are the battlefields at Bannockburn and Culloden, the island of St Kilda, Glencoe, and Culzean Castle, in Ayrshire.

Kate Mavor, the charity's chief executive, said: "The Trust is now in a more financially secure position to forge ahead. Our primary concern is the protection of our Scotland's heritage for future generations.

"We have done the right thing to safeguard our 130 properties and allow us to focus on our world-class conservation work. We have seen the power of local support for our properties and hope that many more people will come forward to visit our properties, join the membership and contribute to our appeals to support Scotland's treasures."

Jamie McGrigor, the Scottish Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, welcomed the respite for Arduaine Gardens after holding talks with the Trust over its importance to the local area.

"I am delighted that the Trust did not follow through with its plans and confident funds will be found to keep it open," he said. "Arduaine Gardens is the jewel in the crown of Scotland's west coast gardens and provides an essential part of the country's horticultural tourism.

"These gardens are also 100 years old and mean a lot to many people.To be scrapped on the whim of the Trust after not making income over a short period of time would be ridiculous."

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