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Fundraising appeal to buy the Rothbury Estate inspires surge of creativity

Three generations gather to make wildlife-themed arts and crafts.
The image shows numerous colourful, felted mushrooms are arranged around the base of a moss-covered tree stump. The mushrooms vary in colour, ranging from reds and purples to blues, greens, and yellows, creating a vibrant contrast against the natural backdrop of brown leaves and green moss. A small, felted bird is nestled among the mushrooms at the bottom right. In the background, there are trees and foliage typical of a forest, with a soft, diffused light adding to the enchanting atmosphere.

Felted mushrooms and robin © Jane Austin-Walker

Staff from Northumberland Wildlife Trust were overwhelmed by the generosity of the Rothbury community, following a family activity day which saw over seventy people create nature-themed arts and crafts to raise the profile of the appeal to buy the Rothbury Estate.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust, working in partnership with The Wildlife Trusts, has one year left to raise the remaining £20m of the £30m goal to purchase the whole estate.

At the town’s Jubilee Hall, arts and crafts workshops were run by the Rothbury felting group, Rothbury library, Northumberland basketry group, and the Upper Coquetdale Red Squirrel Group. Children, parents, and grandparents all took part, making origami birds, felt fungi and willow hearts and stars.

The photo shows a group of people, including adults and children, gathered inside a large room or hall that appears to be set up for an activity or event. Tables are arranged in rows, and people are seated, working on papers with colored pencils. A screen at the far end of the room displays an image. The atmosphere seems busy and engaged, suggesting a workshop or informational session.

Family crafting event © Northumberland Wildlife Trust

A woman and a young girl are standing at a table, both holding handfuls of white wet felt. The woman, with curly hair and a scarf, is looking down at the girl with a smile. The girl, wearing a patterned sweater, is also smiling and looking at the felt in her hands. There are various items on the table, including a pitcher, a bowl, and some cloths. In the background, there's a display of small mushroom-like objects.

Learning how to 'wet felt' at the family event © Northumberland Wildlife Trust

The image shows a small group of people engaged in a craft activity at a table. They are working with wool and felting needles, shaping pieces of wool on foam blocks. Various wool items and tools are scattered across the table, including soft toy-like shapes and a booklet. In the background, a bicycle helmet is visible hanging on a radiator. The setting appears to be indoors, likely a workshop or a casual learning environment focused on needle felting.

Learning to 'dry felt' with needles © Northumberland Wildlife Trust

The image shows a group of children standing indoors, each holding small handmade craft items made from colorful wool. The crafts appear to be felted figures or decorations, with visible colors like blue and pink. In the background, there is a table filled with more wool crafts and a large screen or display, suggesting this is part of a craft workshop or event. The setting looks like a community or educational space with wooden flooring and bright lighting.

Children at the family crafting event © Northumberland Wildlife Trust

The attendees also experimented with mushroom printing, dipping field mushrooms into paint and creating colourful cards showing the gills and stalks of the fungi.

Ahead of the event students at the Dr Thomlinson C of E Middle School had been busy crafting a woodland of their own, creating hundreds of handmade felt mushrooms at their Forest School lessons. 

The four hundred felt creations were used to create a stunning woodland scene on the stage at the Jubilee Hall. 

Paul Barrett, community officer with Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: 

“This was such a happy event: a real expression of the love people have for the countryside of the Rothbury Estate and the beautiful Simonside hills. So much time and effort went into this, and the results were stunning and quite overwhelming. The workshop leaders and school staff were inspiring, and we can’t thank them enough for helping to unleash this wonderful wave of creativity.

“We’re developing plans for what comes next. Our peat team will be starting work to improve the condition of a large area of peat at Cauldhole Moss on Simonside. We’re exploring how school children could be involved, so they learn about the folklore of the moss and how this land can be restored so it helps us combat climate change.”

Jane Austin-Walker, Teaching Assistant and Forest School Leader, said: 

“The pupils loved being involved. They had a great time making their mushrooms. It was a creative thing to do and a collaborative project. What I particularly like is that everyone is working together and all doing our little bit, making something amazing together that we wouldn’t be able to do individually.”

Felt fungi are now on sale at Tully’s on Rothbury’s High Street for £10 each, with all proceeds going to the Rothbury Appeal. 

 

To donate to the appeal please visit: www.wildlifetrusts.org/appeals/rothbury-estate-nature-and-nation

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