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.
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 Forest 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.
