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Charities’ plans for historic Rothbury Estate gain support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to kickstart vital work on the ground

The Wildlife Trusts alongside Northumberland Wildlife Trust have received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Rothbury Estate, it was announced today.
The image shows an expansive view of a rolling, grassy landscape under a sky dotted with clouds. The hills are covered with varied vegetation, including patches of green and areas that appear brownish-tan, possibly indicating different types of ground cover or different stages of growth.

Rothbury Estate, Northumberland © Knight Frank

Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the funding will lay the foundations for the future of the Rothbury Estate and ensure that work begins to transform it into the beating heart of a 40-mile nature recovery corridor across northern England. 

The charities will use the funding of £250,000 that has been awarded by the Heritage Fund to progress their plans across the vast 9,500 acres of peatland, moor and woods by:

  • Carrying out surveys to assess what management is needed to care for the dazzling variety of habitats across the uplands and lowlands of the estate – as well as meeting and listening to locals, farmers, businesses and visitors to better understand the needs and opportunities of this special place for nature, people and communities
  • Co-creating a new, integrated approach to land management where nature recovery underpins sustainable farming, climate resilience, public access and resilient, connected communities
  • Laying the foundations for a 40-mile nature corridor across Northern England, with the Rothbury Estate at its heart
Upland area of Rothbury with rocks and plants in foreground and horizon in the distance, with text that reads "Rothbury for Nature and the Nation".

Rothbury estate © Duncan Hutt

The Wildlife Trusts bought part of the Rothbury Estate in October 2024 and have until autumn of 2026 to raise £30m to complete the purchase of the land. It has been in the ownership of a single family for almost eight centuries and its sale represents the largest area of land to come on the market in England in 30 years. If secured and protected with its natural habitats restored across the entire estate, it has great potential to make a significant contribution to nature recovery in the region.

The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world; Northumberland Wildlife Trust and The Wildlife Trust aim to care for the precious wildlife of the Rothbury Estate and bring back natural abundance to the area. Careful management plans are critical to this and without this funding from the Heritage Fund it would not be possible to embark on this vital work.

A cuckoo perched on a lichen-covered branch is depicted in a close-up shot. The bird has a grey plumage with a yellow eye and is facing to the right. The branch is textured and worn, adding depth to the image, and the backdrop is blurred, emphasizing the subject.

Cuckoo © Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography

Drew Bennellick, Head of Land and Nature Policy at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, says:

“We are delighted to be able to support The Wildlife Trust in developing their ambitious plans for the Rothbury Estate thanks to money raised by National Lottery players. This funding will be used to plan how the working landscape of the Rothbury Estate can play a critical role in nature’s recovery whilst delivering essential social and economic benefits for local people too.  

“The Heritage Fund, as one of the largest funders of natural heritage in the UK, is keen to support transformational projects like this that have the potential to deliver nature recovery at a truly landscape scale and to develop new approaches to land management with local communities. This work will help reconnect people to the unique natural and cultural heritage of Rothbury whilst ensuring it is safeguarded for future generations.”

A stream of water , with trees and heather next to it in Rothbury.

Rothbury estate © Duncan Hutt

Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, says:

“We are thrilled to have received this initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players we can now develop our plans to care for this very special place that means so much to the people who live and work there, as well as to the many visitors – from Newcastle all the way to New Zealand – who love it too.”

Thirzah McSherry, director of development at The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“We’re indebted to National Lottery players that we can now crack on with the task of understanding more about the magic and minutiae of the Rothbury Estate – from its ancient rock carvings to the rare plants that could thrive there once more – we’ll now be able to unearth more of its mysteries and find out best how to care for this magnificent landscape.”

Donate to the Rothbury Appeal at: www.wildlifetrusts.org/appeals/rothbury-estate-nature-and-nation

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