Northumberland Wildlife Trust and The Wildlife Trusts are being helped by the community in Heaton in their campaign to raise funds to purchase The Rothbury Estate in Northumberland
It has been documented that world famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix stayed in the Newcastle suburb of Heaton, shortly after his arrival in this country in 1966, staying at Chas Chandler’s mother’s home on Second Avenue.
Now a guitar from the same part of Newcastle is helping Northumberland Wildlife Trust to raise the funds needed to purchase the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland.
Independent musical instrument retailer Curvy Sounds from Heaton launched a raffle featuring a bespoke Tokai Les Paul guitar earlier this year. The guitar had been customised by founder Andrew Mills.
This one-of-a-kind instrument features a striking design created from iridescent pearl ovals that radiate outwards from the centre of the guitar had an estimated value of £1,000. The pattern is said to be “inspired by naturally occurring forms found in the centre of sunflowers, the movement of shoals of fish and the arrangement of flower petals”.
Then another guitar, which is also worth over £1,000 has been put up by local singer-songwriter Nev Clay.
Conservation artists
Andrew and his wife and business partner Jess Mills used to work as conservation artists, before opening Curvy Sounds on Heaton Hall Road , sharing a lifelong passion for Northumberland’s wonderful wildlife and beautiful landscapes and wildlife.
The couple are said to have had “many happy memories of The Rothbury Estate and the wider Northumberland countryside”.
They spent countless hours picking bilberries on the estate, when their children were younger, as well as camping at Druridge Bay and, during the Covid-19 pandemic, kayaking along the River Coquet.
Other Heaton businesses join in
The great commitment shown by Andrew and Jess has inspired other local businesses to support the fundraising campaign by donating prizes for the raffle in September.
More and more prizes are now arriving at the Heaton shop.
These include vouchers and gifts from: The Last Resort, The Dog Grocers,
The Tipsy Toad, The Dog Grocers, The Artichoke Gift Shop, The Butterfly Cabinet, Body Image Fitness, the Handsome Sandwich, the Barn Door, Smoke and Sear, 10ten, Querido and Davidson Optometrists.
Maximo Park
And there’s more…
Internationally feted indie band Maxïmo Park from Newcastle has also donated signed merchandise.
Raffle, stalls and a walk
The raffle will be drawn at the end of September. In the meantime, tickets are still available here .
Meanwhile on 4 July, during the Ouseburn Festival, a stall was hotsed by artist and professional gardener Kate Dickinson and Curvy Sounds co-founder Jess Mills. At the stall, they sold artwork created by Kate, Harriet Menter, Kubra Mujde, and Claire Sarametz. They also sold fairtrade musical instruments supplied by Curvy Sounds and plants donated by the West Jesmond School allotment.
Then on 29 July, Jess and Kate and completed a six-hour fundraising walk in the stunning Simonside Hills near Rothbury.
Jess Mills
Jess Mills, Co-Founder of Curvy Sounds, commented:
“The Rothbury Estate is a special place to Andrew and me, and to many people across the North East.
“Every day I walk through Jesmond Dene and thank Lord Armstrong for creating such an amazing park that provides a home for wildlife and has brought pleasure to generations of people.
“This is our chance to do the same and help The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, in whatever way we can, to purchase The Rothbury Estate and preserve this incredible area for both wildlife and people.”
Mike Pratt
Mike Pratt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Chief Executive, commented:
“What a fantastic offer from Curvy Sounds and Nev. Two amazing guitars to help raise money for Rothbury – maybe we should call it The Rockbury Estate.
“The generosity of everybody in Heaton shows again just how much everyone cares about making this happen for nature and people – a ‘Wild Thing’ part of a Northumberland’s future.”
A wonderful gesture to protect nature
This is a lovely uplifting community story, linking the city with the countryside and the worlds of music and human creativity with the beautiful natural world of Northumberland.
We should all applaud Andrew and jess Mills for their efforts along with all the others from Heaton and Newcastle, who have contributed so much to make David Attenborough’s dream come true and for the Rothbury Estate to come under the protection it deserves.
We live in a beautiful part of the world; let’s all celebrate that and help to protect it.
To learn more and find out how can donate to the fund to buy the Rothbury Estate, please see here .
Based on a press release from Northumberland Wildlife Trust
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