Duke's estate to be restored for nature after land sale to charity

The Wildlife Trusts have bought part of the Duke of Northumberland's estate in the largest land sale in England for 30 years.

- Helena Horton

Billed by its estate agents as "a paradise for those with a penchant for sporting pursuits, from world-class fishing on the illustrious River Coquet to pheasant and grouse shooting", Rothbury estate has now been bought by the charity, with plans to restore it for nature.

The Trusts are buying the land in an unusual two-phase deal: they have already bought what they say is a "significant" chunk of the 9,500-acre estate and have been given two years to find the rest of the money. They are launching an appeal to raise the funds to buy the rest of the land.