Restore buys 7,500-acre Emblehope Moor to rewild, then hand to community

Restore, a land-restoration company, completed the £8.5 million purchase of Emblehope Moor, a 7,500-acre glacial basin in far-north Northumberland that was formerly used for grouse shooting, sheep farming and dog training. The firm is raising £4 million to implement a 20-year rewilding programme that will re-wet peat, eradicate invasive sitka spruce, and reintroduce native fauna including golden eagles, curlews, black grouse, beavers and Exmoor ponies to reduce fire risk and improve biodiversity.

Funding will come from a £4.5 million Triodos Bank loan, natural-capital payments such as carbon credits, and future eco-tourism, with investors promised a two-times return before the land is transferred to a local community or charitable trust. Benedict Macdonald, Restore’s founder, says the project aims to demonstrate a non-greedy, replicable model for upland restoration, while retaining the estate’s existing farmer and gamekeeper for their expertise. Nearby estates such as the Rothbury property, College Valley and Hepple Wilds are also pursuing large-scale nature projects, contributing to what some call “Britain’s Yellowstone”.