The Rothbury Estate is up for sale and potential buyers Northumberland Wildlife Trust and the Wildlife Trusts - a federation of 47 conservation charities - are two thirds of the way towards raising the £30m needed. The Wildlife Trusts says it plans to boost wildlife, restore bogs and promote nature-friendly farming on the site - but those plans are not popular with everyone.

February’s weather is doing its worst on the hills above Rothbury, with persistent rain and mist shrouding much of the scenery, but the man trudging towards me loves this landscape - even on a day like this.

Conrad Dickinson is the president of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust.