The Wildlife Trust appeal to buy the Rothbury Estate hit £10 million on 31st December 2025. The fund gained an extra £1million before the New Year, as donations soared after David Attenborough lent his support. The first notes of Auld Lang Syne signalled a significant funding achievement, and the beginning of the challenge to raise the next £20million. The Wildlife Trust has under a year to reach the £30million target.

The Wildlife Trust Funding Initiative

On the very last day of 2025 the Wildlife Trust funding appeal hit 1/3 of its £30million target to buy the 9500 acre Rothbury Estate, Northumberland. Thousands of individual donators provided supportive messages to the Wildlife Trust. David Attenborough also lent his support to the appeal, accelerating accumulated donations over £10million before the New Year. The Wildlife Trust has less than 12 months to raise the next £20million required to purchase the estate. The local Rothbury community have banded together to meet the fundraising challenge with family craft days and Woman’s Institute events.   

Mike Pratt, chief executive of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, says: ‘We’re thrilled to be passing the £10m mark and thank absolutely everyone who has contributed so far. It’s wonderful to be at the heart of so much local support and also to know that there are so many champions for our vision all over the world. It’s lovely to take this moment to reflect on the last year and celebrate this milestone. Our focus is now on keeping up the fundraising drive and energy as we look towards the £20m mark in the appeal. This is a once in a generation opportunity, we are working hard with the local community to grasp it.’

The Significance of the Rothbury Estate

The Rothbury Estate in Northumberland is the largest area of land to be on sale in England for over 30 years. Its preservation is essential as part of a 40 mile nature corridor that stretches from the north-east coast of England to the central Scottish border. Its 9500 acres encompass multiple habitat types including woodland, moorland and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The estate is home to skies full of skylarks, lush hillsides of wild flowers and endangered red squirrels that bound through its woodlands.

Liz Bonnin, President of the Wildlife Trust, explains the importance of the fundraising initiative: ‘At 9,500 acres, the Rothbury Estate is the size of Athens. It offers huge scope for restoring nature at scale, to benefit both wildlife and people. The aim is to protect and revitalise habitats for wildlife such as curlew, pine marten, beaver and golden eagle. This will have real significance for a greater area beyond its boundaries because the estate lies at the heart of a 40-mile nature corridor.’

Ensuring the Estate’s Future

The Rothbury Estate holds an important place in the hearts of Northumbrians. The Northumberland Wildlife Trust aims to prevent multiple landowners from breaking up the estate and reducing public access. The Trusts plan to enhance the estate’s natural heritage and ensure the sustainable futures of local farmers. The conservation focused management would seek to balance productive farming with re-wilding, wetland restoration and species reintroduction. So far the Trust has received multiple major gifts to support this vision, but they welcome every donation, no matter the size.

Liz Bonnin is optimistic that the Trusts can achieve their funding goal: ‘This is a really exciting and significant milestone in our journey to protect the wild and beautiful Rothbury Estate for generations to come. It shows just how much it has captured the hearts of people, and how many of us care about its future. Let’s keep the momentum going! We now have a little under a year to reach the £30m target, and I know that together, we can succeed.’

Purchasing the Rothbury Estate

The Wildlife Trusts have hit 1/3 of their £30million target to buy the Rothbury Estate. The Northumberland estate is a rich wildlife tapestry home to multiple habitats and critical species. Its 9500 acres are an important part of Northumbrian heritage. The Trusts aim to purchase the estate in order to ensure its preservation, boost biodiversity and reintroduce native species. Every donation is a step towards the protection of this beautiful piece of land. The Trusts have less than a year to reach their target. If you would like to support the appeal, you can donate here.