Green light for ambitious Northumberland nature recovery plan
Crucial backing for 9,500-acre Rothbury landscape project. Tony Henderson reports
A vital stage in a venture to protect and enhance nature on a 9,500-acre Northumberland estate can now go ahead after winning initial lottery backing.
The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust have received £250,000 from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, which will help lay the foundations for the Rothbury Estate project.
The Wildlife Trusts bought part of the estate a year ago and have until autumn 2026 to raise £30m to complete the purchase of the land.
Its sale represents the largest area of land to come on the market in England in 30 years. If secured and protected, with its natural habitats restored across the entire estate, it has great potential to make a significant contribution to nature recovery in the region.
Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the funding will kick-start work to transform the land as part of a 40-mile nature recovery corridor.
The charities will use the funding to progress their plans across the estate’s peatland, moor and woodland.
It will enable:
Surveys to assess what management is needed to care for the variety of habitats across the uplands and lowlands of the estate – as well as meeting locals, farmers, businesses and visitors to better understand the needs and opportunities of this special place for nature, people and communities.
The co-creation of a new, integrated approach to land management where nature recovery underpins sustainable farming, climate resilience, public access and resilient, connected communities.
Without the funding, it would not be possible to embark on this work.
Drew Bennellick, head of land and nature policy at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to support The Wildlife Trusts in developing their ambitious plans for the Rothbury Estate thanks to money raised by National Lottery players.
“This funding will be used to plan how the working landscape of the Rothbury Estate can play a critical role in nature’s recovery whilst delivering essential social and economic benefits for local people too.
“The Heritage Fund, as one of the largest funders of natural heritage in the UK, is keen to support transformational projects like this that have the potential to deliver nature recovery at a truly landscape scale and to develop new approaches to land management with local communities.
“This work will help reconnect people to the unique natural and cultural heritage of Rothbury whilst ensuring it is safeguarded for future generations.”
Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: “We are thrilled to have received this initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. We can now develop our plans to care for this very special place that means so much to the people who live and work there, as well as to the many visitors.”
Thirzah McSherry, director of development at The Wildlife Trusts, added: “We’re indebted to National Lottery players that we can now crack on with the task of understanding more about the Rothbury Estate – from its ancient rock carvings to the rare plants that could thrive there once more.
“We will now be able to find out how best to care for this magnificent landscape.”
Anyone wishing to donate to the Rothbury Appeal, can do so at wildlifetrusts.org