Breadcrumbs
New Forest
Since then, further hearings have been held to determine the exact boundary of the Park. The attached map illustrates where the final boundary line has been drawn.
The New Forest has become England’s eighth National Park and is the first to be designated in almost 50 years.
The New Forest is a rich landscape which maintains a strong sense of history and culture within its community. It is the most intact surviving example in England of a medieval hunting forest and pastoral system.
The diversity of its landscape is unique, and includes woodland, open heathland, riverine and coastal land. Much of its landscape is also of importance to nature conservation and provides extensive recreational opportunities for walkers, riders, fishermen and others.
For these reasons the Countryside Agency (and the Countryside Commission before it) considered that the New Forest strongly merited National Park status. Although many organisations, not least the Commoners, foresters and Verderers, cared for the New Forest for many years, the area was coming under increasing pressure. The Countryside Agency believed that by making this much loved and valued area a National Park, the forest would be protected and conserved in its entirety, for future generations of residents and visitors.
The confirmation of the designation order (with boundary modifications) has enabled the establishment of a National Park Authority (NPA) with powers and resources that can be specifically focussed on conservation and visitor management.
The New Forest NPA will work across the whole of the forest area, encouraging and co-ordinating joint action from local and national groups with an interest in protecting its unique qualities. The NPA took up its full range of statutory powers and functions on the 1 April 2006. For further information on the work of the NPA visit their website www.newforestnpa.gov.uk
