David Attenborough Backs £30M Campaign to Save Vast Rothbury Estate

Sir David Attenborough has publicly endorsed a campaign led by The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust to raise £30 million to purchase the 15-square-mile Rothbury Estate in Northumberland, England. This historic estate, the largest land sale in England for decades, is crucial for creating a 40-mile wildlife corridor linking protected landscapes from the northeast coast to the Scottish border. The purchase aims to restore wildlife habitats, including those of curlew, pine marten, beaver, and golden eagle, promote nature-friendly farming, and protect cultural heritage such as ancient rock carvings. Around £8 million has been raised so far, but with only a year left to meet the funding goal, there is urgency to prevent the estate from being broken up and sold off. Attenborough emphasized the importance of the estate's natural beauty and wildlife, urging support to help local communities and farmers care for the land and ensure a future where people and nature thrive together. The initiative represents a significant opportunity for large-scale nature restoration and sustainable land management in the UK.