Northumberland Nature Recovery Project Advances with Largest Land Sale in England in Over 30 Years
The Rothbury estate in Northumberland, spanning approximately 3,800 hectares (nearly 15 square miles), is the largest single-ownership land sale in England in more than three decades. The sale was initiated by Max Percy, the youngest son of the Duke of Northumberland.
The Northumberland Wildlife Trust aims to purchase the Rothbury estate for about £30 million. The trust has currently raised roughly one-third of the funding required, with a deadline set for September 2026 to complete fundraising.
The project envisions creating a 40-mile nature corridor extending from Druridge Bay to the Scottish-English border, linking Kielderhead and Whitelee reserves. This corridor is focused on enhancing large-scale ecological connectivity in the region.
Previously, the trust acquired the western side of the Rothbury estate, including the Simonside Hills, and plans to restore drained bogs alongside other habitat improvements.
While immediate rewilding is not planned, the project anticipates the potential future presence of species such as bison, pine martens, beavers, and golden eagles, adopting a broad multi-species restoration approach.
Sir David Attenborough endorsed the bid in a video message, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with local farmers and communities to develop a place where both people and nature can thrive together.
Ongoing community engagement addresses local concerns and rumours, such as clarifying that there are no plans to reintroduce lynx. A community development officer has been appointed to listen to residents and report back on project progress.
