About the New Forest

 

The New Forest lies to the west of Southampton Water in south-west Hampshire and covers 37,677 hectares. Centuries of human management and livestock grazing have meant that the forest is a combination of heathland, ancient woodland, wetlands and grassy plains, with many inclosures of both coniferous and deciduous woodland. The commoners’ ponies and cattle roam freely across the forest, controlling and shaping the vegetation as they graze.

‘New Forest’, or ‘Nova Foresta’, was created by William the Conqueror as a royal hunting ground, and forest laws were enforced to protect the hunted animals and their habitats. These strict laws ensured that the hunting of deer and wild boar remained the closely guarded privilege of the King and his followers.

Over the centuries, deer hunting became less important, and by the 17th and 18th centuries timber production was the primary economic use of the New Forest. The New Forest Acts came into force, and areas were fenced off to protect young saplings from the grazing animals. It wasn’t until the Act of 1877 that two thirds of the forest were set aside for commoners to exercise their traditional rights.

Deer populations were left unmanaged until the 19th century when they reached levels that threatened the timber crops and competed with the commoners’ stock for food. The Deer Removal Act was established in 1851 and it was resolved that all deer were to be removed. Although total removal was not achieved, the numbers did reduce dramatically, and the Forestry Commission's keepers continue to keep these numbers under control today.

Recreation is important in the New Forest and with a large proportion of the forest being Crown land, access to the greater part is open and free to all. Local users and visitors from farther afield regularly enjoy participating in a wide range of recreation activities including horse-riding, dog walking and cycling.

Conservation and protection remain central to managing the forest. This is achieved through a number of organisations working together including the Forestry Commission, who manage the Crown lands of the New Forest, and the Verderers, who seek to protect the forest from development and protect the rights of the commoners. The new National Park Authority will also work with these organisations to achieve this aim. Whilst the priorities of the protection have changed since 1066, the same prime need to conserve the land and its wildlife remains.