Sir David Attenborough backs bid to save Rothbury Estate ‘for nature and nation’ | ITV News
Sir David Attenborough has backed a bid to buy a huge expanse of land in Northumberland for “nature and the nation”.
The naturalist and veteran broadcaster is supporting a campaign by The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust to raise £30 million, to secure the future of the Rothbury Estate and use it for natural restoration.
The 15-mile, 9,500-acre site includes woodlands, moorland, farmland and streams and rivers and is the largest area of land to be put up for sale in England for decades.
Nature experts say the site sits at the heart of what could be a 40-mile corridor of protected landscapes, nature reserves and wildlife-focused estates stretching from the coast to Kielder and the Scottish border.
In a video supporting the appeal, Sir David warned that “time is running out to save the site”, which it is feared, is at risk of being broken up and sold off for uses such as commercial forestry.
He said: “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.”
“The Wildlife Trusts have launched an appeal to buy this very special place. They will work with local farmers to care for the area and breathe new life into its precious wildlife habitats. With the communities who live and work at Rothbury, The Wildlife Trusts will create a place where people and nature can thrive side by side. Please help us make this vision a reality. Thank you.”
The Wildlife Trusts have just a year to raise the remaining two thirds of the £30 million needed to buy the site. Credit: ITV Tyne Tees
In October 2024, a partnership between Northumberland Wildlife Trust and the Wildlife Trusts was given two years to raise the £30 million needed to buy the estate.
So far, around £8 million has been secured, but the partnership now has just twelve months to raise the remaining two-thirds.
Under the plans, the Wildlife Trusts would work alongside local farmers and communities to care for the area, with a focus on integrating natural recovery with farming, recreation, education and tourism on the estate
Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says: “We’re extremely grateful to Sir David for championing the Rothbury Appeal at such a vital time for nature recovery in the UK. He has been a staunch supporter of The Wildlife Trusts for over 60 years and he understands what a huge difference securing this land could make for wildlife and for future generations.
“This opportunity is extraordinary, but so is the threat. If The Wildlife Trusts fail to acquire the Rothbury Estate in its entirety by autumn 2026, it is likely it will be broken up into separate landholdings, with many planted with non-native conifers for commercial forestry.”
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