New Forest

The New Forest is a large area of open pasture, heathland and woodland in southern England, covering parts of Hampshire and Wiltshire. It was set aside as a royal hunting ground after the Norman Conquest and still shows traces of its ancient boundaries. The forest shelters rare birds and mammals among its varied habitats. Ancient rights of common pasture are still practised by local Commoners, supervised by verderers and agisters. Some parts carry special designations for their wildlife and geology, recognised nationally and internationally. The forest’s history reaches back to prehistoric times, when it was gradually cleared and then reverted to heath and woodland. Roman potteries once stood near modern Fordingbridge, and the area later formed part of the Jutish kingdom of Ytene. William the Conqueror created the New Forest in the 11th century, and two of his sons died there. The Rufus Stone marks the reputed spot where King William II fell in 1100. Later, the forest supplied timber for the Royal Navy, and during the Second World War it hosted secret training for Special Operations Executive agents. Visitors walk through landscapes shaped by centuries of grazing and management. Broad rides cut through the woods, offering long views across heath and meadow. Round barrows and scheduled monuments dot the ground, reminders of earlier ages. Nature reserves such as Kingston Great Common and sites managed by the National Trust provide quiet places to observe wildlife. The forest remains mostly in Crown ownership, with Forestry England caring for its future.