By Karim Hammam
The Wildlife Trusts have reached a £30 million fundraising target to purchase the 3,800-hectare Rothbury estate in Northumberland, marking one of England's most ambitious nature recovery projects.
The estate, the largest single-ownership land sale in England in over 30 years, spans an area comparable to Athens and includes diverse habitats such as the Simonside hills, moorland, woodlands, and the River Coquet. It was put up for sale two years ago by Max Percy, the Duke of Northumberland's youngest son.
Public backing and major donations
About 25,000 members of the public contributed £17 million, while the National Lottery Heritage Fund provided £5 million. Additional large donations came from charitable foundations and philanthropists, and the government pledged £1.94 million this week. Naturalist David Attenborough championed the campaign, thanking the public for their response.
Vision for nature recovery
Northumberland Wildlife Trust chief executive Mike Pratt said the success represents hope for a future where nature, community, farming, and heritage thrive together. The trust aims to restore and extend habitats to boost species such as mountain bumblebees, red squirrels, water voles, pine martens, and curlews. The estate is envisioned as the "beating heart" of a 40-mile nature corridor linking Druridge Bay to the Scottish border.
Community involvement and tourism
Project manager Sophie Bulgin said volunteer enthusiasm has been overwhelming, with projects like eco-acoustic monitoring and upcoming earthworm counts engaging locals. The trust also expects increased nature tourism to benefit the town of Rothbury.
Concerns from farmers and politicians
Not all support the project. Some farmers call it a "folly," citing worries about food production and profitability. Northumberland Conservatives chair Guy Renner-Thompson questioned government funding priorities. Pratt said the trust is working closely with farmers to demonstrate that wildlife and productive farming can coexist.
