A conservation alliance in the U.K. has raised nearly one-third of the 30 million pounds ($39 million) it needs to buy land in northeastern England to turn into a refuge for wildlife and local communities.
The land, known as the Rothbury Estate, is roughly the size of the Greek capital of Athens, at 3,839 hectares (9,486 acres), and is located next to a national park.
Wildlife Trusts, a network of U.K. conservation charities, says the land’s management would help protect local species such as red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), pine martens (Martes martes), curlews (Numenius arquata) and skylarks (Alauda arvensis). The group says it will reintroduce European bison (Bison bonasus) and beavers (Castor fiber).
The area could also serve has a habitat for golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), recently spotted in northern England for the first time in several decades.
“The Wildlife Trusts have launched an appeal to buy this very special place,” renowned naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough said in a video shared by the charity. “They will work with local farmers to care for the area and breathe new life into it with the communities who live and work at Rothbury.”
Rothbury Estate was put up for sale in 2023 by a 35-year-old English aristocrat, Max Percy, who grew up in the castle used as Hogwarts for the Harry Potter movies.
In October 2024, Wildlife Trusts, in partnership with Northumberland Wildlife Trust, purchased the first part of the estate, known as Simonside Hills, made up of open expanses of moorland and forest, and home to Neolithic and Bronze Age rock carvings.
Percy agreed to give the charity a two-year window to raise the funds to purchase the remaining areas, largely agricultural land. Local media reported that some residents have argued the land should be returned to the community and its fate shouldn’t be decided by one person.
“There were several interested parties in the Rothbury Estate, and Max selected the purchaser he believed would be most suitable for the long-term interests of the Estate,” Northumberland Estates, which manages the family’s assets, told Mongabay by email.
The Estate was marketed at £35 million [$46 million], but the agreed sale price remains confidential.
A Wildlife Trusts spokesperson told Mongabay by email that they’re now one year away from their deadline and have raised nearly 10 million pounds ($13 million) of their 30-million-pound goal. “Along with local support, we’ve received donations from £5 [$6.5] to £5m from people all over the country and abroad.”
If they don’t reach their goal amount, Wildlife Trusts warns the land may be broken up into smaller parts and sold off to different buyers, threatening to disrupt one of the nation’s few remaining natural strongholds and raising concerns for the region’s farmers and residents.
Banner image: People walking through Rothbury Estate. Image courtesy of John Millard.
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