Businesses and residents in Newcastle’s Heaton community have come together to support Northumberland Wildlife Trust and The Wildlife Trusts in their campaign to raise funds to purchase the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland. This effort helps close the gap on the fundraising drive which passed £20m this August.
Bespoke guitars raffled for the cause
Earlier this year, independent musical instrument retailer Curvy Sounds launched a raffle featuring a bespoke Tokai Les Paul guitar customised by founder Andrew Mills. With an estimated value of £1,000, the one-of-a-kind instrument features a striking design created from iridescent pearl ovals that radiate outwards from the centre of sunflowers, the movement of shoals of fish and the arrangement of flower petals.
A second guitar, again worth over £1,000, has been donated by local singer-songwriter Nev Clay. Before opening Curvy Sounds on Heaton Hall Road, Andrew and his wife and business partner Jess Mills worked as conservation artists, sharing a lifelong passion for Northumberland’s landscapes and wildlife.
Memories of the estate
The couple have many happy memories of The Rothbury Estate and the wider Northumberland countryside. When their children were younger, they spent countless hours picking bilberries on the estate, camping at Druridge Bay and during the COVID-19 pandemic kayaking along the River Coquet.
Jess Mills said: “The Rothbury Estate is a special place to Andrew and me, and to many people across the North East. Every day I walk through Jesmond Dene and thank Lord Armstrong for creating such an amazing park that provides a home for wildlife and has brought pleasure to generations of people.
“This is our chance to do the same and help The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, in whatever way we can, to purchase The Rothbury Estate and preserve this incredible area for both wildlife and people.”
Mike Pratt, Northumberland Wildlife Chief Executive, said: “What a fantastic offer from Curvy Sounds and Nev. Two amazing guitars to help raise money for Rothbury - maybe we should call it The Rockbury Estate.”
Local businesses join in
The couple's commitment to helping secure the future of The Rothbury Estate has inspired other local businesses to support the fundraising campaign by donating prizes for the September raffle. A growing collection of prizes are now arriving at the Heaton Hall Road shop.
Additional prizes include vouchers and gifts from local businesses The Last Resort, The Tipsy Toad, The Dog Grocers, Body Image Fitness, The Artichoke Gift Shop, The Butterfly Cabinet, Smoke and Sear, The Handsome Sandwich, The Barn Door, 10ten and Querido and Davidson Optometrists. They are joined by Newcastle’s internationally acclaimed indie band Maxïmo Park donating signed merchandise.
The raffle will be drawn at the end of September with tickets still available. On the 4th July, Jess was joined by artist and professional gardener Kate Dickinson hosting a stall at the Ouseburn Festival, selling artwork created by Kate, Harriet Menter, Kubra Muje and Claire Sarametz.
Plants donated by the West Jesmond School allotment and fair-trade musical instruments by Curvy Sounds were also sold on the day. Later in the month, July 29th, Kate and Jess will continue their fundraising for The Rothbury Estate with a six-hour fundraising walk in the Simonside Hills.
Mike said: “The generosity of everybody in Heaton shows again just how much everyone cares about making this happen for nature and people - a ‘Wild Thing’ part of Northumberland’s future.”
