Conservation charities the Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust have jointly purchased part of the Rothbury Estate, the largest single piece of land to go on sale in England in 30 years. Significant to both climbers and walkers, the area includes the eastern end of the Simonside Hills and all of the Simonside crags, Garleigh Moor and Garleigh Crags, and Dove Crag (Simonside). 

The aim is to create a "showcase for nature recovery on a vast scale" as well as preserving and enhancing public access and recreation on an estate previously used for grouse shooting and intensive sheep farming.

An agreement has been reached for the charities to buy the entire estate in two phases. They have two years to come up with the money for the second half, for which they've now launched a £30 million appeal.

Having acquired the first 3,800 hectare (9,500-acre) tranche, Northumberland Wildlife Trust aims to enhance its natural heritage, create a sustainable future for local farmers and avoid the land being broken up into multiple ownership, which they say would make access for the public more difficult.

Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said:

"We're very excited to be part of a once in a generation opportunity for securing a stunning area of countryside where people and nature can thrive side by side. It signals the start of something unique in Northumberland and it will also have impact on a national scale. We're looking forward to working with local people to create an exemplar of how nature, farming and community are integrated – something local people can feel immensely proud of.

"We'll be talking and listening to people who live and work in the area over the coming months to evolve a long-term plan for the Estate that respects its traditions and the livelihoods that depend on it. We will preserve and enhance public access and recreational opportunities to allow people to enjoy this wonderful place."  

The current purchase of the western side of the estate includes moorland hills and a mixture of lowland, woods, riverside and farmland, and it's an area especially valued by visitors. Notable wildlife includes curlew, red grouse, merlin, cuckoo, mountain bumblebee, emperor moth and red squirrels.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust say they will work with the local community to create a new vision for the Rothbury Estate that puts restoring nature at its heart.

The Trust directly manages more than 70 nature reserves covering over 4,450 ha. and manages landscape-scale nature recovery projects such as Druridge Bay on the coast. It contributes to large projects such as The Border Mires and Kielder and also coordinates a new Wilder Northumberland Network, a nature network for landowners and farmers that helps to create and connect wildlife-rich landscapes and seas in partnership with other organisations, landowners and communities. It is also a key partner on several large area initiatives such as the College Valley, National Trust Wallington and Hepple Estate.

The ambition for the Rothbury Estate is for it to be central to a swathe of areas that are managed for nature recovery, from the coast stretching west and north to the Scottish border.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust is part of The Wildlife Trusts federation of 46 charities, which collectively care for just under 100,000 ha across the UK. While several Wildlife Trusts care for very large nature reserves such as Ben Mor Coigach, The Great Fen in Cambridgeshire and, recently, Skiddaw Forest in Cumbria, most other reserves are smaller. The Rothbury Estate presents, they say, a "golden opportunity to create a flagship where a regenerative approach to farming could enable nature to be restored at genuine landscape scale and contribute to the UK's commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030".