Charity crowdfunds millions to buy historic English estate
After a two-year campaign, the Wildlife Trusts acquired the entire 3,800-hectare Rothbury Estate in northern Northumberland, marking England’s largest land acquisition in three decades.
The Wildlife Trusts have successfully raised £30 million (US$40 million) through crowdfunding to acquire the historic Rothbury Estate in Northumberland, England, marking the largest land purchase by the organization in three decades. The 3,800-hectare estate, equivalent in size to central London, will be transformed into a biodiversity sanctuary.
Renowned environmentalist David Attenborough praised the campaign, and Wildlife Trusts director Craig Bennett expressed gratitude to the thousands of donors. The Percy family, owners of the estate for nearly eight centuries, sold it to the trust after the current duke's son, Max Percy, found it too challenging to manage from his southern England residence.
The trust received additional funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Department of Environment. The acquisition aims to create a 65-kilometre biodiversity corridor, benefiting wildlife such as cuckoos, butterflies, pine martens, and golden eagles. The trust also seeks to promote environmentally friendly farming practices among the current dozen sheep farmers.
This purchase, the largest in three decades, could help the UK meet its objective of conserving 30% of its land and seas for nature by 2030.
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