LONDON — The Wildlife Trusts, a leading conservation charity in the United Kingdom, must raise nearly £10 million by late September to acquire the remaining portion of the Rothbury Estate and transform the 3,800-hectare property in northern Northumberland into one of Britain's largest biodiversity sanctuaries. The sale represents the largest land transaction in England in three decades.
The organization has raised £20.6 million through crowdfunding in under two years toward a £30 million total target, leaving a critical gap as the deadline approaches.
Peter Batchelor, who manages the acquisition plan for the Wildlife Trusts, called the opportunity "once-in-a-lifetime." More than 20,000 individuals have contributed, with donations ranging from £5 to £5 million. The charity secured a portion of the estate, including the Simonside Hills, in late 2024.
The Rothbury Estate, a vast tract of moorlands and woodlands, has been under the ownership of the Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland, for almost eight centuries. The family used the land for grouse shooting until 2022. Its sale has surprised many observers.
Max Percy, the current duke's son, said managing the estate from his home in southern England is too challenging. He agreed to give the charity a two-year window to raise the necessary funds for the remaining land.
Conservation specialist Duncan Hutt described the potential of the entire estate, an area comparable in size to central London, envisioning restored scrub, trees, woodlands, peatlands and cattle pastures. The estate lies approximately 30 miles north of Newcastle.
If the fundraising falls short, conservation groups fear the estate could be divided and sold to multiple owners, opening the land to commercial exploitation.
Katy Nickolls, secretary of Rothbury's Women's Institute, said she was concerned about the potential buyers and their intentions. Nickolls has lived in the area for three decades.
Prominent British naturalist David Attenborough endorsed the effort through a video message, spurring £1 million in donations in a single week.
The Rothbury Estate borders several existing nature reserves and restoration areas. The Wildlife Trusts and owners of those adjacent sites aim to establish a 65-kilometer biodiversity corridor extending inland from the North Sea coast.
The State of Nature 2023 report, compiled by numerous conservation organizations and research institutes, describes the United Kingdom as "now one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth," attributing the decline primarily to the intensive management of agricultural land.
