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8 days to raise £80,000 – and double it – for flagship UK nature project

Public asked to help The Wildlife Trusts secure Northumberland’s Rothbury Estate

Northumberland Wildlife Trust and The Wildlife Trusts are urging the public to support the ‘Rothbury Estate for Nature and the Nation Appeal’ via the Big Give’s Green Match Fund. Any donations will be doubled – this could mean that £160,000 is raised for the appeal.  

The appeal runs for just 8 days: from noon on Tuesday 22nd April to noon on Tuesday 29th April.

In October 2024, The Wildlife Trusts announced they had started the process of buying the iconic Simonside Hills and surrounding Rothbury Estate – a huge expanse of countryside in Northumberland, in the biggest purchase of its kind in England for a generation.

A £30 million appeal was launched to secure the entire estate for nature and the nation. The charities have agreed a two-phase purchase agreement over two years – so far, nearly 25% of the funds have been raised. 

A group of Luing heifers stood on a grassland. The cattle are mostly brown, with one being white and brown. An expanse of open land is behind them, leading to distant hills under a clear blue sky

Luing heifers, Simonside, Rothbury © John Millard

Simonside Hills. An open landscape with rolling hills under a cloudy sky. Sunbeams break through the clouds, casting light onto the land below. In the foreground, a large, weathered stone stands upright among low vegetation.

South of Simonside Hills, Rothbury © Duncan Hutt Northumberland Wildlife Trust

A close-up image of sphagnum moss, showing its dense, spongy texture and vibrant green color. The moss consists of small, overlapping leaves that form a soft, cushion-like mat, often found in wet, boggy areas.

Sphagnum moss at the Rothbury Estate © John Millard

The objective is to enhance the rich natural heritage of the estate for future generations, create a sustainable future for local farmers and avoid the land being broken up into multiple ownerships, which would make access for the public more difficult.  

Liz Bonnin, president of The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“What really excites me about Rothbury, even at this early stage, is the spirit of collaboration that lies at the heart of our approach - between the farmers who live here, members of the community, the entire Wildlife Trusts federation and beyond. I think this project truly represents what’s possible when we are at our best.”

David Oakes, actor, ecologist and The Wildlife Trusts’ ambassador, says:  

“In just one morning at Rothbury I saw skylarks, curlew and kestrels – the birds are fantastic; there’s an astounding variety of plant life, amphibians, reptiles and more besides! The potential for wildlife to coexist here alongside the local community is inspirational. This is an amazing opportunity that must be grasped firmly with both hands.” 

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

“We have until September 2026 to raise £30 million to buy the whole of the Rothbury estate. I understand that cost of living expenses have risen again, but I am calling on members of the public to help us create a wonderful natural heritage site to show the entire world how wonderful this region really is. And remember, every donation is doubled during the Big Give’s Green Match Fund thanks to generous donors and The Reed Foundation.” 

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says:  

“We’re looking forward to creating a national flagship for nature recovery alongside farming, community involvement and access for people for the very first time. The Rothbury Estate will come to play a key role in revitalising local economies and bring huge benefits for both people and wildlife. It’ll provide the most amazing example for the rest of the country on a scale not seen before. We want to hear from everyone who is keen to support our appeal.” 

The Big Give is the UK's online match funding platform, specialising in bringing charities, philanthropists and the public together to multiply their impact. You can donate to the Rothbury appeal between noon on Tuesday 22nd April and noon on Tuesday 29th April.   

 

Want to hear more about Rothbury and have your donation doubled?

Let us know your details and we'll contact you as soon as the Green Match Fund goes live. 

By entering your details into this form, you agree to receive information about Rothbury and the Green Match Fund from The Wildlife Trusts nationally and Northumberland Wildlife Trust. You will have the option to unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy. 

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Editor's Notes

See also: The Wildlife Trusts buy The Rothbury Estate in partnership with Northumberland Wildlife Trust | The Wildlife Trusts 

As a Rothbury supporter, donors will: 

  • Save Rothbury Estate - helping to purchase and protect the estate, ensuring its future as a key area for nature recovery in England and enabling us to collaborate with locals to create a lasting vision for a space for everybody. 

  • Enhance nature - safeguarding and restoring vital habitats such as peatlands, woodlands, and wetlands to support endangered species such as red squirrels and golden eagles and fight climate change. 

  • Improve public access - ensuring the Estate can welcome people to experience nature, boosting well-being and creating new, much needed, job opportunities. 

  • Promote sustainable farming - working with local farmers to adopt eco-friendly farming methods and ensuring a sustainable future for both the environment and local communities. 

Northumberland Wildlife Trust 

Northumberland Wildlife Trust is the largest environmental charity in the region working to safeguard native wildlife. One of 46 Wildlife Trusts across the UK, Northumberland Wildlife Trust has campaigned for nature conservation for over 50 years. It aims to inform, educate and involve people of all ages and backgrounds in protecting their environment in favour of wildlife and conservation. Supported by over 12,000 individual and forty corporate members in the region, Northumberland Wildlife Trust manages and protects critical species and habitats at over sixty nature reserves throughout Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Northumberland.  

The Wildlife Trusts 

The Wildlife Trusts are making the world wilder and helping to ensure that nature is part of everyone’s lives. We are a grassroots movement of 46 charities with more than 910,000 members and 39,000 volunteers. No matter where you are in Britain, there is a Wildlife Trust inspiring people and saving, protecting and standing up for the natural world. With the support of our members, we care for and restore over 2,600 special places for nature on land and run marine conservation projects and collect vital data on the state of our seas. Every Wildlife Trust works within its local community to inspire people to create a wilder future – from advising thousands of landowners on how to manage their land to benefit wildlife, to connecting hundreds of thousands of school children with nature every year. www.wildlifetrusts.org 

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