National Lottery Heritage Grants £250,000 to £10 million
The Wildlife Trusts have a vision for The Rothbury Estate where nature and people thrive side by side. With the help of our funding, they are one step closer to securing this historic landscape, that represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore nature at scale.
The vision for the landscape has gained widespread support including that of Sir David Attenborough and polar explorer and Northumbrian, Conrad Dickinson.
The Rothbury Estate is home to a diverse range of wildlife including curlews, mountain bumblebees, eels, red squirrels and merlins – the UK’s smallest falcon. One of The Wildlife Trusts’ main ambitions for this site is to protect and restore the habitats.
The project will work collaboratively with farmers and local communities to establish nature-friendly farming and innovative land management approaches that will allow wildlife to thrive while remaining productive. More people will be able to explore and enjoy the varied habitats across the landscape through improved access and pathways.
The rich archaeological heritage of the estate can be seen in remains such as:
- prehistoric burial cairns
- the ancient Simonside cup and ring-marked rocks
- an Iron Age hill fort
- the ruins of a 16th or 17th century fortified farmstead
However, it’s believed that there could be further history to uncover and share with future generations.
Eilish McGuinness, our Chief Executive, says: “By working with local communities to develop new approaches to land management, this transformational project has the potential to deliver nature recovery at a landscape scale in a way that will help reconnect people to the unique natural and cultural heritage of Rothbury, and ensure it is safeguarded for future generations, supporting our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.”
