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New Forest

From Tilcayo Cats, the lean encyclopaedia by Tilcayo Knowledge Systems

The New Forest is an area of open heath, woodland and pasture in southern England. The New Forest National Park, which takes its name from it, lies mostly in south-west Hampshire, with a small part in Wiltshire. It stretches from Southampton Water in the east to the Avon Valley in the west, and from the edge of the Wiltshire Downs in the north to the coast of the Solent in the south.[1] The ground is made of layers of sand and gravel lying on top of clay.[2]

History

Despite its name, the New Forest is very old. According to the National Park Authority, in 1079 William the Conqueror made it his royal hunting ground, the Nova Forestra, and so began the special Forest Law there. His son William Rufus was killed by an arrow while hunting in the forest in 1100.[3] The New Forest Act of 1877 removed limits on common grazing and set up the court of Verderers, and in 1924 the Forestry Commission took over the management of the Crown's land in the forest.[4] The area became a national park in March 2005.[5]

Commoning

Livestock belonging to local people called commoners roams freely in the New Forest. The area where commoners have the right to let their animals roam is called the Perambulation; in 2007 the National Park Authority said it covered over 38,000 hectares, nearly two-thirds of the national park.[6] The Authority describes the forest as one of the few large lowland commons where common rights are still widely used. It counts about 5,000 New Forest ponies turned out on the forest, 700 commoners, and five Agisters, officials employed by the Verderers to help look after the animals.[7] The New Forest pony was registered as a rare breed in 2014 because fewer foals were being born.[8]

Wildlife

The New Forest is a Special Area of Conservation (site code UK0012557). The Joint Nature Conservation Committee considers its European dry heaths, wet heaths and bog woodland to be among the best in the United Kingdom,[9] and the area is one of only four outstanding places in the country for the stag beetle.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Learn about the New Forest National Park – Key facts and figures". New Forest National Park Authority. 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2026. The New Forest National Park is mostly in South-west Hampshire with a small part in Wiltshire. It stretches from Southampton Water in the east to the Avon Valley in the west and from the edge of the Wiltshire Downs in the north to the shores of the Solent coast in the south.
  2. ↑ "Learn about the New Forest National Park – Key facts and figures". New Forest National Park Authority. 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2026. The New Forest consists of layers of sand and gravel overlying a layer of clay.
  3. ↑ "Learn about the New Forest National Park – Key facts and figures". New Forest National Park Authority. 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2026. 1079 — William the Conqueror creates his Royal Hunting Ground or Nova Forestra and marks the start of Forest Law 1100 — His son William Rufus is shot by an arrow and dies whilst hunting
  4. ↑ "Learn about the New Forest National Park – Key facts and figures". New Forest National Park Authority. 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2026. 1877 — The New Forest Act is passed: this removes restrictions on common grazing and constitutes the court of Verderers 1924 — The Forestry Commission takes over the management of the New Forest's Crown Land
  5. ↑ "Learn about the New Forest National Park – Key facts and figures". New Forest National Park Authority. 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2026. The New Forest became a National Park in March 2005 and the New Forest National Park Authority took on its full duties in April 2006.
  6. ↑ "Learn about the New Forest National Park – Key facts and figures". New Forest National Park Authority. 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2026. Over 38,000 hectares (nearly 67%) of the National Park is covered by the historic 'Perambulation'. This is the area in which common rights apply and commoner's livestock can roam freely.
  7. ↑ "Supporting commoning". New Forest National Park Authority. Retrieved 20 October 2026. The New Forest remains one of the few extensive lowland commons where common rights are still widely practised and a strong commoning culture continues. The importance of commoning to the landscape and rural economy of the New Forest cannot be underestimated. 5,000 New Forest ponies turned out onto the Forest 700 Commoners with commoning rights linked to their land or property 5 Agisters, officials employed by the Verderers of the New Forest to help manage the Commoners' livestock on the Forest
  8. ↑ "Supporting commoning". New Forest National Park Authority. Retrieved 20 October 2026. They were registered as a rare breed in 2014 as their numbers were dwindling with the number of foals being born dropping significantly
  9. ↑ "Natura 2000 Standard Data Form: The New Forest (UK0012557)" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 20 October 2026. Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix for which this is considered to be one of the best areas in the United Kingdom. European dry heaths for which this is considered to be one of the best areas in the United Kingdom. ... Bog woodland for which this is considered to be one of the best areas in the United Kingdom.
  10. ↑ "Natura 2000 Standard Data Form: The New Forest (UK0012557)" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 20 October 2026. Lucanus cervusfor which this is one of only four known outstanding localities in the United
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