The biggest landscape investigation ever undertaken by The Wildlife Trusts is underway on The Rothbury Estate in Northumberland. The unique scientific surveys into the wildlife, ecology and history of vast 9,500-acre estate will unlock the secrets of its wildlife and historic landscape. The studies bring together leading universities, a rap artist, local community groups and Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

Listening to nature: year-round acoustic monitoring

The University of Oxford, alongside members of the Rothbury community, have installed a network of 20 acoustic sensors, known as AudioMoths, to monitor birds and bats as well as other species including small mammals and insects. Using machine-learning algorithms, the recordings will be analysed to identify species presence and activity across different habitats.

Unlike most acoustic surveys which are carried out only in spring and summer, this project will monitor wildlife all year round, providing a rare insight into seasonal change and the impacts of climate change over time. Crucially, the work will also establish a true evidence baseline of the estate’s wildlife before any habitat restoration begins – highly unusual with this type of monitoring which, in most cases, only happens once work is underway.

Digging into the past: dating historical ecology

In a first-of-its-kind pilot project, Newcastle University, University of St Andrews and Durham University will combine soil environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling with optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, to find out what the land used to be like, and what wildlife has lived there over the last millennium. The results will shed new light on historical ecology and land-use change across one of England’s most important ancient places.

Monitoring boosted by community collaboration and artistic inspiration

University researchers have been joined by local community groups, including bat, bird and archaeology specialists to install sensors and dig test pits over a 3-day period.

Music artist, zoologist and field recordist Louis VI, an ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts, has taken part in the acoustic monitor installation. There are plans for him to create a musical piece inspired by and using the wildlife recordings in the future.

Dr Ella Browning, Postdoctoral Researcher in Ecoacoustics says: “We’re incredibly excited to gain new insights into the bats, birds and other species across this very special place using year-round acoustic surveying. The study will provide a robust baseline, rarely captured, from which we can monitor changes to biodiversity over time and track the impact of nature recovery approaches. This project will allow us to listen to the soundscape in extraordinary detail and we’re looking forward to sharing the sounds of Northumberland nature so many can enjoy it.”

Duncan Scott, Director of Conservation at Northumberland Wildlife Trust says: “The Rothbury Estate is a unique and special place where nature, history and people’s lives come together. This new research will guide our vision for the large-scale restoration of nature over a vast 9,500 acres, while involving people every step of the way. We’re really looking forward to deepening our knowledge of the wildlife that calls this special place home and sharing that with the public over the months to come.”

The Rothbury Estate already supports a remarkable range of species, including rare red squirrels, hares, eight of Northumberland’s nine bat species, and red-listed, endangered, birds such as cuckoo, curlew, merlin and skylark. Rare plants including rock bristle moss, frog orchid, dwarf cornel and petty whin are also found on the estate.

Its archaeological richness spans thousands of years, from prehistoric burial cairns and Bronze Age mounds to Iron Age hill forts, beautiful Neolithic rock carvings, medieval field systems and later industrial heritage.

In 2024, The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust secured part of the Estate, with a vision to restore it at the heart of a 40-mile nature corridor stretching across northern England, from the coast to Kielder. There are now just five months left to finish raising the £30m needed to buy the entire Estate. See www.wildlifetrusts.org/appeals/rothbury-estate-nature-and-nation

Ecology

Testing the effectiveness of different ecological approaches for nature recovery to support biodiversity and the delivery of ecosystem services such as climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Scale and Technology

Tracking and evaluating nature recovery at both fine resolution and large spatial scales utilising state-of-the-art remote sensing, big data, and deep machine learning techniques.