As we get older we sometimes drift away from the places of our child. Ever since I was a teenager, I wanted to travel and travel I did. Six years of working abroad had in the memory of those magical places that we all have tucked away somewhere in between the first day of school an our first kiss.
So when I came back, I decided to rediscover it in all these places, and the only place to start for me was the New Forest. The New Forest is roughly 200 square miles of South West Hampshire bordering Dorset and with the River Avon to the east and within easy distance to the south coast. To get there from London is easy enough, from the M25 take the turning for the M3 all the way way to Southampton, then onto the M27 for another 2 – 3 miles and you’re there. You turn off the six main highway past the huge signpost marking the route and within minutes you’re driving through a beautiful Avenue of trees. The changes almost instant and pleasantly disorientating.
History
The New Forest was established by William the Conqueror in 1079, he described it as his ‘new’ hunting Forest; designed as it was to protect the hunting of the Royal Deer. Its modern form is called the New Forest Heritage Area and although a lot of the old Forest, Oak, Beech and Yew ( used to make the infamous English Longbow ), has long since disappeared. It still boasts 16, 000 acres of protected enclosures – most of these areas contain Deer sanctuaries, and some of the oldest and most fragile remnants of the old Forest.
Today, the New Forest is run like a business, and a booming business at that. Forest has always been a major resource for Southern England and in the 17th century mighty Oaks were taken to help build England’s’ burgeoning Royal Navy fleet. Wood from the forest is still used for paper-making and authentic fencing, although tightly controlled. From the banks of the Beaulieu River at Bucklers Hard you can watch craftsmen shape huge Oak trees using traditional methods, whilst enjoying a pint from the local Pub.
But even in these modern times most of the common rights granted the forest dwellers by William the Conqueror are still law. This includes, Pasturage – being the right to graze stock, and Pannage – write to let storage for acorns. These ancient practices continue today and are administered by a group called the Verderers, who meet six times a year. The officers of the Verderers are known as Agisters and still patrol the forest on horseback, he said the cowboys only come from the Wild West!
New Forest can be enjoyed the whole year round, but my favourite time of year has always been autumn. It is much quieter the whole Forest is bathed in reds and golds, making person truly awesome sunset, so don’t forget your camera!
As you drive through the diversity of the forest, you’re suddenly find yourself out in the open gorseland that makes up much of the area. From deep dark Forest into huge vistas of open sky, it makes for interesting drives or walks – as there are many options for hiking and camping. This is where you’re probably get your first sense of how big place actually is, the sense of grandeur and openness, belies its place on the busy South Coast.
New Forest Ponies
If you stop in one of the many laybys provided, for a picnic or just to enjoy the magnificent views, will see the New Forest ponies ( one of the main attractions ) raising around in small groups, dozing in the warmth of the late autumn sunshine what does milling around like they own the place, which they kind of do. They live outside in all weathers and are sometimes referred to as wild ponies, they do in fact all have owners and are rounded up using late September to be branded or sold at auction every year. Bonus with their long before William the Conqueror and some say even since prehistoric times. My favourite Theory however, is that they’re descended from Jennets, which swam ashore from wrecks of the Spanish Armada. They can be found throughout the forests, outside country pubs, and in villagers gardens and are as much a part of Forest is the trees themselves.
They are quite tame, and you can get close to them but it is advisable not to try and stroke or feed them. When confronted by one ( or a few ) wait patiently and maybe a light tap on the horn will do, chances are though that they will look at you nonchalantly and go on about their business until they are ready to move. Enjoyed the experience take a few snaps and remember it’s one of the only places in the UK that you can get really close to a semi-wild animal in its natural habitat.
Accommodation
As for accommodation, that is many and varied. The best bet is to get yourself along to the New Forest visitor centre in the village of Lyndhurst and they can advise you on your options. They will phone guest houses for you and book rooms ( a small deposit for this service comes off of your bill ) and they have maps and detailed advice on how to reach any of the places that interest you. Accommodation can range from simple too very expensive , but for the more adventurous campsites and caravan parks can be found all over the New Forest, giving you the option to move around and really explore the different aspects of Forest.
The New Forest is so many things, and it would be impossible to describe the myriad of wildlife and historical sites on offer in a short article. So if you’re tired of the city and want to get out into the fresh air and see some of the most beautiful countryside, get down to the New Forest and discover some of the grandeur of Old England. I’ve been there so many times and I’ve only scratched the surface. I will keep coming back to reignite the curiosity and wonder I felt there as a boy for this beautiful corner of my homeland and I will always enjoy my own ‘Magic Forest’.
