Two years since the launch of The Wildlife Trusts‘ most ambitious fundraising appeal, the charity announces it has successfully completed the purchase of Rothbury Estate in Northumberland.

As the entire estate moves into the care of The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, work begins to turn The Rothbury Estate into a landscape where nature-friendly farming and wildlife thrive together, habitats are restored at scale, and more people can enjoy and connect with this special place and its rich heritage.

The campaign has been backed by Sir David Attenborough, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), The National Lottery Heritage Fund and more than 25,000 people. Attenborough comments:

“The Wildlife Trusts called for your support and you answered in your thousands. The appeal to secure the future of The Rothbury Estate in Northumberland has been successful and now the opportunity to bring the vision of a landscape where nature and people thrive side by side can become a reality. This will be a place where nature, community, farming and heritage can combine to create something very special for generations to come.”

On sections of the estate purchased by The Wildlife Trusts in October 2024, a range of projects have already been underway to help build their understanding of the estate’s wildlife, landscapes and history.

Surveys, research, local volunteers and community groups including archaeologists, birders, academics, the Scouts and the WI have all played a part in helping develop that knowledge. 

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“Working alongside local communities, farmers and fellow land managers who know and care for this landscape so deeply, we can help this special place continue to thrive for generations to come. Thank you to everyone who made this possible. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to sharing the next exciting chapter of The Rothbury Estate’s story as it evolves.” 

New citizen-science initiatives launching next month include reptile surveys, soil health testing and an autumn acoustic monitoring survey, all of which will help to inform the transformation of this landscape for generations to come