Looking After The New Forest

The New Forest is one of Britain's areas of outstanding natural beauty. With your support it can continue to be enjoyed for the generations to come.

Forestry Commission

The Forestry Commission is the agent of the Crown. The Crown's land is the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF); the Ministry places the management of the land in the hands of the Forestry Commission (the Forest is managed by Forest Enterprise, an agency of the Commission). 

Verderers And Agisters

Who looks after them?

As guardians of the Forest 10 Verderers are appointed, 5 of which are elected by commoners and 5 appointed by other bodies. The Verderers work in partnership with the Forestry Commission to balance grazing and the needs of the Commoners with the needs of conservation and visitors. They hold an open court meeting at the Verderers Hall in Lyndhurst every 2 months.

The Verderers in turn appoint 5 Agisters, they are full time officers who deal with the day to day problems.

Each autumn the Agisters, with the help of commoners, organise a 'round up' when ponies are rounded up and held in fenced corrals where their condition is checked before winter. Each pony is branded with the commoners individual brand and the Agister clips the tail to a special pattern depending on his/her area to show that a grazing fee has been paid by the owner.

Forestry Facts

Forestry Facts
Annual Production: Conifers: 35,000 cubic metres Broadleaved: 4,000 cubic metres Main Products: Sawn Logs: 23,000 cubic metres Pulpwood: 10,000 cubic metres Posts, rails and fuel wood: 6,000 cubic metres Land Area: Open Forest: 45,722 acres Enclosures: 21,360 acres Total: Total land managed by the Forestry Commission is 67,082 acres

Forest Fires

Forest Fires are a constant threat to the wildlife and habitat of the New Forest - please be careful - fires should be reported immediately to the Fire service please dial 999.