The New Forest

New Forest Map

The New Forest, William the Conqueror's Nova Foresta, 300 km² of woods, heaths and rural villages. Recently designated as a National Park, it’s a perfect place for picnics and walking, cycling and just lazing.

Yes, Deer! The New Forest's origins are not new. Inhabited since the Mesolithic, it was created as a hunting estate for William I. The forest still has large wild deer populations although they can be elusive and difficult to see. However, if you know where to go it is possible to see deer herds at close quarters.

Common as Muck! The creation of the forest as a royal hunting ground led directly to the development of the Commoner's Rights, a set of laws and privileges accorded to those who lived in the forest. The most obvious result of these rights are the New Forest ponies, a semi-wild population who roam the woods and heaths all year round. They can be timid creatures and the feeding of them is strictly prohibited, but with care it is possible to interact with them.

Can’t see the Woods! The forest mix of woods and heathland provides a rich diversity of wildlife habitats. Its uniqueness makes it home to some of the United Kingdom's rarest creatures. In the woods lurk New Forest cicadas, the only insect of this type found in Britain. On the heaths sand lizards and Dartford warblers make their home. In the bogs carnivorous sundews catch flies with their sticky leaves.