Community groups, local people and North East businesses have played a major part in a £30m drive to buy the Rothbury Estates, it has emerged. Big donations from the Government, the lottery and charitable foundations have come alongside money raised by ordinary people in the region.
With the Wildlife Trusts and the Northumberland Wildlife Trust having successfully sealed a deal for the land, those organisations have revealed that members of the public raised more than £17m towards the total needed. Local tea company Ringtons, the Rothbury WI, the Curvy Sounds music shop and North East cycling group the Cycling Cranks all raised important funds.
Donations from around the world
Donations have come from more than 50 countries around the world, along with a £5m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, nearly £2m from the Government and support from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Monday Charitable Trust and Samworth Foundation. A number of anonymous donations from philanthropists have also been made.
Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trusts, said: “It has been truly humbling to witness the support behind this vision. From individual donors to major funders and partners, people have come together in a shared belief that we can create something exceptional here. The Rothbury Estate is a special place and together we have the chance to secure a brighter future for both wildlife and people.”
Local businesses and groups back the campaign
Colin Smith, a fourth-generation director at Ringtons, said: “As a family business, we understand better than most that some things are worth protecting for generations to come. This campaign aligns perfectly with the aims of The Ringtons Environmental Fund specifically established to support causes that are good for the planet. We hope this gift helps ensure Rothbury is still standing, wild and beautiful, for our grandchildren’s grandchildren.”
Ted Liddle, organiser at Cycling Cranks, added: “Cycling Cranks is a small cycling club in Northumberland with 50 members who wish to show their support for The Wildlife Trusts’ and Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s laudable ambition to purchase a 15 square mile area south of Rothbury to provide a higher level of wildlife management, improve public access and ideally repurpose the disused railway track which crosses the property as a Greenway path to be enjoyed recreationally by walkers, cyclists, horse riders and disabled people.
“It is a unique opportunity to provide new, managed countryside access with benefits for health and wellbeing. We only wish other outdoor active groups would follow our example to help progress this environment-focused and community-facing initiative”.
Plans for a nature corridor
The 9,500-acre estate contains a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest and is home to species including the curlew, the mountain bumblebee and the lapwing.
The Wildlife Trusts want to create a 40-mile wide “nature corridor” linking the Northumberland Coast to Kielder Forest through the estate. They will focus on nature recovery and regenerative farming, and have pledged to work alongside local people and farmers, though concerns have been expressed locally on how the charity’s work will impact local farmers.
