The Rothbury Estate is secured for nature and people

This has flooded my newsfeeds today.

When this land was put up for sale change was inevitable – it had been in the ownership of the Percy family for 750 years and anyone could have bought it. I am delighted it has been bought by a charity that wants to manage it for nature, working with local communities and farmers.

£30 million was always ambitious and I know how hard everyone worked to make it happen. It’s one thing to have a vision, it’s another to make that vision a reality.

When the numbers are so huge it’s easy to lose track of what that really means. I never thought I would find myself saying, “only £2 million to go.” Only £2 million! That’s more than most campaign totals, a lot more actually! What The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust have achieved is incredible – I hope the team is pausing today to take it all in and give themselves a well earned pat on the back.

I’m excited about this as a fundraiser, as someone concerned about the nature and climate crises and as a local resident. It really is brilliant news for all of us.

👏👏👏