WATCH: Sir David Attenborough turns 100 – We asked the public what he means to them
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Sir David Attenborough has issued his heartfelt thanks after conservationists completed the purchase of an “extraordinary landscape”.
The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust have completed the largest land purchase in England for decades after buying up the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland.
Sir David, the Government, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and individual donors funded the purchase of the 9,500-acre moorland estate, worth £30million.
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, led calls for donations to fundraise the ambitious project.
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 legendary presenter’s backing generated more than £1million in donations in just one week, early in the project.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) supplied £1.9million for the purchase, while the National Lottery Heritage Fund provided £5million.
More than 25,000 people from 50 countries around the world donated a total of £17million.
Chief executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund Eilish McGuinness 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 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.
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