An introduction to the New Forest & its history

The New Forest is a dedicated National Park of Britain, as is protected as such. Its history dates back many hundreds of years and it was previously used as a hunting area for members of the royal family, most particularly when hunting Deer.

The park was originally created by William the Conqueror in 1079. At this time it was used by local inhabitants of Forest who were known as 'Commoners'. These commoners used the pastureland within the Forest boundaries to graze ponies, sheep, cattle, pigs and donkeys. It also provided a supply of timber. Many of these practices still exist today and it is an area of great ecological, historical and agricultural significance.

The 20th century saw the introduction of the motor vehicle, and this changed life for commoners living in the New Forest, and particularly for their animals. Roads were fenced, as were the boundaries of the Forest and cattle grids were introduced. The 'Forest Law' which has governed the forest for many years also came to an official end.

This time also saw the first real influx of tourism to the New Forest, and it had to adapt accordingly. Steps were taken to ensure that the forest environment remained protected and that the character of the area as a whole was not threatened by an increase in visitors. It was at this time that the National Park was set up.

Today, the area remains very popular for recreational pursuits such as walking and riding and a number of guest houses and hotels have been set up to cater for the many visitors to the area.