Attenborough-backed appeal secures £30m estate

Conservationists have completed the purchase of a huge upland estate following a two-year £30m public appeal backed by the likes of Sir David Attenborough.

The Wildlife Trusts - a federation of 47 conservation charities - and Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT) plan to "enhance the rich natural heritage" of the Rothbury Estate, a 9,500-acre stretch of former grouse moor, woodland and farmland - having headed off fears it could be split among multiple owners.

Broadcaster Sir David described it as an opportunity "to create something very special for generations to come".

Not everyone supported the campaign, though, with some local farmers having warned the purchase would be "a folly".

Owned by Lord Max Percy, the Duke of Northumberland's youngest son, the estate had been in the family for about 700 years and was understood to be the largest area of land put up for sale in England in decades.

Worried public access could become more difficult if it was divided between owners, the wildlife organisations bought an initial tract in 2024 covering the Simonside Hills and a mixture of lowland, woods, riverside and farmland.

That also saw them strike a deal to purchase the remainder of the estate if they could raise the £30m in two years with ambitions for it to become a 40-mile (64km) "wild" corridor, stretching from the North East coast to Kielder and the Scottish border.

It has now been announced they have taken out a "low-interest loan to bridge the short-term funding gap between pledged monies still to be received and the fundraising target, ensuring completion of the entire estate".

The plan was not universally popular though.

Chris Armstrong, a tenant farmer overseeing 1,000 acres close to the site, was among those questioning it.

He told the BBC earlier this year the community was split over the issue: "The most recent strapline seems to be 'time is running out to save the Rothbury Estate'.

"The Rothbury Estate doesn't need saving. Saving from what?"

"I would put it very much akin to the Brexit vote, I would think it would be that finely split.

"I think the majority of the farming community see this as a folly."

Meanwhile, Defra's contribution has come under fire from Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson, chairman of Northumberland Conservatives.

He said the pledge showed the government "has its priorities wrong" in light of difficulties people across the country have faced securing sustainable farming incentive (SFI) funding.

"Farmers were left scrambling in an application window that opened and closed the same day," Renner-Thompson said.

"Yet ministers can find nearly £2m to help a charity buy an estate."

In response, Nature Minister Jenny Riddell-Carpenter said the government was "stepping in to help" having seen thousands of members of the public give their support for a "once-in-a-generation opportunity".

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