Rothbury appeal: help carry our April support over the finishing line
At our Synod meeting in April 2026, we raised funds to help secure Northumberland’s Rothbury Estate for nature and future generations. Now, as the appeal enters its final weeks, we invite our congregations and friends to support one last push.
As of 19 October, The Wildlife Trusts reports £28.62 million raised, including pledges, towards its £30 million target — more than 95%. Around £1.38 million remains to be found before the planned purchase at the end of October. This is remarkable progress, and everyone who contributed in April has helped bring that goal closer.
What our support can help achieve
The appeal offers the chance to protect more than 3,800 hectares of moorland, woodland, rivers and historic landscape, creating one of England’s largest areas for nature. It means safeguarding habitats for wildlife such as curlews and red squirrels, restoring damaged habitats, and working with the people who live and work on the estate to build a future in which communities and nature can thrive together.
The much-loved Simonside Hills have already been purchased. Securing the remaining estate would allow this wider landscape to be cared for together, preserving its natural and cultural heritage for generations to come.
Why giving now matters
To help complete the purchase, Wildlife Trust trustees have agreed in principle to arrange a low-interest impact loan to bridge any remaining funding gap. Every donation now reduces the borrowing needed and protects funding for nature’s recovery. Reaching the fundraising target will therefore make a lasting difference beyond the purchase itself.
There is also a timely opportunity to increase our impact: three donors have provided a £150,000 matching fund. Donations through the appeal will be doubled while that fund remains available, until completion at the end of October. A £20 gift could therefore bring £40 to the appeal.
For us as Christians, caring for creation is an expression of gratitude, responsibility and hope. Our April collection put that commitment into practice. We now have an opportunity to build on it at a decisive moment.
If you are able, please consider giving, or giving again, and sharing the appeal with your congregation, family and friends.
Thank you to everyone who has already supported this work. Together, we can help turn a hopeful vision into a lasting inheritance.
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