Covering 145 square miles the New Forest is a place of ancient history, fascinating wildlife and stunning beauty. Originally a royal hunting preserve, the thriving working forest that you see today has survived for nearly 1000 years. Who owns the New Forest? Around 90% of the land in the New Forest is owned by The Crown and has been managed by Forestry England since 1923. The main source of funding is a direct grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). New Forest National Park is run by Forestry England. Forestry England manages the Crown lands in the New Forest National Park – nearly half of the total area. Others who manage land
include the National Trust, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Hampshire County Council and private landowners/estates. Roughly one-quarter of the park area comprises broadleaved woodland, containing ancient oak and beech trees that are hundreds of years old.

 

Forestry England manages 47% of the New Forest National Park, including much of the best-known ancient woodlands, wetlands and heathlands, which are home to many rare species of plants and wildlife. They look after more land and more trees than any other organisation in England.