Wildlife Trusts aim to raise £30 million to protect historic Rothbury estate in Northumberland

Madeleine Finlay visited the Rothbury estate in Northumberland, a 700‑year‑old family‑owned property in north‑east England that has been placed on the market. The sale represents the largest land transaction in the UK in three decades, prompting the UK Wildlife Trusts to launch a £30 million fundraising campaign aimed at acquiring the estate in its entirety for conservation purposes.

In her report, Finlay spoke with Katy Barke, head of nature recovery for the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, who outlined the ecological value of the estate’s mosaic of ancient woodlands, heathland and river habitats. Sam Turner, a professor of archaeology at Newcastle University, is conducting a detailed study of historic land use to inform the Trust’s recovery strategy, while Rosie Pearce, a farm liaison officer, described how the project could introduce wildlife‑friendly farming practices across the estate’s working lands.

If the fundraising goal is met, the Rothbury estate would become a flagship site for integrated nature recovery, combining archaeological insight, habitat restoration and sustainable agriculture to safeguard biodiversity while preserving the landscape’s cultural heritage.