Wildlife Trusts raise £30m to buy and rewild Northumberland's vast Rothbury Estate with £17m given by 25,000 public donors
The Rothbury Estate in Northumberland, which spans more than 3,800 hectares of moorland, wooded valleys, the River Coquet and farmland, described by David Attenborough as "something very special" after the Wildlife…
David Attenborough called the purchase "something very special" after 25,000 members of the public contributed £17m toward the £30m target, completing the Wildlife Trusts' largest ever fundraising campaign. Spanning more than 3,800 hectares, the Rothbury Estate is the largest single-ownership land sale in England in over 30 years and represents an extraordinarily bold effort to restore nature on a grand scale in England.
Described as a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity', the estate encompasses moorland, wooded valleys, the River Coquet and agricultural land.
Max Percy, the Duke of Northumberland's youngest son, placed the estate on the market two years ago, triggering the Wildlife Trusts' ambitious bid.
Northumberland Wildlife Trust chief executive Mike Pratt said he felt 'elated' and 'humbled' by the scale of public support.
