Attenborough-backed appeal secures £30m estate

Conservationists, backed by Sir David Attenborough, have secured a £30m estate purchase through a two-year public appeal. The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust aim to enhance the Rothbury Estate's natural heritage with a 40-mile wild corridor. The 9,500-acre upland estate, once a grouse moor, woodland, and farmland, was owned by Lord Max Percy and was the largest land put up for sale in England in decades.

The Wildlife Trusts bought an initial tract in 2024, striking a deal to purchase the remainder if they could raise the £30m within two years. They have now secured a low-interest loan to bridge the short-term funding gap, ensuring the estate's completion.

Sir David, president emeritus of the Wildlife Trusts, described the opportunity as creating something special for generations to come, while NWT chief executive Mike Pratt called the campaign remarkable, stating that opportunities of this scale and significance are incredibly rare. The campaign received over £1m in donations from around the world, with additional support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Defra, and the government.

The estate boasts important wildlife habitats and diverse species, with conservationists believing it could become even richer with more species returning in the next decade.

However, not everyone supported the campaign, with some local farmers warning it would be a folly. The community remains split over the issue, with tenant farmer Chris Armstrong expressing concerns about the community's split opinion, while Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson criticized the government's decision to fund the purchase. Despite the debate, Nature Minister Jenny Riddell-Carpenter affirmed the government's commitment to helping the Wildlife Trusts achieve this once-in-a-generation opportunity.