A £30million fundraising campaign backed by Sir David Attenborough has secured the 9,500-acre Rothbury Estate in Northumberland, despite local farmers branding the conservation plans a "folly".
The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT) completed the purchase of the estate following a two-year public appeal. The organisations plan to turn the former grouse moor, woodland and farmland into a major nature recovery project, creating a 40-mile wildlife corridor stretching from the North East coast towards Kielder and the Scottish border.
Farmers question the need for the purchase
The deal has divided the local community. Chris Armstrong, a tenant farmer who oversees 1,000 acres close to the site, previously told the BBC that opinions were split over the campaign. He said: "The most recent strapline seems to be 'time is running out to save the Rothbury Estate'. The Rothbury Estate doesn't need saving. Saving from what?"
Armstrong added: "I would put it very much akin to the Brexit vote, I would think it would be that finely split. I think the majority of the farming community see this as a folly."
Historic estate secured for conservation
The estate had been owned by Lord Max Percy, the Duke of Northumberland's youngest son, and had remained in the family for around 700 years. It was understood to be the largest area of land put up for sale in England in decades.
Conservationists feared it could be divided between multiple owners, potentially making public access more difficult. The wildlife organisations initially bought part of the estate in 2024, including the Simonside Hills, before agreeing to purchase the remainder if they could raise £30million within two years.
Public support and government funding
More than 25,000 people donated to the appeal, which received a major boost after Sir David backed the campaign last year. His support helped generate more than £1million in donations from across the globe in just one week.
Sir David, who is president emeritus of the Wildlife Trusts, described the project as an opportunity "to create something very special for generations to come". He said: "This will be a place where nature, community, farming and heritage can combine to create something very special."
The campaign also received a £5million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in March, while the Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) pledged a further £1.94million this week.
Criticism of government contribution
The Government's contribution has also attracted criticism. Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson, chairman of Northumberland Conservatives, said ministers "has its priorities wrong", pointing to difficulties farmers have faced securing funding through the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
He said: "Farmers were left scrambling in an application window that opened and closed the same day. Yet ministers can find nearly £2m to help a charity buy an estate."
Nature Minister Jenny Riddell-Carpenter defended the contribution, saying the Government was "stepping in to help" after thousands of members of the public backed what she described as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity".
The estate is home to red squirrels, curlews, lapwings and mountain bumblebees, alongside important river habitats. Conservationists hope pine martens and beavers could also return over the next decade.
