More Than 25,000 Supporters Help Buy 9,500-Acre Rothbury Estate for Nature

A swathe of Northumberland moorland, woodland and river is now in the hands of nature. On 30 October 2026, The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust announced they had completed the purchase of the whole Rothbury Estate, about 9,500 acres, two years after launching their appeal.

A crowd-funded landscape

More than 25,000 people gave, with donations arriving from over 50 countries, including Finland, Barbados, Kenya and New Zealand. Public gifts raised over £17 million. Larger funders included the National Lottery Heritage Fund (£5 million), the UK government's Defra (£1.94 million) and several charitable foundations. A low-interest loan covers the gap between pledged money still to arrive and the appeal's target.

"Together, we have secured the future of The Rothbury Estate," said Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts.

What happens next

The land includes woodland, moorland and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Plans include:

• Restoring habitats at scale and supporting nature-friendly farming
• Improving public access and community links
• Citizen-science projects starting next month, including reptile surveys and soil-health testing
• Becoming part of a 40-mile nature corridor from the north-east coast towards Kielder

Longer term, the Trusts say they may consider bringing back pine marten and beaver, and grazing ancient cattle breeds in the woodlands. These are possibilities, not commitments.

Why it matters

Joining up protected land helps wildlife move and adapt. The estate is home to species such as curlew, lapwing, red squirrel and merlin, according to reporting from Good News Network. Sir David Attenborough, president emeritus of the Trusts, said the estate offered the chance to create something special for generations to come.

The hard work of restoration is only beginning, but the hardest step, securing the land itself, has been taken by thousands of ordinary donors.