Today, two years since the launch of their most ambitious fundraising appeal to date, The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust can announce they have successfully completed the purchase of the entire heart-shaped Rothbury Estate in Northumberland.

Backed by Sir David Attenborough, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), The National Lottery Heritage Fund and more than 25,000 people, the once in a generation opportunity to purchase the 9,500-acre estate (equivalent in size to Athens), coupled with an ambitious vision for landscape-scale nature recovery, will now become a reality thanks to donations big and small.

Sir David Attenborough, president emeritus of The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“The Wildlife Trusts called for your support and you answered in your thousands. The appeal to secure the future of The Rothbury Estate in Northumberland has been successful and now the opportunity to bring the vision of a landscape where nature and people thrive side by side can become a reality. This will be a place where nature, community, farming and heritage can combine to create something very special for generations to come.

“Thank you very much.”

The announcement follows UK Government recognition of The Rothbury Estate at COP17, the global biodiversity summit, where it was named as playing a significant role in helping the country reach 30by30, a global target to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.

From individual donations to major gifts and charitable grants, every contribution since efforts began in 2024 has played a vital role in the fundraising appeal’s success with support received from across the UK and over 50 countries worldwide including Finland, Barbados, Kenya and New Zealand. Locally, groups including the Rothbury WI, the Cycling Cranks cycling club and Curvy Sounds guitar shop have all backed the campaign and raised important funds. The appeal has united wildlife champions around the globe in a shared commitment to restore nature and create a lasting legacy at The Rothbury Estate for future generations.

To secure this extraordinary opportunity and honour the support of thousands of donors, the charities have taken out a low-interest loan to bridge the short-term funding gap between pledged monies still to be received and the fundraising target, ensuring completion of the entire estate. With The Rothbury Estate secured in its entirety, ambitious plans to restore nature on the land can now get underway.

Throughout the two-year fundraising appeal, a series of transformational grants and donations from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Monday Charitable Trust, Samworth Foundation, Ringtons and anonymous philanthropists helped drive the appeal forward. In total, gifts from members of the public raised over £17 million.

Sir David Attenborough's backing generated more than £1 million in donations in just one week, while a £5 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in March 2026 marked a major milestone, taking the appeal past the halfway point and giving the fundraising push a huge vote of confidence. This month, a grant of £1.94 million was pledged by Defra, an endorsement of the national significance of The Rothbury Estate and the positive impact it will have on nature’s recovery.

Eilish McGuinness, chief executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, says:

"It is fantastic news that The Rothbury Estate has been successfully acquired by The Wildlife Trusts thanks to money raised by National Lottery players. By working with local communities to develop new approaches to land management, this transformational project has the potential to deliver nature recovery at a grand scale, helping to reconnect people to the unique natural and cultural heritage of this remarkable and nationally significant landscape."

As the entire estate moves into the care of The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, work begins to turn the ambitious vision for The Rothbury Estate into a reality. Together, with the community, they hope to create a landscape where nature-friendly farming and wildlife thrive together, habitats are restored at scale, and more people can enjoy and connect with this special place and its rich heritage.

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

"What a remarkable achievement. The completion of The Rothbury Estate purchase is a defining moment for Northumberland and the North East.

"Opportunities of this scale and significance are incredibly rare. By securing this extraordinary landscape, we've the potential to create a flagship for nature recovery supported by sustainable farming, whilst delivering lasting benefits for wildlife, local people and the rural economy for generations to come.

"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."

On sections of the estate purchased by The Wildlife Trusts in October 2024, a range of projects have already been underway to help build their understanding of the estate’s wildlife, landscapes and history. Surveys, research, local volunteers and community groups including archaeologists, birders, academics, the Scouts and the WI have all played a part in helping develop that knowledge.

New citizen-science initiatives launching next month include reptile surveys, soil health testing and an autumn acoustic monitoring survey, all of which will help to inform the transformation of this landscape for generations to come. Local people are encouraged to get involved through Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s website.

To keep up to date with projects and plans on The Rothbury Estate, including the role it will play in a new 40-mile nature corridor from the northeast coast to Kielder on the central Scottish border, visit www.wildlifetrusts.org/rothbury-estate