For nearly eight centuries, the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland remained in the hands of the Percy family, whose descendants include the Dukes of Northumberland. Now, after a two-year fundraising campaign that drew support from more than 25,000 people across over 50 countries, the 9,486-acre estate has been acquired by The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust for nature conservation, as per a report by The Guardian. The charities announced the successful purchase on October 30, 2026, describing it as a rare opportunity to restore wildlife habitats across a vast stretch of northern England.The campaign, which sought to raise around £30 million, brought together individual donors, charitable foundations, philanthropists and government support. According to The Wildlife Trusts, members of the public contributed more than £17 million, while a £5 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and a £1.94 million grant pledged by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) helped push the appeal towards its target. Donations also came from more than 50 countries, including Finland, Barbados, Kenya and New Zealand.The charities said they had taken out a low-interest loan to bridge the short-term gap between the money already received and donations and pledges still due, allowing them to complete the purchase of the entire estate. The campaign was launched in 2024, after the land was put up for sale by Lord Max Percy, the youngest son of the Duke of Northumberland. The Guardian reported that the estate was the largest area of land in single ownership to come up for sale in England in more than 30 years.
A landscape with a rich wildlife population
Located in Northumberland, close to the Scottish-English border, the estate covers around 3,800 hectares and includes moorland, woodland, rivers, grasslands and farmland. Its landscape is dominated by the Simonside Hills, which overlook the Coquet Valley and offer views towards the North Sea. The estate also contains parts of the distinctive Whin Sill geological formation, created around 295 million years ago when molten rock rose from deep underground and cooled.The area is home to several species that conservationists hope to protect and help recover. Curlews, lapwings and other wading birds inhabit its uplands, while mountain bumblebees forage across its grasslands. Its woodlands provide shelter for endangered red squirrels, and the estate is also home to cuckoos and merlins, the UK’s smallest falcon.The rivers and surrounding woodland support salmon, critically endangered eels and birds such as wood warblers, redstarts and pied flycatchers. In spring, skylarks can be heard above the grasslands, while wildflowers including harebells, wild thyme and mountain pansies add colour to the landscape during warmer months.The Wildlife Trusts believes the estate could support an even greater variety of wildlife if habitats are restored and connected. Its longer-term ambitions include encouraging the return of species such as pine martens and beavers, alongside improving conditions for animals already living there.
Part of a much bigger conservation plan
The acquisition is intended to form the centrepiece of a proposed 40-mile nature corridor stretching from Druridge Bay on the Northumberland coast towards the Kielderhead and Whitelee Moor National Nature Reserves near the Scottish border. The plan aims to connect habitats across the region, allowing wildlife to move more freely through the landscape rather than remain confined to isolated patches.The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust have said they want to make nature recovery compatible with farming and the needs of local communities. Their plans include restoring habitats, supporting nature-friendly and regenerative farming, improving public access and creating opportunities for people to learn about the estate’s natural and cultural history. The charities have also stressed that the purchase is not intended to simply turn the entire estate into an inaccessible wildlife reserve. Instead, they want to work with farmers, land managers and residents to develop a model in which conservation and productive rural businesses can coexist.The project has, however, attracted some criticism. As The Guardian reported, some farmers and local representatives have raised questions about the potential impact of changes to traditional land management, food production and the profitability of farms operating on the estate. The Wildlife Trusts has said it intends to work with those who live and work on the land.
A campaign backed by David Attenborough
The fundraising drive also received high-profile support from broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough, president emeritus of The Wildlife Trusts. His backing reportedly generated more than £1 million in donations in just one week, giving the campaign a significant boost. Attenborough welcomed the successful acquisition, saying the opportunity would allow nature, communities, farming and heritage to come together. He thanked the thousands of people who had contributed, describing the project as a chance to create something valuable for future generations.The charities had already begun research and conservation work on sections of the estate acquired in October 2024. Volunteers, local community groups, archaeologists, birdwatchers and academics have helped document its wildlife, landscape and history. New citizen-science projects are also planned, including reptile surveys, soil-health testing and acoustic monitoring to record the sounds of wildlife. The purchase marks the end of the fundraising campaign, but the conservation work is only beginning.