Smile for Life named Northumberland Estates Charity of the Year

Coquet Island is the only colony in the UK where Roseate Terns breed and also hosts Puffins, as well as Common, Arctic, and Sandwich Terns, Eiders, Razorbills, Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Herring Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and Black-headed Gulls.

Managed by a dedicated team of conservationists and owned by Northumberland Estates, our objectives for Coquet Island include:

• Maintaining a breeding seabird population above 20,000 through habitat management, predation control, and protection from human disturbance.
• Increasing the Roseate Tern population by providing shingle nesting terraces and specialised nest boxes, as these terns are selective about their nesting locations.
• Utilising Coquet Island as a feeder site to expand the breeding range of Roseate Terns.
• Supporting the populations of Arctic, Common, and Sandwich Terns, as well as Kittiwakes.
• Raising public awareness about the seabird colony on Coquet Island.

Northumberland is one of the last strongholds of our native red squirrels and Hulne Park at Alnwick is home to a good population. Owned by Northumberland Estates, visitors to Hulne Park may be lucky enough to experience a sighting of one of these endangered animals. If so they are encouraged to report any sightings to Red Squirrels Northern England via their website. This information is vital if scientists are to build an accurate picture of red squirrel populations in the UK.

The Duke of Northumberland is a keen supporter of red squirrel conservation work and recently launched a levy scheme to encourage landowners to aid conservation efforts. He also hosted an awards ceremony designed to honour volunteers who assist conservation efforts nationwide.

For almost 20 years, Northumberland Estates has operated a Grey Partridge conservation project with the aim to initially halt the decline in numbers on the core arable land and then create a surplus.

Recognising that existing conservation schemes of the time were doing little more for existing Grey Partridge populations than allowing them to survive, the first move was to improve habitat and over the years the benefits in terms of wildlife and biodiversity have proved immense.

In 2007, the Grey Partridge project won the prestigious Purdey Award for Game and Conservation. Creating an ideal environment for wild Grey Partridge while simultaneously maintaining profitability on what is an intensively farmed arable unit, is a considerable challenge. Added to that not all of the land is farmed in hand, with local tenant farmers encouraged to participate.

What has resulted is not just a dramatic increase in Grey Partridge numbers, but bird counts show populations of many other species have also improved including tree sparrows, yellow hammers, blackbirds, and many more. Brown hare populations have also benefited.

Burncastle Estate in the Scottish Borders has become the first estate to build two new artificial golden eagle eyries (nesting sites) as part of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project.

The Duke of Northumberland added: “We’ve been thrilled that the work of the project has led to golden eagles re-establishing a presence in the south of Scotland and it has been exciting to see these magnificent birds occupy a range close to Burncastle.

“The estate was very keen to play a part in helping the birds, and the opportunity to build the eyries on Burncastle will hopefully raise the prospects of new chicks being born in the future.”

Northumberland Estates has partnered with The King’s Trust to offer educational, practical, and work experience opportunities for young people. We have welcomed participants from various King’s Trust programs, who have engaged in livestock management and environmental conservation sessions, explored historical property restoration—including stone carving and other essential restoration skills—and gained valuable work experience.

In 2009, Northumberland Estates partnered with the Church of England to become a joint sponsor of The Northumberland Church of England Academy in Ashington. The school serves boys and girls aged 3 to 19 and was purpose-built at a cost of £50 million, accommodating over 2,600 students. Northumberland Estates continues to maintain connections with the Academy and is still involved through consultancy support. 

Alnwick Castle has served as a campus branch for students from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, USA, for over 30 years. This experience is a vital component of their International Study Program, allowing students to immerse themselves in different cultures and customs while earning credits toward their degrees. During their time in Alnwick, students reside and study at the Castle and often spend time with local families. Many of them develop lasting connections with Northumberland Estates and the town itself.

Northumberland Estates also contributes to the St Cloud Scholarship Fund. 

Harry Hotspur CE Primary School is the new name for what was previously St Michael’s.

The name honours Sir Henry Percy, known as Harry Hotspur, the eldest son of Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, recognised for his speed and bravery in battle.

This name change reflects the school’s rich history tied to both the Diocese and the Duke of Northumberland, celebrating these connections while embracing a new future. In support of this transition, the Estate provided all students with the new school uniform at no cost.

Northumberland Estates has shown a strong commitment to Alnwick schools for centuries. The Duchess Community High School traces its origins back to 1808 when Duchess Julia established a school for 20 local girls. More recently, the Estate played a significant role in developing the school’s new purpose-built facilities for the High School, donating a 20-acre site valued at over £8 million. An additional 10 acres have also been provided for playing fields and to establish a new sports club for the town.

We continue to support the school through funding for books for their ‘Reading for Pleasure’ project and assisting with career development opportunities. 

Brentford Penguins has been nominated by the staff at Syon Park as their charity of the year for 2024. During this time, they applied for a grant to purchase a van, which has greatly enhanced their operations. The Club primarily uses public playing fields for their activities, which means they have to storage and transport of a significant amount of equipment. The new vehicle allows the Club to conduct sessions more regularly and efficiently transport a variety of items, including nets, balls, and first aid supplies.

Brentford Penguins were set-up by former Brentford winger Allan Cockram and is open to people with Down’s Syndrome in West London aged eight to 30 who want to play football and enjoy themselves while getting some exercise.

The Club runs weekly outdoor training sessions which are open to boys and girls with Down’s syndrome aged 5 and over who want to learn and practice their football skills such as passing, dribbling and shooting whilst also improving their balance, coordination and agility. Not only are they a football club but we also organise events for the kids, host holiday Football Camps and we are also lucky enough to attend some of the Premiership games at Brentford FC. The Club also helps promote and educate the wider community about Down’s Syndrome through school visits and presentations. 

The Country Trust is the North East’s leading educational charity connecting children from areas of high social and economic disadvantage with the land that sustains us all. Through food, farming and countryside experiences they aim to empower children to be confident, curious and create change in their lives so that they and society can thrive.

Thanks to the Northumberland Estates Community Fund, six educational visits to Broxfield Farm near Alnwick have been fully supported. This project enables over one hundred and fifty children from deprived areas of Northumberland and Tyneside to enjoy practical outdoor learning about food, farming, and the rural environment. Additional funding has been provided to cover coach costs for another eight schools to access farm and countryside visits.  

Some of the children have not been out of the estate before and are only used to being in the city. They loved to find out about the cows. They loved the open spaces and running up the hill – and rolling down! They said they didn’t just like it, they loved it!

Northumberland Estates provided funding to Alnwick Town Junior Football Club with the aim of enhancing facilities for players, staff, and fans and improving the overall matchday experience and strengthening community ties.

The funds were used for several key enhancements, including pitch improvements, the addition of dugouts, and the installation of a Crowd Control Barrier. These upgrades are vital as the club strives to raise its standards and ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone involved.

Currently, 22 teams are active within Alnwick Town Junior Football Club. Northumberland Estates is the main sponsor of the Alnwick Town Ladies Football Team for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, in addition to supporting several junior teams within the club as a kit sponsor. 

Northumberland Estates funded 14 medical diagnostic kits for the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team.

Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team provides a vital life-saving, emergency search and rescue service across the whole of the Northumbria Police area. This vast and largely remote and unpopulated area encompasses all of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, and measures approximately 5,000km².

A team of approximately 50 highly trained members and resources are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to save lives and alleviate distress among persons affected by an accident, disaster or natural hazard.