New Forest
The New Forest is one of the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in Southern England, covering southwest Hampshire and southeast Wiltshire. It was proclaimed a royal forest by William the Conqueror, featuring in the Domesday Book.
| The New Forest National Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
Beech trees in Mallard Wood, part of the New Forest
| |
Location of The New Forest in southern England | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Hampshire Wiltshire, England |
| Coordinates | 50°51′47″N 01°37′05″W |
| Nearest city | Southampton |
| Area | 566 km2 (219 sq mi) National Park New Forest: 380 km2 (150 sq mi) |
| Established | 1079 (as Royal Forest), 1 March 2005 (as National Park) |
| Visitors | 14.75 million (est) (in 2009) |
| Governing body | New Forest National Park Authority |
| Website | https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/ |
| Official name | The New Forest |
| Designated | 22 September 1993 |
| Reference no. | 622 |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Beaulieu Mill Pond | |
| Location | Hampshire Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | SU 269 072 |
| Interest | Biological Geological |
| Area | 28,924.5 hectares (71,474 acres) |
| Notification | 1996 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
| UK National Parks |
|---|
| Parentheses denotes the year. An area with ‡ has similar status to a UK National Park. Areas marked † are proposed. |
It is the home of the New Forest Commoners, whose ancient rights of common pasture are still recognised and exercised, enforced by official verderers and agisters. In the 18th century, the New Forest became a source of timber for the Royal Navy. It remains a habitat for many rare birds and mammals.
The boundaries of the forest have varied over time and depend on the purpose of delimiting them. It is a 28,924.5-hectare (71,474-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. Several areas are Geological Conservation Review sites, including Mark Ash Wood, Shepherd’s Gutter, Cranes Moor, Studley Wood, and Wood Green. There are also a number of Nature Conservation Review sites. It is a Special Area of Conservation, a Ramsar site and a Special Protection Area. Copythorne Common is managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Kingston Great Common is a national nature reserve and New Forest Northern Commons is managed by the National Trust.
The New Forest covers two parliamentary constituencies; New Forest East and New Forest West.