David Attenborough thanks public after moorland estate saved for nature

Sir David Attenborough has thanked the public after conservationists completed the largest land purchase in England for decades and secured a 9,500-acre moorland estate for nature.

After two years of fundraising, The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust announced they have bought the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland, which was priced at £30 million.

The scheme will introduce more nature-friendly farming, restore bogs and promote wildlife on a site the size of Athens.

Sir David, president emeritus of The Wildlife Trusts, backed the ambitious project and appealed for the public’s help in raising the money.

He said: “The Wildlife Trusts called for your support and you answered in your thousands.

“The appeal to secure the future of the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland has been successful and now the opportunity to bring the vision of a landscape where nature and people thrive side by side can become a reality.

“This will be a place where nature, community, farming and heritage can combine to create something very special for generations to come.

“Thank you very much.”

The much-loved TV presenter’s backing generated more than £1 million of donations in just a week at an early stage of the fundraising project.

The project has been backed by around £1.9 million from the Government, through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as well as £5 million of National Lottery Heritage Fund cash.

More than 25,000 people from 50 countries around the world also made donations, with the public’s support bringing in £17 million.

Eilish McGuinness, chief executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “By working with local communities to develop new approaches to land management, this transformational project has the potential to deliver nature recovery at a grand scale, helping to reconnect people to the unique natural and cultural heritage of this remarkable and nationally significant landscape.”

Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trusts, said: “What a remarkable achievement.

“The completion of the Rothbury Estate purchase is a defining moment for Northumberland and the North East.

“Opportunities of this scale and significance are incredibly rare.

“By securing this extraordinary landscape, we’ve the potential to create a flagship for nature recovery supported by sustainable farming, whilst delivering lasting benefits for wildlife, local people and the rural economy for generations to come.”

Some of the estate has already been bought and projects have begun to make a start in surveying wildlife, landscapes and history.

Sir David has previously praised the remote estate where walkers can scramble over crags and admire the prehistoric rock art.

Published: 30/10/2026 by Radio NewsHub