Myth and reality

There are a number of misconceptions about the role of the New Forest National Park Authority and the impact it has on the New Forest.  In this section we outline some of the myths and explain the reality.

Myth: the New Forest National Park Authority controls everything in the New Forest.

Reality: the powers and responsibilities of organisations such as the Forestry Commission and the Verderers are unchanged by the designation of the New Forest as a National Park.  The National Park Authority does have sole responsibility for planning in the National Park and, through its planning service, seeks to promote a high-quality and sustainable environment.

Myth: the New Forest National Park Authority owns the New Forest.

Reality: the Authority does not own any of the New Forest.  Land ownership is unchanged by the designation of the New Forest as a National Park.  Nearly half of the area, known as the Crown lands, is managed by the Forestry Commission on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.  Other significant landowners in the New Forest include the National Trust, Hampshire County Council, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and private estates.

Myth: the New Forest National Park Authority is undemocratic.

Reality: Sixteen out of the 22 members of the Authority must be elected to local authorities within the National Park before they can be appointed to the Authority.  The remaining six members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for their specialist knowledge and to represent the national interest in the National Park.

Myth: the New Forest National Park Authority is run from Whitehall.

Reality: the New Forest National Park Authority is run locally by local people.  All of the members of the National Park Authority live in or very close to the National Park; many have been involved in Forest life for many years, in some cases for generations.

Myth: the New Forest was fine before; it doesn’t need a National Park.

Reality: the New Forest has been under significant and increasing pressure for development of housing, transport and recreation.  The New Forest was considered as a potential National Park when they were first being proposed in the late 1940s.  Heritage Area status granted to the New Forest in 1994 gave increased protection for planning purposes, but National Park status is the highest level of countryside designation and gives the strongest opportunity for protecting the New Forest and ensuring that people can continue to enjoy it into the future.  National Parks have a 60-year track record of doing that successfully.

Myth: the National Park will bring more visitors to the New Forest.

Reality: there is no evidence that National Park designation has affected visitor numbers to the New Forest.  The New Forest was well-known as a visitor destination before its designation as a National Park, with an estimated 13.5m day visits in 2005.  The National Park Authority supports New Forest District Council in its role in promoting the area as a visitor destination, principally helping to ensure that those who visit understand and enjoy the New Forest rather than looking to increase numbers.

Myth: the National Park Authority hasn’t made any difference to the New Forest.

Reality: the National Park Authority has brought significant extra funding into the New Forest, notably to support commoners and to back dozens of innovative projects on the ground through its Sustainable Development Fund.  The Authority has developed strong partnerships in projects such as building on the success of the New Forest Centre and tackling animal accidents.

Myth: National Park designation means there can be no development in the New Forest.

Reality: the aim of planning policies in the New Forest – which have remained unchanged since the National Park Authority took on the planning service – is to regulate development and to prevent inappropriate development in one of the nation’s most treasured landscapes.  Most planning applications in the New Forest National Park are small-scale and well-designed and the majority are approved.

Myth: the National Park Authority puts conservation interests above the needs of visitors and local communities.

Reality: the Authority has equal statutory responsibility for ensuring that people can appreciate and enjoy the National Park as for its long-term protection.  In working towards these main purposes, the Authority also has a duty to sustain the economic and social well-being of communities within the Park.  Only if there is a clash between the aims that cannot be resolved in any other way is greater weight given to conservation.

Myth: the National Park Authority’s draft Management Plan seeks to control people’s lives and tell everyone what to do.

Reality: the Management Plan is something the Authority is required to produce by law.  Its aim is to set the tone for how the National Park can be cared for over the next 20 years so that people can continue to enjoy it.  It is not just a plan for the Authority: it seeks to involve and influence all those who have a role in looking after the National Park.  Other public bodies are required by law to have regard to the purposes of the National Park in making their decisions.

Myth: the New Forest National Park is just more bureaucracy.

Reality: National Park status is an important designation for the New Forest, bringing with it the strongest level of countryside protection, a commitment to ensure it is there for everyone to enjoy in the future and dedicated funding from central government to achieve those aims.  The National Park Authority is the administrative body charged with delivering those aims; it is governed by national legislation but always tries to operate in a clear and approachable way.

Myth: the National Park Authority will turn the New Forest into a theme park.

Reality: this concern usually stems from a fear that insufficient weight is being given to maintaining the New Forest as a ‘living, working landscape’ when compared with its roles as a wildlife haven or a place for outdoor recreation.  The National Park Authority puts a great deal of time and money into supporting commoning because it is crucial to maintaining the landscape that people know and love as the New Forest.