The Wildlife Trusts’ fight to save a historic English landscape
Summary
The Guardian’s Science Weekly explores the urgent campaign to save the historic Rothbury estate in Northumberland from private sale. Host Madeleine Finlay examines plans by the Wildlife Trusts to raise £30 million for large-scale nature recovery, including shifting from sheep to cattle farming. Experts discuss using environmental DNA and archaeology to guide restoration while addressing local concerns about rewilding.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Vanta and Bombas
Introduction: The Rothbury Estate sale and fundraising goal
Interview with Katie Bark on nature recovery and the Northern Nature Corridor
Archaeological research using eDNA to understand historical ecology
Regenerative farming: Shifting from sheep to cattle for biodiversity
Sponsor: Vanta
Addressing rewilding myths and the final fundraising plea
Outro, credits, and sponsors: Venmo and Range Rover
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