Two years of tenacious fundraising have paid off with the announcement that the purchase of a historic Northumberland estate has been achieved for nature and the nation.
The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust have confirmed the acquisition of the entire 9,500-acre Rothbury Estate following their biggest-ever fundraising campaign.
The £30m appeal attracted the backing of Sir David Attenborough, more than 25,000 supporters, charitable foundations and the Government.
To secure the purchase, the charities have taken out a low-interest loan to bridge the short-term gap between pledged money still to be received and the fundraising target.
Sir David, president emeritus of The Wildlife Trusts, welcomed the success of the appeal.
He said: “The Wildlife Trusts called for your support and you answered in your thousands. The appeal to secure the future of the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland has been successful and now the opportunity to bring the vision of a landscape where nature and people thrive side by side can become a reality.
“This will be a place where nature, community, farming and heritage can combine to create something very special for generations to come.”
The campaign, which began in 2024, attracted support from across the UK and more than 50 countries worldwide, including Finland, Barbados, Kenya and New Zealand.
Public donations raised more than £17m, with Sir David’s backing generating more than £1m in just one week.
Transformational grants and donations also came from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Monday Charitable Trust, Samworth Foundation, Ringtons and anonymous philanthropists.
A £5m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in March marked a major milestone, while a £1.94m Government pledge from Defra this month provided a further boost.
Locally, groups including Rothbury Women’s Institute, the Cycling Cranks cycling club and Curvy Sounds guitar shop in Newcastle helped raise funds.
Jess Mills, co-owner of Curvy Sounds, said: “The Rothbury Estate is a special place to my husband Andrew and me, and to so many people across the North East.
“Curvy Sounds is all about supporting the music community so we were delighted so many of our friends from the music community were able to unite with us and grasp the chance to preserve this incredible area for both wildlife and people.”
The estate, which includes the Simonside Hills, encompasses moorland, woodland, rivers and farmland, along with a rich cultural heritage including prehistoric rock art.
It lies at the heart of plans for a 40-mile nature recovery corridor stretching from the North East coast to Kielder.
The UK Government also highlighted the estate at COP17, the global biodiversity summit, recognising its potential contribution to the international 30by30 target to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.
As the entire estate moves into the care of The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, the aim is to create a landscape where nature-friendly farming and wildlife thrive together, habitats are restored at scale, and more people can enjoy the area and its heritage.
Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, described the success of the appeal as “a remarkable achievement”.
He said: “The completion of The Rothbury Estate purchase is a defining moment for Northumberland and the North East.
“Opportunities of this scale and significance are incredibly rare. By securing this extraordinary landscape, we’ve the potential to create a flagship for nature recovery supported by sustainable farming, whilst delivering lasting benefits for wildlife, local people and the rural economy for generations to come.”
On sections of the estate purchased by The Wildlife Trusts in October 2024, projects have already been undertaken to build an understanding of its wildlife, landscapes and history.
Surveys, research and the efforts of local volunteers and community groups, including archaeologists, birders, academics, the Scouts and the WI, have all played a part.
New citizen-science initiatives planned for next month include reptile surveys, soil health testing and an autumn acoustic monitoring survey, helping to inform the future management of the landscape.
Local people are encouraged to get involved through Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s website. To keep up to date with projects and plans for the Rothbury Estate, visit the Wildlife Trusts website
