Today, The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust announce a major boost to The Rothbury Estate appeal, with £5 million awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This significant contribution pushes the fundraiser past its halfway point, taking the total raised so far to over £16 million. 

The funding marks a significant moment in efforts to raise £30 million to secure the purchase of the entire 3,800-hectare estate in the heart of Northumberland – in what will become one of the most ambitious nature recovery projects in the UK.  

Following the successful purchase of part of the Estate in 2024, including the much-loved Simonside Hills, fundraising has continued at pace. The appeal has gained widespread support from individuals and organisations across the country and beyond, including Sir David Attenborough, and most recently, polar explorer and Northumbrian, Conrad Dickinson. 

As The Wildlife Trusts move into the last six months of the fundraiser, the momentum must continue: to unlock the Heritage Fund’s £5m grant, they must raise the remainder of the funding by the end of September 2026. 

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, says: 

“We are delighted to be able to award this major grant of £5m to The Wildlife Trusts to acquire the Rothbury Estate and move forward with their ambitious plans for this amazing landscape, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players. By working with local communities to develop new approaches to land management, this transformational project has the potential to deliver nature recovery at a landscape scale in a way that will help reconnect people to the unique natural and cultural heritage of Rothbury, and ensure it is safeguarded for future generations, supporting our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for, and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.”  

Liz Bonnin, President of The Wildlife Trusts, says:  

“This grant is a major step towards securing the beautiful and historic Rothbury Estate for nature and people, long into the future. The opportunity for us to shape the next chapter in its story is incredibly exciting, and we are so grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their backing. Not only have they provided incredibly generous financial support, but their enthusiasm and understanding of our vision for this unique and special place has been truly uplifting.” 

Conrad Dickinson, President of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, says:  

“This is just such fantastic news; we’re absolutely delighted to be awarded this funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The £5m takes us over the halfway point in our fundraising, with just over six months left to go. It’s a moment to celebrate and give thanks for all the support this appeal has received. Together I know we can reach the £30m target to purchase this beautiful Estate, a place so very close to my heart.” 

Mike Pratt, Chief Executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, says:  

“While there is still a significant area of land to secure, we’re already working closely with tenant farmers on parts of the Estate. Together, we’re establishing nature-friendly farming approaches that support wildlife while keeping farms productive. It gives us a glimpse of what’s possible. With the opportunity to secure the rest of the Estate – which we’re that bit closer to realising today – we can scale up this work and create a landscape where farming and nature truly thrive together.” 

A vision for nature and the nation: The Rothbury Estate offers an extraordinary, once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore nature at scale, strengthen nature-friendly farming, improve public access, and safeguard the rich archaeology and cultural heritage of this historic landscape. 

The Wildlife Trusts’ vision for the Estate is one where nature and people thrive side by side. Where nature-friendly farming helps wildlife to thrive while remaining productive and where improved access and pathways allow more people to explore and enjoy the landscape. Restoration of habitats at scale, supporting a wide variety of wildlife from curlew to red squirrel is another primary ambition alongside sharing the site’s archaeology and heritage, using knowledge of the past to shape a sustainable future. 

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