Woodland and trees

Trees and woodlands are a key feature of the natural beauty of the New Forest National Park, making this such an enjoyable place to visit or live.  Among their special qualities, trees give timber, food and refuge to man and wild animals, insects, plants, fungi, mosses, and lichens. Trees make oxygen, give shade, prevent flooding, trap carbon, provide windbreaks, muffle unpleasant sounds and screen unpleasant views. They also make good landmarks and give us tangible links to the past.

Less than half of the New Forest National Park is woodland – just over 27,300 hectares. It is also a working Forest, used in part for timber production where this can be integrated with nature conservation objectives.