Donation extension in £30m bid for estate
Donation extension in £30m bid for estate
Dan HallWed, September 30, 2026 at 6:10 AM UTC
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Rothbury Estate was marketed as including 12 farms, 23 residential properties, a caravan park and a pub
The deadline for donations to conservation groups aiming to raise £30m to buy a vast upland estate has been extended.
The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust said they were close to raising the full amount to acquire the Rothbury Estate in its entirety and would take out a loan for anything they fell short by.
Pete Batchelor, from the Northumberland Trust, said: "The more funds raised through our fundraising appeal, the smaller the loan will be."
Meanwhile, the window for public donations to the fund, backed by major figures including Sir David Attenborough, had been due to close on 30 September but has been extended until the end of October.
The cash amassed so far includes seven figure sums from anonymous philanthropists, the auction of a rare guitar and local crafters making Valentine's Day hearts from Coquetdale wool.
Fundraising efforts gained support from people around the world after Sir David Attenborough backed the appeal last year, but it has not been popular with everyone, including some in the farming community who saw the plans as "a folly".
The land includes the Simonside Hills in Northumberland
Batchelor, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support of the local community and people from across the UK and beyond.
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"To ensure we raise the funds required we will continue with our fundraising campaign to the end of October, which is our deadline to complete on the purchase."
However, he confirmed the trust had agreed to take out a low-interest loan to cover any funding gap between what has been raised and the total needed.
The group had already bought a section of the land, but sought donations to allow it to buy the rest.
Rothbury Estate was owned by the Duke of Northumberland's youngest son Lord Max Percy and had been in the family for about 700 years.
It includes 12 farms, more than 1,800 acres (728 hectares) of woodland, 23 residential properties, a caravan park and a pub.
The Wildlife Trusts said it wants to reduce the number of sheep on the estate from 1,500 to 500 and quadruple the number of cattle to 200.
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Major donors help Rothbury Estate bid move closer
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Sir David Attenborough backs bid to buy estate
Related internet links
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Northumberland Wildlife Trust
Wildlife Trusts
Source: “AOL Money”
