National Parks

The New Forest National Park

The New Forest National Park is a unique landscape of ancient and ornamental woodland, pine plantations, heather-covered heath, wide lawns, mires, saltmarshes and picturesque villages.

It is one of the last places in the south-east of England to offer a sense of wildness and tranquillity. It is the largest remaining area of lowland heath in Britain and Europe, giving the flavour of a landscape that was once much more extensive.

William the Conqueror set aside the Forest for hunting more than 900 years ago and centuries of grazing by deer, ponies and cattle have shaped the landscape.

Today it is a wonderful place for walking, cycling and other quiet forms of recreation. It is especially rich in wildlife with many rare habitats and nature conservation areas.