Attenborough sparks global support for estate bid

Earlier this year Sir David Attenborough made a public appeal on behalf of conservation charities seeking to raise £30m to buy a huge stretch of land in northern England.

The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT) are attempting to buy the Rothbury Estate from the Duke of Northumberland's youngest son, Lord Max Percy.

The documentarian backed the campaign in October and his words inspired thousands around the world to donate to a campaign that has so far raised £10m.

Many of those supporting the purchase had never even visited Northumberland. A few told the BBC why they were moved to help.

Paradox Mercer, from Indiana in the US and a massive fan of Sir David, said: "I grew up watching him and I just decided to donate."

The TV presenter's message connected with the 18-year-old so much that they weremoved to make a "mini-speech" about it in one of their classes.

They told fellowpupils: "If you have like five bucks to spare you should put your money towards [it] because, at the end of the day, conservation in one part of the world will help everyone."

The 15-sq-mile (38.8-sq-km) Rothbury Estate is the largest area of land to be put on sale in England in decades.

The charities have said they plan to boost wildlife, restore bogs and promote nature-friendly farming on the site.

Catherine Street, from Newfoundland in Canada, is originally from the UK and had read about Sir David's plea on the BBC News website.

"The more I read, the more I thought I should donate," she said.

Ms Street has never visited the site but said she wanted to protect the outdoors for the good of the public.

"Those of us who like being outside are happy to be outside wherever we are and if this makes the outside world available to more people... then that's the best thing," she said.

Andrew St. Helier Bourke, from New Zealand, is a regular visitor to Northumberland.

The 78-year-old said he wanted to donate because he had spent much time in Alnwick, Seahouses and Bamburgh with his English friends and it was an area he had "sort of fell in love with".

"I'm coming over to England again for my 80th birthday in 18 months' time to spend it with my friends and we hope to come up to that area again," he said.

He hopes the land will belong to the charities by then.

Adrian O'Callaghan lives a lot closer to the Rothbury Estate than the others interviewed for this story but he has never visited Northumberland.

"[The land] sounds outstanding and it's ignored by most of us… so for me giving money would create a compunction to go and visit," he said.

The 65-year-old from Oxfordshire said he had decided to donate because he felt like the purchase of the land could make a "credible" impact.

"This is a rare opportunity to make a difference to the future ecological wealth of our country," he said.

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