A race against time has begun to rescue one of England’s most precious landscapes, and Sir David Attenborough is leading the charge.
Sir David Attenborough has thrown his weight behind a bold £30 million appeal to secure the historic Rothbury Estate for nature and the nation.
Attenborough Supports £30m Bid to Save Rothbury Estate
Stretching across 15 square miles of Northumberland’s uplands, the estate includes ancient woodlands, rivers, bogs, farmland, and the iconic Simonside Hills.
Conservationists view this as a rare and urgent opportunity to rewild and protect a vital stretch of English countryside before it’s lost to commercial interests.
Currently, the largest expanse of land on sale in England for decades, Rothbury Estate sits at the centre of what experts believe could become a 40-mile ecological corridor connecting nature reserves, protected landscapes, and wildlife-rich estates from the Northumberland coast to the Scottish border.
A Call to Save a Living Landscape
Backed by both Northumberland Wildlife Trust and the national Wildlife Trusts network, the campaign hopes to raise the full £30 million by October 2026. With £8 million already secured thanks to generous donations ranging from £5 to £5 million, there’s still a long road ahead.
In a passionate video appeal, Sir David Attenborough warned of the looming risk if the estate is sold off to commercial forestry or development.
“People know and love the Simonside Hills that rise here; they walk the ridges and listen for the calls of the curlew, they watch for red squirrels and admire the views as they scramble among the crags.
They walk along its remote paths and marvel at the astonishing rock carvings left by our distant ancestors, who once lived here,” he added.
Attenborough praised the Wildlife Trusts’ approach, highlighting their commitment to working with local farmers and communities, while breathing new life into the landscape.
“Please help us make this vision a reality,” he urged.
Wildlife, Heritage, and Hope are at Stake
The Rothbury Estate is home to a host of rare and threatened species, including:
- Curlew
- Red squirrels
- Lapwings
- Mountain bumblebees
- Cuckoos and merlins
- Atlantic salmon
- Critically endangered European eels
Conservationists believe this rich biodiversity can thrive even further if given a chance.
The trusts’ strategy includes four main pillars:
- Protection of existing wildlife and rare species.
- Habitat restoration, including peatland and ancient woodland.
- Rewilding, introducing natural grazers like ponies, cattle, and potentially even bison.
- Regenerative agriculture, working with farmers to farm sustainably.
There’s also a vision for the return of elusive species like pine martens, beavers, and golden eagles.
A Vision Beyond Conservation
Plans for the estate go beyond just nature. The public would benefit from:
- Improved access to walking trails
- Potential heritage paths to archaeological sites
- A visitor and education centre
- A dark skies observatory to celebrate Northumberland’s famed starry nights
- Boosted local jobs and eco-tourism opportunities
“It’s got a fantastic and interesting landscape already. But when you look in detail, a lot of the finer biodiversity, like everywhere else, is not there as it should be,” said Mike Pratt, Chief Executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust.
He added, “It represents a great canvas to restore nature in that beautiful landscape.”
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Chance
The Rothbury Estate is more than just land; it’s a living link between past and future. From ancient rock carvings and hill forts to bogs and moors echoing with birdsong, the potential for nature recovery here is immense.
“We really want to have a nature-led approach with great spin-offs for the people, economy and recreation. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it is really about trying to do something big and meaningful and lasting for nature, because, gosh, it needs it,” said Pratt.
Donations can be made at: wildlifetrusts.org/rothbury-appeal
This could be the beginning of a new chapter for Northumberland’s wild heart, but only if action is taken now.
