New Forest ELMS (PA2) Feasibility Study

Contents

1. Executive Summary
   1. Key Findings
   2. Management Principles and Strategic Direction
   3. ELMS and the New Forest
   4. Governance
   5. Conclusion
2. Introduction
   1. Our Instructions
   2. The Study Area
   3. Historical Context
3. Key Features
   1. Introduction
   2. Nature Conservation Designations
   3. Conservation Objectives
   4. Condition of SSSIs
   5. Nature Conservation Key Features
   6. Woodland Habitats
   7. Heathland & Grassland Habitats.
   8. Wetland habitats
   9. Species
   10. Historic Environment Designations
   11. Historic Environment Key Features
4. Geographical Area
   1. Designation Boundaries
   2. Land Ownership and Management
   3. Common Land / Grazing Units
   4. Back-Up Land
   5. Water Catchments & Quality
   6. Deer Management
   7. Management of Invasive Plants
   8. Inclosures
   9. Climate Change – Impact Mitigation
   10. Recreation Management
   11. Geographical Area Conclusion
5. Management Principles
   1. Introduction & Background
   2. Key Legislation
   3. Key Mandates, Standards and Management Plans
   4. Habitat Restoration Beyond the Crown Lands & Open Forest
   5. Status of Mapping & Datasets
6. The Grazing System
   1. The Interaction Between the Grazing System and the Key Features
   2. Current and Recent Support for Commoning
   3. How Commoning Can Be Supported to Protect and Enhance the Key Features
   4. Recommendations for Future Support
7. Environmental Land Management
   1. Current and Former Habitat Restoration Projects
   2. Introduction to ELMS
   3. Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
   4. Countryside Stewardship (CS)
   5. Landscape Recovery (LR)
   6. Land eligibility (Inclosures)
   7. Requirements of a Land Management Scheme in the New Forest
   8. ELM Conclusion
8. Governance Structures
   1. The Need for a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)
   2. Recommended Legal Structure
   3. Key Features of the SPV
   4. Governance and Representation
   5. Next Steps
9. Conclusion

Appendices

• A. SSSI Condition Assessment Screening
• B. Designation Feature Analysis
• C. Historic Features Schedule
  1. Conservation Areas
  2. Listed Buildings
  3. SAMs
  4. Listed Parks and Garden
• D. Plans
  1. Designations
  2. Land Managers of the Common
  3. The Common (single grazed unit)
  4. Catchments
  5. Deer Management Areas
  6. The Inclosures
  7. Land Managers
• E. Habitat Management Principles Summary Table
• F. Commoner’ Consultation Report
• G. ELMS suitability matrix
• H. CS Action Summary
• I. Potential Governance Arrangements

1 Executive Summary

This feasibility study was commissioned by the New Forest National Park Authority on behalf of the Forest Farming Group (FFG) to assess how the Government’s Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) can effectively be applied to the New Forest. The study explores how statutory designated features can be supported by tailored land management approaches, the challenge being how to achieve this in such a unique, lowland grazing landscape, with rich cultural heritage and complex ecological and legal frameworks.

1.1 Key Findings

The Study Area encompasses over 37,000 hectares within the New Forest National Park, defined by the New Forest Perambulation. Within this, the report identifies a single grazed unit—the area of land managed through shared grazing rights by commoners—as the primary geographic focus for supporting and enhancing the New Forest’s key ecological and historic features. This single grazed unit underpins the New Forest’s internationally recognised habitats, including pasture woodland, valley mires, wet and dry heaths, and ancient grasslands. These habitats are best supported by low-intensity grazing using native breeds, including New Forest ponies and native cattle, which play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity and habitat structure.

The health and resilience of this core area are, however, closely interconnected with surrounding landscapes, including back-up grazing land and other nearby protected landscapes. Supporting habitat connectivity, hydrological function, and species movement across these broader areas is vital to long term resilience to climate change.

1.2 Management Principles and Strategic Direction

The study outlines a set of Management Principles derived from statutory requirements, conservation objectives, and stakeholder input. These principles should guide future scheme design and delivery. To ensure consistency and clarity, the report’s primary recommendation is for the development of a comprehensive, consulted, and living ‘Management Plan’ for the common land that forms the single grazed unit.

This Management Plan should:

• Clearly acknowledge the Key Features identified in this report as the primary focus and justification for future support.
• Adopt a common set of land management principles applicable across the entire grazed unit.
• Be developed through genuine consultation with all stakeholders—including landowners, tenants, commoners, statutory agencies, and NGOs.
• Assign clear responsibilities for implementation and delivery, including identifying lead individuals and/or organisations.
• Establish working groups for topics that require coordination or shared decision-making.
• Set out the core requirements of any environmental scheme seeking to protect and enhance the Forest’s Key Features.
• Be a live policy document, regularly reviewed and revised through further stakeholder consultation to reflect emerging knowledge, challenges, or policy changes.

The plan should identify a long-term vision for supporting the current grazing system in a sustainable way that supports and enhances the Key Features.

1.3 ELMS and the New Forest

The study recognises that the New Forest’s governance, grazing system, and land use, are unlike any other in England. A conventional, prescriptive application of national ELMS models would be ineffective and potentially damaging if applied across the entire landscape. Instead, a locally tailored, bespoke approach anchored in existing structures, supported by a clear management plan, and respectful of rights and responsibilities is essential. It is quite possible that there could be multiple ELMS management agreements across the New Forest Common land. Should this be the case, it will be even more important for there to be an overarching Management Plan that the respective agreements can align with.

The ELMS model has the potential to deliver against national environmental targets, but only if it is sufficiently flexible to allow it to align with the local dynamics that sustain the New Forest’s ecological value.

1.4 Governance

Due to the scale of the landscape, the complexity of the land management and the multiple stakeholders concerned with the New Forest’s Common land, we recommend that a new single legal entity (SLE) is established to act as a vehicle capable of entering into funding agreements, administering management agreements, delegating land management activity and holding collective responsibilities for monitoring and delivery.

Based on information provided by the FFG and following legal advice from Michelmores Solicitors, we recommend that the SLE takes the form of a company limited by guarantee.

The SLE would serve as:

• A central body to contract and administer grant funding;
• A platform to represent stakeholder interests and facilitate coordinated decision-making;
• A mechanism for collective compliance and risk management, helping insulate individual landowners from liabilities associated with breaches in complex funding agreements;
• A long-term custodian of a shared management plan for the New Forest common land.

1.5 Conclusion

This report sets out a clear framework for how ELMS can be shaped to support the New Forest’s distinct qualities. Its successful implementation will depend on sustained partnership, clear leadership, and a Management Plan that aligns ecological objectives with the realities of a working and dynamic landscape. With the right structures in place, ELMS offers a powerful opportunity to reinforce one of Britain’s most culturally and ecologically important landscapes for generations to come.

2 Introduction

New Park Consultancy Ltd was commissioned by the New Forest National Park Authority, on behalf of the Forest Farming Group (FFG), to carry out a feasibility study on the application of DEFRA’s Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) to the New Forest. This study and report has been produced with the support of the member organisations of the FFG, and with the expertise and contributions of Jane Smith (Corylus Environmental), Lyndsey Stride, and Michelmores Solicitors.

2.1 Our Instructions

The FFG is an informal group whose membership comprises the Verderers of the New Forest, The New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA), the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA), Natural England (NE), Forestry England (FE), The National Trust (NT) and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU). The group’s aim is to deliver the public goods defined in the Government’s 25-year Environment Plan and those identified in the FFG’s Natural Capital Report(Forest Farming Group, 2019) the FFG seeks to ensure that any Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) are fit for purpose for the unique landscape of the New Forest and its people.

Our instructions specify that the purpose of the feasibility study is to ‘identify appropriate management principles for the study area, in order to deliver the FFG’s objectives (which are set out in the group’s vision statement (Forest Farming Group, 2022)) and to explore how the management principles can be supported through ELMS’.

We have been instructed to respond to seven specific questions, which are as follows:

1. What are the Key Features of the Study Area?
2. What geographical area is required to support the Key Features?
3. What Management Principles should be adopted in order to support the Key Features?
4. How does the current grazing system in the New Forest maintain the Key Features and how can the grazing system be supported to protect and enhance the Key Features?
5. Which Agri-environment Scheme, or combination of schemes, would be most appropriate for delivering the Management Principles?
6. What governance structure will best support the management of the Key Features?
7. What further research or studies are required?

2.2 The Study Area

The study area encompasses over 37,000 hectares of land within the New Forest National Park. It is defined by the boundary of the New Forest Perambulation (Perambulation), which represents more than 65% of the total area of the National Park. The current Perambulation boundary is set out in the New Forest Act 1964 and defines the area over which the Verderers of the New Forest hold statutory responsibilities, including enforcement through byelaws made under the New Forest Acts of 1877 to 1949.

Figure 1: Plan showing Study Area (Perambulation) with a pink outline and the National Park boundary with an orange outline.

The New Forest is widely recognised as one of the UK’s most important areas for biodiversity and is of outstanding conservation significance at both European and international levels. The area supports a diverse and intricate mosaic of habitats, many of which were once widespread across lowland Western Europe but are now increasingly rare and fragmented. These habitats include extensive wet and dry heaths, rich valley mires, wet and dry grasslands, ancient pasture, enclosed woodlands, and a complex network of rivers, streams, ponds, and seasonal wetlands.

Additionally, due to the area’s limited development and minimal ground disturbance, particularly compared to landscapes shaped by post-war agricultural intensification, it retains a wealth of historic and archaeological features.

To help understand the Study Area’s current management, together with the existing habitat characteristics, constraints and opportunities, we have taken time to review the key historical events that have shaped the Study Area. This also helps us understand the origins and roles of the key bodies which have responsibility for the management of the Forest.

2.3 Historical Context

The New Forest has a long and complex history in terms of its governance and the land management practices that have been deployed from time to time. The relevant history extends over 1000 years covering key periods and historical events that have helped to shape the landscape and species which characterise the New Forest, that we know and recognise today. Some of the most influential events are briefly summarised below to help put some context and understanding to the modern-day forest and its features.

Royal Forest Origins and Forest Law (11th–16th Centuries)

1079 – The New Forest was established by William the Conqueror as a royal hunting forest. Unlike a woodland, this was a managed mix of heathland, scrub, and pasture governed under Forest Law. Local communities lost rights like hunting and fencing, but gained “common rights” such as grazing, pannage (foraging pigs), and collecting firewood—many of which still exist today.

Silviculture Emerges – Though early forest use centred on deer management, coppicing (cutting trees to encourage regrowth) began for fuel and fencing materials. An Act of 1483 encouraged the enclosure of private forest coppices, likely including Crown coppices.

1542 New Forest Act – Crown woodland management was formalised, establishing the Surveyor General of the King’s Woods to oversee timber production. The creation of the post of Surveyor General gave rise to a second hierarchy of officer, known as Deputy Surveyors, who were assigned to manage “forest districts”. The post of Deputy Surveyor still exists today with the Deputy Surveyor leading the management of the Crown Lands of the New Forest by Forestry England. The Act marked the start of organised forestry and the leasing of coppices to “wood sellers” who maintained underwood while leaving saplings for the Royal Navy.

Timber Production and Conflict (17th–19th Centuries)

1698 Act – the Increase and Preservation of Timber in the New Forest allowed for the first phase of large-scale timber production with 6,000 acres of land being enclosed for timber production. The act sparked tension with local commoners due to restrictions placed on the right to depasture stock throughout the year i.e when deer were calving (fence month) and when winter forage was low (winter heyning).

1808 Act of the Increase and Preservation of timber in Dean and New Forest – Reaffirmed the 1698 provisions and enabled new inclosures. By 1848, 8,247 acres had been enclosed through rolling schemes and replanting.

1851 Deer Removal Act – The Crown relinquished deer stocking rights, allowing for an additional 10,000 acres of plantations, now including pure conifer stands. The significant increase in afforestation came at a heavy cost to the Forest’s traditional land use and ecology. The restrictions on grazing continued, and tensions with commoners escalated.

1877 New Forest Act – The Act resulted from campaigning by wealthy local landowners and conservationists. It halted further inclosures beyond 17,680 acres and preserved 45,000 acres of Ancient & Ornamental Woodland. The Court of Verderers was created as an independent statutory body to represent commoners and protect their rights. Conflict between the Crown and Verderers over their respective roles and powers over the Open Forest grew and disputes with the Crown persisted.

20th Century: War, Policy Shifts, and Conservation

World Wars – The Forest was heavily used for timber and military operations. Around 8,700 acres were appropriated during WWII, some of which later became campsites or poorly/partially restored areas.

1923 Transfer of Woods Act – Management passed to the Forestry Commission, now Forestry England. With the post-WW1 forest policy drive to secure the national timber supply, the Forestry Commission embarked on a programme to convert broadleaved woods to conifer plantations.

1949 New Forest Act – The Act overhauled the administration of the Forest, defining roles between the Forestry Commission and Verderers. The Verderers were granted powers to allow the Forestry Commission to enclose 5,000 acres of new plantations (Verderer’s Inclosures) under certain conditions. Inclosures required rent and stock access, and some are now being restored to heathland.

1964 Act – Extended the forest boundary (Perambulation) to include adjacent commons, reducing animal accidents and improving management. It also allowed campsites with Verderers' consent and widely recognised the Forest’s ecological importance.

1970 Act – Ensured Verderers' consent was needed for recreation provisions and allowed for the provision to fence the A337, a key road through the Forest. It also granted funding support to the Verderers, laying the groundwork for future conservation schemes.

Minister’s Mandates (1971 & 1999) – These government statements curtailed conifer planting and prioritised conservation over timber production in unenclosed areas, preserving the Forest’s traditional character.

Modern Protection and Recognition

Nature Conservation Designations – Starting in 1959, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designations grew, culminating in nearly 29,000 hectares being legally protected. The New Forest later gained international recognition as a Ramsar site, Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and Special Protection Area (SPA), affirming its global ecological value.

2005 National Park Status – The New Forest National Park was established, bringing new planning powers and a mission to conserve natural and cultural heritage, promote public enjoyment, and support local communities.

Recent Legislation – The NERC Act 2006, Environment Acts of 1995 and 2021, and the 2023 Environmental Targets Regulations mandate public bodies to protect biodiversity. The Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 sets legally binding targets to restore wildlife habitats—including those found in the New Forest—by 2042.

3 Key Features

3.1 Introduction

The Key Features of the New Forest can vary greatly depending on individual or organisational perspectives. For the purposes of this study, and following guidance from Natural England and the Forest Farming Group, we have limited our scope to statutory designated features. In relation to nature conservation designations, our focus has been on the habitats and species that underpin the designation of land within the Study Area. Where relevant and appropriate, we have also identified Key Features outside the Study Area and included references to non-designated features within it.

The Key Features and associated designations can be divided into two categories: nature conservation and historic environment.

3.2 Nature Conservation Designations

The New Forest is one of the most highly designated areas within the UK, with its significance for biodiversity reflected in the number and extent of nature conservation designations within the Perambulation. As well as the entire Perambulation lying within the New Forest National Park the area supports all the key statutory UK nature conservation designations, including:

• New Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
• New Forest Special Protection Area (SPA)
• New Forest RAMSAR
• New Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
• National Nature Reserve (NNR)
• Local Nature Reserve (LNR)

The designation of the New Forest as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) has been a particular driving force in improving the management and condition of the New Forest habitats and has acted as a catalyst to progress and fund terrestrial and wetland restoration programmes over the last 25 years as well as to increase the area proposed for future habitat restoration.

Approximately 29,733 hectares (81%) of the Study Area is designated which accounts for 52% of the National Park. The only land not designated comprises amenity grassland (e.g. golf courses, sports pitches), semi-improved and improved grassland fields and built-up areas within and around settlements. Even within these non-designated areas the Priority Habitat Inventory shows pockets of priority habitat including deciduous woodland, coastal and floodplain grazing marsh, good quality semi-improved grassland and traditional orchards. Many of the field systems are connected via a network of hedgerows and highway verges and a significant number of the verges are included within the New Forest SAC and SSSI. These priority habitat areas amount to, at least, a further 1500 ha (5%) of the Perambulation.

The New Forest SAC encompasses 29,214 hectares and includes most of the unenclosed Forest and Inclosures making up the New Forest SSSI together with the SSSIs of Langley Wood, Whiteparish Common, Landford Heath and Loosehangar Copse and Meadows in the north, and Royden Woods in the south. Whiteparish Common (SSSI) is also included in the New Forest SAC but lies over 3 km from the Perambulation boundary beyond the A36. The New Forest RAMSAR is 28003 hectares and largely follows the New Forest SSSI boundary.

In addition to the New Forest SAC, SPA, RAMSAR and SSSI, there are a number of other designated sites which are either located within the Perambulation or are within 2 km of the Perambulation boundary. These include some isolated units of the New Forest SSSI as summarised in Table 1. Many of the sites lying outside the Perambulation are connected hydrologically via streams and rivers draining from the forest catchments or have direct terrestrial habitat connectivity so could potentially benefit from management or restoration of New Forest features.

Table 1: Designated Sites

The Solent Maritime SAC extends for 11,325 hectares and comprises the Solent coastline and maritime habitats to the mean high-water mark, including estuaries of the Beaulieu Rivers and Southampton Water north to Hythe. It incorporates the North Solent, Hythe to Calshot Marshes, Hurst Castle and Lymington River, Lower Test Valley and Eling and Bury Marches SSSIs. The latter two sites are located over 3km from the Perambulation to the eastern side of Totton separated by main roads and settlements with little or no direct habitat connectivity to the New Forest, although the streams draining the western side of the forest such as the Cadnam Brook, Bartley Water and Jacobs Gutter drain through these sites to Southampton Water. At its most southern extent, the Perambulation boundary extends to the foreshore between the Lymington Estuary and Needs Ore Point encompassing the Solent Maritime SAC. The main connectivity with the New Forest SAC is via the Lymington River, Beaulieu River and streams draining though Beaulieu Heath and Sowley Pond.

The Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons SAC is 36 hectares and includes the saline lagoons of the Pennington Marshes and adjacent areas. The closest part of the site boundary lies less than 1km outside the Perambulation to the west of the Lymington River Estuary.

The River Avon SAC comprises the river and river valley from Breamore south to Christchurch covering 450 hectares in total. The tributaries and streams draining from the western side of the New Forest, including from Millersford Bottom, the Dockens Water, Ditchend Brook, Latchmore Book, Linford Brook drain and Cranesmoor all flow into the River Avon. Sea trout also migrate from the River Avon up into the Forest streams to spawn.

Some of the larger sites, for example, the Avon Valley; tend to have their own discrete projects with well-established management/steering groups and tend to operate separately from the New Forest.

3.3 Conservation Objectives

New Forest SAC Conservation Objectives

The conservation features exist to ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained or restored as appropriate, and ensure that the site contributes to achieving the Favourable Conservation Status of its Qualifying Features, by maintaining or restoring;

• The extent and distribution of qualifying natural habitats and habitats of qualifying species
• The structure and function (including typical species) of qualifying natural habitats
• The structure and function of the habitats of qualifying species
• The supporting processes on which qualifying natural habitats and the habitats of qualifying species rely
• The populations of qualifying species, and,
• The distribution of qualifying species within the site.

The specific conservation objectives for the New Forest SAC are as follows:

Subject to natural change, to maintain:

1. New Forest Pasture Woodland in favourable condition with particular reference to: beech forests with holly (Ilex aquifolium) and yew (Taxus bacata), rich in lichens and mosses (Illici-Fagion), old acidophilous oak woods with pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) on sandy plains, Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests, stag beetle (Lucanus cervus), honey buzzard (Pernis apivoris), and nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus).
2. New Forest riverine woodland in favourable condition with particular reference to Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior.
3. New Forest Inclosure Woodland in favourable condition, with particular reference to early 19th century broadleaf and / or Ancient Woodland Sites (AWS), or ancient semi-natural woodland, beech forests with holly (Ilex aquifolium) and yew (Taxus bacata), rich in lichens and mosses (Illici-Fagion), old acidophilous oak woods with pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) on sandy plains, honey buzzard (Pernis apivoris), and nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus).
4. New Forest bog woodland in favourable condition.
5. New Forest wet heath in favourable condition with particular reference to Northern Atlantic wet heath with cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix) and Southern damselfly (Coenagrion mercuriale).
6. New Forest dry heath in favourable condition with particular reference to European dry heaths, breeding nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), woodlark (Lullula arborea), Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata) and wintering hen harrier (Cygnus cyaneus).
7. New Forest mires in favourable condition with particular reference to depressions on peat substrates (Rhynchosporion), transition mires, alkaline fens and Southern damselfly (Coenagrion mercuriale).
8. New Forest wet grassland in favourable condition, with particular reference to Molinia meadows on chalk and clay (NVC M24), M25 and M23 communities.
9. New Forest dry grassland in favourable condition, with particular reference to U1, U3, U4 grasslands and U20-related species-rich bracken and woodlark (Lullula arborea).
10. New Forest permanent ponds in favourable condition, with particular reference to oligotrophic waters with very few minerals of Atlantic sandy plains with amphibious vegetation.
11. New Forest temporary ponds in favourable condition, with particular reference to oligotrophic waters containing very few minerals of Atlantic sandy plains, and oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with amphibious vegetation belonging to Littorelletae uniflorae and / or Isoeto-Nanojuncetea.
12. The habitats in favourable condition of the populations of Annex I species that contribute to internationally important populations in the New Forest SPA, for breeding Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata), nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), woodlark (Lullula arborea), honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) and for wintering hen harrier (Circus cyaneus).
13. The habitats in favourable condition of the populations of Annex II species: Southern damselfly (Coenagrion mercuriale).
14. The habitats in favourable condition of the populations of Annex II species: stag beetle (Lucanus cervus).
15. The habitats in favourable condition of the populations of Annex II species: great crested newt (Triturus cristatus).

SPA Conservation Objectives

The SPA conservation objectives are to ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained or restored as appropriate, and ensure that the site contributes to achieving the aims of the Wild Birds Directive, by maintaining or restoring;

• The extent and distribution of the habitats of the qualifying features
• The structure and function of the habitats of the qualifying features
• The supporting processes on which the habitats of the qualifying features rely
• The population of each of the qualifying features, and,
• The distribution of the qualifying features within the site.

RAMSAR Conservation Objectives

No specific objectives are stated, but Ramsar sites share their habitats and species with those listed in the objectives for SAC and SPA sites above. Objectives for the conservation of Ramsar site species and habitats should be broadly the same.

3.4 Condition of SSSIs

The condition of designated sites is primarily assessed through SSSI condition assessment monitoring based on unit assessments. The objectives of Natural England’s Standard monitoring, Assessment and Reporting’ are:’

• To provide evidence to support site management, and provide feedback to land managers to deliver the best environmental outcomes;
• To assess the effectiveness of interventions, and enable us to report on our corporate plan targets and reporting responsibilities;
• To improve the future delivery of Natural England’s protected sites responsibilities, for example through improved guidance and training;
• To contribute to our monitoring and understanding of long-term changes in the natural environment, including delivery of Favourable Conservation Status for habitats and species;
• To support landscape scale delivery of outcomes, as important components of resilient, ecologically functional networks, and ecosystem services;
• To support Natural England’s regulatory and enforcement responsibilities, including as part of the evidence presented in public inquiries and court cases.

The monitoring and assessment of SSSIs is an important aspect of Natural England’s overall monitoring programme and provides evidence for the delivery of the Government’s 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment. The extent and condition of Protected Sites will be a key indicator, and data from the monitoring of SSSI features will also contribute to indicators on habitats, species and heritage features. This evidence will also be used to monitor and evaluate delivery of the Nature Recovery Network, Net Gain, Local Natural Capital Plans and the Environmental Land Management System.

Reforms are underway of the Protected Sites monitoring, including moving from a unit to features scale to make the data most useful for the purposes highlighted above.

The definitions of SSSI Condition Categories are given at Appendix A.

Current condition assessment data available for all the SSSI units within and outside the Perambulation is summarised at Appendix A and has been derived from magic.defra.gov.uk. Analysis of this data can help to identify where future options or programmes of work can be targeted.

3.5 Nature Conservation Key Features

The habitats of the New Forest are described in great detail in the New Forest SAC Plan, originally published in 2001 and recently updated but not yet published. Much could be written about the characteristics, communities and the myriad of species, many of which are rare or notable found in the different New Forest habitats. However, the following section attempts to summarise the key habitat characteristics and features of the primary habitats. Although the different habitats are described separately, most occur in an intimate mosaic, often transitioning into one another with no distinct boundary depending upon soil type, topography, hydrology, drainage and land management characteristics.

The main habitat types comprise extensive wet and dry heaths interspersed with rich valley mires and associated wet and dry grassland, ancient pasture and enclosed woodlands, a network of clean rivers and streams and frequent permanent and temporary ponds. Outstanding examples of thirteen habitats of European interest are represented together with two priority habitat types, bog woodland and riverine woodland. Several habitat types do not have a Habitats Directive equivalent but are important habitats in their own right and form an integral part of the habitat web that typifies the Forest.

These habitats support an exceptional variety of plants and animals including the richest moss and lichen flora in lowland Europe, scarce flowering plants and a spectacular community of invertebrates. It also supports valuable bird populations as well as being one of the largest areas for breeding waders in southern England. Indeed, the New Forest SSSI includes 7 primary habitat types and 63 NVC, GCR (geological features), species and other features and 64 features for which it is monitored, spread across 582 management units (listed in Appendix A).

The quality and diversity of the habitats has arisen due to the historic and present-day land use and management. Of particular importance is the pastoral economy based upon the Rights of Common. The commoners’ stock, mainly comprising ponies and cattle have the right to roam freely over extensive areas. Over the years grazing patterns have helped to develop a unique ground flora and keep more aggressive species such as bracken and purple moor grass in check.

The Forest streams and rivers also support important habitats beyond the New Forest SAC boundary. In particular, the estuaries of the Lymington, Avon and Beaulieu rivers support significant reedbed, saltmarsh and mudflat communities. The grassland and pasture along the river valleys provide valuable foraging and cover for waders and other birds.

The table in Appendix B shows the relationship between the habitat types and the different New Forest nature conservation designations while the characteristics of the main New Forest habitat types are outlined below. Varying area figures and species numbers are quoted in different reports and publications but most of the figures quoted in this report have been derived from the most recent New Forest SAC plan.

3.6 Woodland Habitats

Pasture Woodland

The ancient beech and oak woods are one of the splendours of the New Forest and cover at least 4,430 hectares (excluding bog and riverine woodland) comprising 3100 ha of old growth woodland and 1,330 ha of more recent secondary expansion, primarily focused on the Crown Lands. The New Forest ranks as one of the finest surviving sites for wood pasture in Europe. These old, characterful woodlands are commonly referred to as “Ancient and Ornamental” woodlands so named by the New Forest Act 1877. There is no formal definition of A&O Woodland though the term is generally understood to refer to the unenclosed woods originating in the 18th century or earlier. The oldest trees still standing originate from the 17th century. The New Forest A&O woodland generally takes the form of pasture woodland where grazing by livestock helps to maintain the characteristic appearance typified by tall groves of beech and oak with an understorey of holly and a mixture of birch, thorns and yew as well as a structural diversity ranging from trees of closed high canopy forest to open stands with heathy or grassy lawns and glades.

Pasture woodlands (which can also include bog and riverine woodland, described under wetland habitats) are expanding and regenerating where patches of scrub and fallen deadwood protect young saplings from being grazed by livestock or deer or from natural expansion out onto heathland and lawns. The mosaic with other types of woodland and heath has allowed unique and varied assemblages of epiphytic lichens and saproxylic invertebrates to be sustained, particularly in situations where the woodlands are open and the tree trunks receive plenty of light.

Another term commonly used to describe old growth former pasture woodland that has survived within Inclosures is Pre-Inclosure Woodland but often these areas have been ungrazed for decades and have since lost some of their pasture woodland character.

Pasture woodland supports several of the Annex I woodland habitat types that contribute to the New Forest’s designation as a SAC. These habitats are recognised for designation because the New Forest has/is:

• The largest area of mature, semi-natural beech Fagus sylvatica woodland in Britain; much of it is a form of W14 Fagus sylvatica – Rubus fruticosus woodland that conforms to the Annex I type 9130 Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests.
• Representative of 9190 old acidophilous oak woods Quercus robur on sandy plains in the southern part of its UK range. It is the most extensive area of active wood-pasture with old oak Quercus spp. and beech Fagus sylvatica in north-west Europe and has outstanding invertebrate and lichen populations.
• Supports the largest area of mature, semi-natural beech Fagus sylvatica woodland in Britain and represents 9120 Atlantic acidophilous beech forests with Ilex and sometimes also Taxus (Yew) in the shrub layer in the most southerly part of the habitat’s UK range.
• The New Forest’s presence of epiphytic lichens and saproxylic invertebrates’ fauna has led the Council of Europe to identify the New Forest as being of international importance in this regard (Speight, 1989).

Inclosure Woodland

Inclosure woodland accounts for 8,437 hectares comprising

• Statutory Inclosures (7115 ha)
• Crown Freehold Woods (461 ha)
• Leasehold Woods (197 ha)
• Verderers’ Inclosures (664 ha)

The Inclosures were generally established on former heathland or ancient woodland sites and cleared. They were either planted with broadleaf plantation woodland dominated by oak and beech with occasional sweet chestnut or with conifer. Pine species (Scots and Corsican pine) and Western Hemlock tend to dominate the drier heathland soils while Western Red Cedar, Douglas Fir and Norway/Sitka Spruce dominate the intermediate and wetter sites. However, remnants of former habitat still survive within the Inclosures including mires, pasture woodland (referred to as Pre-Inclosure woodland), grassland and heathland communities where light levels allow. Heathland communities readily restore as the crop is thinned. In the late 1990s, the Forestry Commission (now Forestry England) embarked on a new programme of restoring the Inclosures through the Forest Plan process.

The New Forest Inclosures Forest Plan sets out how Forestry England propose to manage the Inclosures and their habitats into the future. The long-term vision sets the direction of management and has no fixed timescale but is potentially 100 to 200 years or more into the future, depending upon the rate of habitat response, transition and succession. The habitat response will largely depend upon the type, intensity and timescales of management interventions. With this in mind, the Plan sets out the current structure and management interventions planned to progress the vision over next 10 years and predicts how the structure of the woodlands and habitats will have responded in 20 years’ time. By its very nature, woodland management must look many decades ahead due to the time frames associated with woodland management as the life cycle of a timber crops/trees can last hundreds of years.

The first broadscale 100-year long-term indicative strategy for the Inclosures was drawn up in consultation with a wide range of organisations and the public taking into account the England Forest strategy and relevant policies around restoration of ancient and native woodland and the Minister’s Mandate. The plans were approved in 2001 (and revised in 2006/7) and an ambitious programme of heathland restoration focused on the Verderers’ Inclosures. The Forest plan was fully updated and approved in 2019 to include more heathland restoration and a greater move towards increased connectivity of habitat, and the restoration of wood pasture and native woodland. Forest Plans are renewed every 10 years and undoubtedly the detail of the Forest Plan process will continue to evolve according to changes in legislation, policy, resources available for restoration and maintenance and demand for timber as well as the developing knowledge around lost and remnant habitats.

Figure 2: Forest Plan Progress & Future Ambition (Source Forestry England)

3.7 Heathland & Grassland Habitats.

Heathland and grassland communities cover an estimated 12,306 ha of the Perambulation and are found primarily on the Crown lands on the Open Forest, within restored Inclosures and across the Northern and Western Commons. The term heathland covers a variety of vegetation community types including Dry heath, Humid heath, Wet heath, Lowland Acid grassland, Wet grassland and Valley mires. Grazing by horses and cattle is an integral part of heathland management and the New Forest heathlands have been grazed by commoning stock for centuries leading to the unique landscape and habitat mosaic so characteristic of the Open Forest today. Management using traditional heathland management techniques such as controlled burning, bracken, heather and gorse cutting which have been practised through the ages are still applied today.

Dry Heath

Dry heath communities tend to occur on the drier, gravel plateaus and sandy soils and extend to around 7,600 ha although absolute figures for the sub-types of dry heath are less well known. The New Forest dry heath communities comprise a structural mosaic of ericaceous vegetation with at least 10% young heather and between 20 to 50% maturing or old heather with the total heather cover usually between 25 -90% with between 1 to 10% bare ground forming an intimate web of vegetation. To maintain favourable condition Rhododendron should be below 1% with less than 5% seedling pine/mature and <25% bracken cover and not more than 10% of gorse should be in a degenerate condition. Trying to restore or maintain these favourable condition criteria drives much of the heathland management across the Forest. Two main NVC communities can be found.

• H2 Heather-Dwarf Gorse Heath (Calluna vulgaris-Ulex minor)
• H3 Dwarf Gorse-Bristle Bent Heath (Ulex minor-Agrostic curtsii)

In addition, a further six sub-community types can be found due to differing levels of soils moisture content and nutrient status through to those too wet to support Purple heather (Erica cinerea) but not wet enough to support Sphagnum. One of these communities, Calluna vulgaris-Molinia caerulea-Eria tetralix-Leucobyrum glaucum heath (Sanderson 1988) is quite unique to the forest and is a type of humid heath which lies in the zone between wet heath between the drier podzols and wetter humic gley and stagnogley soils, where the community is maintained by grazing and controlled burning.

Wet Heath

Wet heath communities cover 2,100 hectares of the New Forest and occurs on nutrient poor mineral soils or very shallow peats that are at least seasonally waterlogged but may be dry on the surface in summer. The vegetation communities are strongly influenced by burning and grazing. Stands which are managed by burning and grazing have the highest biodiversity. The vegetation communities are typified by NVC communities M16a, M16b and M16c.

M16a: Cross-leaved Heath – Sphagnum compactum wet heath-typical sub-community

This community is the most extensive and accounts for nearly 50% of wet heath cover. It is generally found on the poorer soils in the northern half of the Forest and is characterised by the presence of Heather (Calluna vulgaris), Cross leaved Heath (Erica tetralix) and Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerula) although the degree of dominance depends upon water levels and management regime. Sphagnum compactum is the dominant moss species. Lichens, particularly the wet heath varieties such as Cladonia strepilis and Pycnothelia papillosum can be frequent. Typical vascular plants include Deer-grass Trichophorum cespitosum and Heath Rush (Juncus squarrosus).

M16b: Cross-leaved heath-Sphagnum compactum wet heath-Devil’s bit Scabious-Carnation Sedge sub-community

This community accounts for 40% of wet heath. It is more tussocky in nature due to the steady movement of surface water and tend to be much more herb rich than M16a due to the richer underlying soils. A rich herb community can usually be found between the Molinia tussocks including such species as Tormentil (Potentilla erecta), Devilsbit Scabious (Succisa pratensis), Heath Milkwort (Polygala serpyllifolia), Carnation Sedge (Carex panacea), Meadow Thistle (Cirsium dissectum) and Sawwort (Serratula tinctoria). Other notably species include Petty Whin (Genista anglica), Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica) and Creeping Willow (Salix repens) and the nationally scarce Marsh Gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe).

M16c: Cross-leaved Heath – Sphagnum compactum wet heath-White beak-sedge-Oblong- leaved Sundew sub-community

This heathland community type accounts for the remaining 10% of New Forest wet heaths. It is characterised by a reduced cover of Heather (Calluna vulgaris), Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix), Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerula) and an extensive cover of mosses including Sphagnum compactum and Sphagnum tenellum. Vascular plants include Deer-grass (Trichophorum cespitosum) and Heath Rush (Juncus squarrosus). Wetter hollows and runnels support Common Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) and the rarer Oblong-leaved Sundew (Drosera intermedia) which is a particularly distinctive feature of this community. Bare peat tends to be colonised by the local Rhynchospora fusca and the club moss Lycopodiella.

In terms of SAC habitat, the heathlands have been designated for their Annex 1 habitat types, due to the fact the New Forest:

• Contains the most extensive stands of lowland 4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix in southern England, mainly of the M16 Erica tetralix – Sphagnum compactum type. M14 Schoenus nigricans – Narthecium ossifragum mire is also found on this site. The wet heaths are important for rare plants, such as marsh gentian Gentiana pneumonanthe and marsh clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata, and a number of dragonfly species, including the scarce blue-tailed damselfly Ischnura pumilio and small red damselfly Ceriagrion tenellum. There is a wide range of transitions between wet heath and other habitats, including dry heath, various woodland types, Molinia grasslands, fen, and acid grassland. Wet heaths enriched by bog myrtle Myrica gale are a prominent feature of many areas of the Forest. Unlike much lowland heath, the New Forest heaths continue to be extensively grazed by cattle and horses, favouring species with low competitive ability.
• Represents 4030 European dry heaths in southern England and is the largest area of lowland heathland in the UK. It is particularly important for the diversity of its habitats and the range of rare and scarce species which it supports. The dry heaths of the New Forest are of the H2 Calluna vulgaris – Ulex minor heath type, and H3 Ulex minor – Agrostis curtisii heath is found on damper areas. There are a wide range of transitions between dry heath and wet heath, Molinia grassland, fen, acid grassland and various types of scrub and woodland. Both the New Forest and the two Dorset Heath SACs are in southern England. All three areas are selected because together they contain a high proportion of all the lowland European dry heaths in the UK. There are, however, significant differences in the ecology of the two areas, associated with more oceanic conditions in Dorset and the continuous history of grazing in the New Forest.

Dry Grassland

The New Forest’s dry grassland comprises a suite of communities which are generally referred to as:

• Parched acid grassland (estimated 860 ha) – swards are characteristically 1 to 2cm with high grazing pressure and shortage of water restricting the availability of nutrients leads to die-back of vegetation in the summer such that swards may appear dry and brown. Often, they occur in a mosaic with Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile greens.
• Heathy acid grassland (1,258 ha) – is generally species poor dry grassland dominated by Agrostis curisii and Molinia caerulea which grades into dry heath as heather cover increases.
• Moist acid grassland (54 ha) – Species poor grassland occurring locally in the zone between parched acid grassland and wet lawns but is also found in damp, grassy woodland glades and is characterised by fine leaved grasses such as Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra often in associated with Galium saxatile and Potentilla erecta and the moss Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus.
• Neutral greens (ha not known) – are generally found around settlement edges on dry to moist neutral soils characterised by a species poor grass dominated sward of Agrostis capillaris and Festuca rubra with Cynosurus cristatus, Lolium perenne, Bellis perennis and Trifolium repens sometimes with mats of Chamaemelum nobile.
• Herb-rich bracken grassland (250 ha) – bracken stands are an integral part of all heathlands, grassland and pasture and Inclosure woodland communities but herb bracken rich stands in particular, form a distinctive community within a species rich mosaic of grassland and woodland herbs. It is often associated with Wild Gladioli Gladiolus illyricus.

High and relatively uniform grazing pressure, soil fertility and soil moisture retention are the main factors determining the distribution of the different dry grassland communities.

Wet Grassland

The New Forest represents one of the best areas in the UK for wet grassland and is probably second only to culm grasslands for acid fen meadow. Wet grassland communities are of international importance for nature conservation, and it is possible that the UK contains more of this habitat than survives in the rest of Europe, with the possible exception of the Republic of Ireland.

New Forest Wet grassland (or wet lawn) covers around 1063 hectares most of which is found along the non-wooded parts of floodplains. Flushed lawns are a characteristic feature of valley slopes and pasture woodland glades across the Forest. They comprise a suite of plant communities confined to impermeable or slowly impermeable clays, or permeable soils affected by high groundwater levels. The lawns tend to be waterlogged in winter but dry out to some extent in summer.

The community types and distribution are strongly influenced by stocking regimes, soil moisture retention and soil fertility. Generally the swards are tightly grazed (<2cm) and are characterised by the presence of Velvet Bent (Agrostis canina) and sedges such as Carnation Sedge (Carex panacea), Common Sedge (C. nigra) and Common Yellow Sedge (C. viridula oedocarpa), along with species typical of wet grassland such as Molinia caerulea, Devil’s Bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis), Creeping Willow (Salix repens) and Marsh Thistle (Cirsium dissectum). Extensive carpets of Bog Pimpernel (Anagallis tenella) are seasonally prominent. Where soil water retention is highest or around flushes Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris), Juncus acutiflorus and Marsh St. John’s Wort (Hypericum elodes) are abundant. The more acidic sites support Sphagnum lawns and an increasing heathland element typified by Cross-Leaved Heath (Erica tetralix).

The wet grassland habitat forms part of the SAC habitat designation due to the fact it:

• Represents 6410 Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae) in southern England. The New Forest supports a large area of the heathy form of M24 Molinia caerulea – Cirsium dissectum fen-meadow. This vegetation occurs in situations of heavy grazing by ponies and cattle in areas known locally as ‘lawns’, often in a fine-scale mosaic with 4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths and other mire and grassland communities. These lawns occur on flushed soils on slopes and on level terrain on the floodplains of rivers and streams. The New Forest Molinia meadows are unusual in the UK in terms of their species composition, management and landscape position. The grasslands are species-rich, and a particular feature is the abundance of small sedges such as carnation sedge Carex panicea, common sedge C. nigra and yellow-sedge C. viridula ssp. oedocarpa, and the more frequent occurrence of mat-grass Nardus stricta and petty whin Genista anglica compared to stands elsewhere in the UK.

3.8 Wetland habitats

In terms of wetland habitats, the New Forest supports one of only four significant sites of bog woodland, together with one of the six best sites of riverine woodland (ancient residual alluvial forest) in the UK. Together with other scarce wetland habitats the Forest also contains the most extensive lowland valley mire systems in Western Europe. The network of rivers and streams in the Forest, despite some interference by man, represent one of the best examples of a nutrient poor, acidic, lowland stream network in southern Britain. In addition, the New Forest is now the most important area in the region for breeding waders. The network of ephemeral and permanent ponds supports a range of notable, rare and endangered species. The key characteristics of the wetland habitats are described below.

Riverine Woodland

The New Forest is considered to be one of the best areas in the UK for Riverine Woodland. In the lowlands, intensive agriculture and flood control combined with woodland clearance have reduced this habitat type to small, fragmented examples. However, the New Forest stands are relatively extensive and where not affected by localised stream canalisation, remain functionally intact and seasonally flood especially where water spills from meandering channels along the flood plain; some stands have become isolated from the floodplain due to past drainage and channel straightening. Debris dams are often a valuable feature in riverine woodland promoting both flooding and helping to diversify the channel morphology and habitat niches. Riverine woodland also contains extensive old-growth stands which are exceptionally rare in Europe.

New Forest Riverine Woodland comprises around 212 ha distributed along the floodplains or the stream and rivers. The woodland stands generally comprise occasional to abundant Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and frequent Ash (Fraxinus excelsior). The rich alluvial soils produce a very healthy woodland flora which is sometimes modified by grazing animals. Greater Tussock Sedge (Carex paniculata) is absent and Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea) is very uncommon. In terms of the National Vegetation Classification (NVC), riverine woodland falls into the two categories below (and frequently lies somewhere between the two):

• W8 – Ash-Maple-Dogs Mercury Woodland (Fraxinus excelsior-Acer Campestre-Mercurialis Woodland) or,
• W7 - Alder-Ash-Yellow Pimpernel woodland (Alnus glutinosa-Fraxinus excelsior-Lysimachia nemorum woodland.

Within the W8 type woodland Alder is confined to the river banks, with Oak (Quercus robur) and Ash the dominant species within the woodland canopy with occasional Field Maple (Acer campestre). The tree crown can contain some ancient specimens. The shrub layer is very rich and includes species such as Hazel (Corylus avellana), Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), (Euonymus europaeus), Wild Privet (Ligustrum vulgare), and Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), with frequent Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Bramble (Rubus fruticosus) and Rosa spp. The Holly trunks are noted hosts to rare lichen species. The ground flora is also very rich and includes such species as Common Dog Violet (Viola riviniana), Wood Speedwell (Veronica Montana), Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris), Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), Wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides), Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) and the Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina).

Within the W7 community Alder occurs in bigger stands especially in areas where there are peat accumulations in old channels and around springs. The Alder often shows signs of previous coppice management. Ash is also frequent with occasional Oak. The shrub layer is much poorer than in the drier floodplain woodland but Holly and Willow is usually present. The ground flora is characterised by a prominence of wetland species including Remote Sedge (Carex remota), Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum), Bugle (Ajuga reptans), Marsh Valerian (Valeriana dioica), Water Mint (Mentha aquatica), Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina), Marsh Bedstraw (Galium palustre) and Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris).

Riverine Woodland is a SAC qualifying feature due to the fact that:

• The New Forest supports 91E0 Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanaie Salicion albae) and contains many streams and some small rivers that are less affected by drainage and canalisation than those in any other comparable area in the lowlands of England. Associated with many of the streams, particularly those with alkaline and neutral groundwater, are strips of alder Alnus glutinosa woodland which, collectively, form an extensive resource with a rich flora. In places there are examples of transitions from open water through reedswamp and fen to alder woodland. The small rivers show natural meanders and debris dams, features that are otherwise rare in the lowlands, with fragmentary ash Fraxinus excelsior stands as well as the alder strips. In other places there are transitions to 9190 Old acidophilous oak woods with Quercus robur on sandy plains and 9120 Atlantic acidophilous beech forests with Ilex and sometimes also Taxus in the shrublayer (Quercion robori-petraeae or Ilici-Fagenion), for which this site has also been selected.

Bog Woodland

Bog woodland is a European priority habitat because it is considered to be rare and extremely restricted, particularly in northwestern European lowlands where drainage and reclamation has destroyed large areas of former bog woodland. In the UK its total extent is estimated to be less than 1,000 ha. The New Forest is considered to be one of the best areas in the UK for Bog Woodland containing around 200-250 ha.

Bog Woodland is found on peat and contains a significant number of bog species in the ground flora. Bog woodland features two types of community - sallow carrs which are found in the acid headwaters and mires and alder carr which is found on richer soils in valleys on swampy ground. In terms of the NVC classification bog woodland communities can be divided into W4b and W5b as described below.

The W4b community is dominated by Downy Birch (Betula pubescens) with varying amounts of Grey Willow (Salix cinerea) and occasional Alder (Alnus glutinosa) over an open bog habitat. It is generally associated with the larger valley mires. Some communities are of very ancient origin, but the growth is young, sometimes due to recent woodland expansion onto the valley mire. Alder is confined to ancient stands and is totally absent from stands that have colonised open mire in the last 130 years. The groundflora is typified by Sharp-flowered rush (Juncus acutiflorus) and Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea), the latter controlled by grazing. The character of the community is often influenced by forest management regimes and grazing.

The W5b (Alder-Tussock sedge Woodland- Yellow Loosestrife sub-community (Alnus glutinosa- Carex paniculata woodland- Lysimchia vulgaris) community is characterised by an abundance of Alder. Occasional Grey Willow (Salix cinerea) and Downy Birch (Betula pubescens) occur in the shrub layer over shade tolerant Greater Tussock Sedge (Carex paniculata) tussocks. The ground flora is restricted by the amount of light that can penetrate the canopy, although the base-rich soils are capable of supporting a rich fen woodland flora including Purple Loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris), Water Mint (Mentha aquatica), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Gipsywort (Lycopus europaeus), Lesser Spearwort (Ranunculus flammula), Remote sedge (Carex remota) and Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis).

Bog woodland is a priority feature of the SAC due to the fact that:

• Birch stands (willow Betula – Salix) occur over valley bog vegetation, with fringing alder Alnus – Sphagnum stands where there is some water movement. These stands appear to have persisted for long periods in stable association with the underlying Sphagnum bog-moss communities. The rich epiphytic lichen communities and pollen record provide evidence for the persistence of this association. The 91D0 Bog woodland occurs in association with a range of other habitats for which the site has also been selected.

Mires

The New Forest mires cover an area of around 2020ha and occur as either seepage step mires or valley mires. They support a suite of communities including Valley Bogs, Bog Pools, Soakways, Poor Fen, Moorgrass Mires, Marl Flushes and Transition Mires. Although some areas have been damaged by drainage, most of the New Forest mire systems are still largely intact, and the extensive cover and transitions into other heathland communities is unparalleled in the UK. It is unlikely that such a diversity of mire communities, occurring across this extent and in such an intricate mosaic with surrounding heathland, exists in a comparable form elsewhere in the Atlantic zone.

Seepage step mires tend to form arced lines running along the contour line, perched on the upper terraces of the valley sides where the overlying sandy deposits meet the underlying clay deposits. Valley mires can be found in the valley bottoms where low hydraulic gradients and impermeable subsoils prevail. Wide, shallow valleys can support extensive mires while the steeper valleys tend to support smaller more localised mires. Mires are characteristically acidic with a low nutrient status. In the Forest, the underlying geology strongly influences the water chemistry and nutrient status which is important in determining the distribution of different mire communities. The central flows of valley mires which receive water from the Headon Beds may be neutral or slightly alkaline, while those fed from sand and gravels are acidic. The mires become increasingly acidic and nutrient poor with distance from the central flow with communities changing from enriched fen and carr to Sphagnum bog towards the periphery.

Valley Bogs

Valley bogs are the most extensive form of mire community found in the Forest and occur both in valleys and seepage steps. The community is characteristic of NVC type M21a – Bog Asphodel-Bog Moss Valley Mire – White Beak-sedge Bog Moss sub-community. Sphagnum papillosum is dominant while other sphagnum moss species, for example Sphagnum subnitens, S auriculatum, S. capillifolium and S. recurvum are frequent. Other common species include Common Sundew (Drosera rotundiflora), Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix), Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliate), Perfoliate Pondweed (Potamogeton polygonifolius) and Bog Myrtle (Myrica gale) as well as a significant proportion of the British population of Bog Orchid (Hammarbya paludosa). The bryophyte flora is especially rich featuring many bog specialist liverworts.

Bog pools

Many of the larger mires support bog pools where low flows or stagnant water result in high acidity and very low nutrient levels. Carpets of Sphagnum moss are scattered with vascular plants such as Bog Bean (Menythanthes trifoliate), White beak-sedge (Rhynchospora alba) and Common Cotton Grass (Eriophorum angustifolium). Local species include Lesser Bladderwort (Utricularia minor), Great Sundew (Drosera anglica), Brown Beak-sedge (Rhynchospora fusca) and Bog Sedge (Carex limosa). Bog pools are one of the few communities that do not rely on grazing for their survival.

Soakways

Soakway communities are associated with the natural drainage systems of pristine mires. The community is typified by NVC type M29 – Marsh St John’s Wort – Bog pond weed soakway. Linear creeping mats of Marsh St John’s Wort (Hypericum elodes) and Perfoliate Pondweed (Potamogeton polygonifolius) are highly distinctive and are often accompanied by Lesser Spearwort (Ranunculus flammula) and Bulbous Rush (Juncus bulbosus). A range of other bog or poor fen plants can be found including Sphagnum auriculatum, Marsh Pennywort Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Bog Pimpernel (Anagallis tenella), Common Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), Bog Aspodel (Narthecium ossifragum), Bottle Sedge (Carex rostrata), Lesser Water Plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides), Marsh Lousewort (Pedicularis palustris) and Marsh Bedstraw (Galium palustre). The diversity of species is dependent upon the degree of grazing and poaching and whether the soakway is permanently or seasonally wet.

Poor Fen

Poor fen communities are composed of species which are tolerant of a higher nutrient status than the valley bog communities. The soils are consistently waterlogged and acidic with modest water flow. Poor fens are usually well grazed and provide commoners’ stock with an early spring bite and essential grazing during times of drought. Like other mires, areas of poor fen have also been damaged by drainage. The poor fen community is typified by M6di Star sedge-Bog moss mire-sharp flowered rush sub-community. Sphagnum recurvum is the dominant species while Sharp flowered rush (Juncus acutiflorus) is constant but controlled by grazing. Typical poor fen associates include Velvet Bent (Agrostis canina), Star Sedge (Carex echinata), Marsh Willow Herb (Epilobium palustre) and the mosses Sphagnum palustre and Polytrichum commune. In the New Forest, poor fens often host Marsh Violet (Viola palustre) and White Sedge (Carex curta).

Purple Moor-Grass Mires

Purple moor-grass mires have a high level of water movement. Low grazing levels produce ideal conditions for rapid Purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) growth and dominance. This species together with Bog Myrtle (Myrica gale) effectively suppress other less competitive species producing a rather floristically impoverished community. Other species include Sharp flowered rush (Juncus acutiflorus), Tormentil (Potentilla erecta) and Cross-Leaved Heath (Erica tetralix). In terms of NVC the community is representative of M25a: Purple moor-grass-Tormentil mire-Cross-leaved heath sub community. Remnant purple moor grass mire can often be found in Inclosures which were former heathland habitat.

Marl Flushes

The most striking Marl Flushes are found in seepage step mires on marl (lime rich clay) where the water is base rich (pH7.0 or higher) and allows tuffa to be deposited on mosses. However not all marl flushes are base rich enough to allow tuffa deposition. Stoney Moors provides a good example of a Marl Flush. In the New Forest, Marl Flushes are typified by the following communities:

Eleocharis quinquefolia-Drepanocladus revolvens mire which is a lowland form of NVC community M10a: Carex dioica-Pinguicula vulgaris mire-Carex viridula oedocarpa-Juncus bulbosus sub-community with highly lime rich Marl Flushes (pH 7.0 or higher), depositing tuffa, with lime loving species prominent. The presence of Few Flowered Spike Rush (Eleocharis quinquefolia), the brown moss (Cratoneuron commutatum) and the abundance of the brown moss Drepanocladus revolvens are diagnostic. Associated species include Carnation Sedge (Carex panacea), Tawny Sedge (Carex hostaina), Bog Pimpernel (Anagallis tenella), Devils Bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) and Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica), Lesser Skullcap (Scutellaria minor) and Quaking Grass (Briza media). Purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea) is held in check by tight grazing. These marl flushes support a very rich flora including notable species such as Broad-leaved Cotton Grass (Eriophorum latifolium), Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris) and the bryophytes Cratoneuron commutatum, Philonotis calcarea and Preissia quadrata.

Eleocharis spp-Campylium stallatum mire-Narthecium ossifragum-Drosera rotundifolia sub-community which incorporates NVC Community M14 Schoenus nigricans-Narthecium ossifragum mire. This community is found in less enriched Mire Flushes (pH 6-6.5) which does not result in the deposition of tuffa. The only abundant moss is Campylium stallatum. Species characteristic of more acidic mires are evident including Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) and Common Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia). Associated species include Sharp-flowered rush (Juncus acutiflorus), Carnation Sedge (Carex panacea) and Cross-Leaved Heath (Erica tetralix).

Transition Mires

Transition Mires occur on deep, waterlogged peat which are irrigated by base-rich water producing very wet swampy condition. They support brown mosses and tall sedges but Black Bog-rush (Schoenus nigricans) is never present. Transition mires are particularly notable for the rare species which they support including Slender Cotton Grass (Eriophorum gracile), Bog Sedge (Carex limosa), Slender Sedge (C. lasiocarpa), Sphagnum contortum, S. teres, S. subsecundum, Marsh Lousewort (Pedicularis palustris), Great Sundew (Drosera anglica), Lesser Bladderwort (Utricularia minor), Pressia quadrata, Calliergon giganteum and Philonotis calcarea. The communities are generally typified by NVC M9: Carex rostrata- Calliergon cuspidatum/giganteum mire, although a number of different stand types can be identified.

From a SAC perspective the presence of 7150 Depression of peat substrates of the Rhynochosporian is an Annex 1 habitat and primary reason for selection of the site. The New Forest, one of three sites selected in southern England, is considered to hold the largest area in England of Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion, in complex habitat mosaics associated primarily with the extensive valley bogs of this site. The habitat type is developed in three situations: in natural bog pools of patterned bog surfaces, in flushes on the margins of valley mires and in areas disturbed by peat-digging, footpaths, tracks, ditches etc. In places the habitat type is rich in brown mosses Cratoneuron spp. and Scorpidium scorpioides, suggesting flushing by mineral-rich waters. The mosaics in which this habitat type occurs are an important location for bog orchid Hammarbya paludosa.

Both 7140 Transition mires and quaking bogs and 7230 Alkaline Fens are an Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site because:

• The term ‘transition mire’ relates to vegetation that in floristic composition and general ecological characteristics is transitional between acid bog and 7230 Alkaline fens, in which the surface conditions range from markedly acidic to slightly base-rich. The vegetation normally has intimate mixtures of species considered to be acidophile and others thought of as calciphile or basophile. In some cases the mire occupies a physically transitional location between bog and fen vegetation, as for example on the marginal lagg of raised bog or associated with certain valley and basin mires. In other cases these intermediate properties may reflect the actual process of succession, as peat accumulates in groundwater-fed fen or open water to produce rainwater-fed bog isolated from groundwater influence. Many of these systems are very unstable underfoot and can therefore also be described as ‘quaking bogs’
• Alkaline fens consist of a complex assemblage of vegetation types characteristic of sites where there is tufa and / or peat formation with a high water table and calcareous base-rich water supply. There is considerable variation between sites in the associated communities and the transitions that may occur. Such variation can be broadly classified by the geomorphological situation in which the fen occurs, namely: flood plain mire, valley mire, basin mire, hydroseral fen (i.e. as zones around open waterbodies) and spring fen.

Ponds

Temporary ponds (sometimes referred to as ephemeral ponds) are scattered throughout the New Forest and are typified by small water-filled depressions on poorly drained soils which dry out temporarily during the summer months and occasionally during very dry winters. These areas can support a unique assemblage of plants and invertebrates. Sanderson (1999) classified the communities of temporary ponds into five types:

• Spike-rush-Purple moor-grass community
• Lesser marshwort-Floating club-rush
• Creeping bent-Marsh foxtail- Knotweed community
• Floating sweet-grass community
• Pool edge assemblages

The forest supports the best preserved heathland ephemeral pond assemblages in the UK and is of international significance. The ephemeral ponds are also one of the most important habitats in the Forest for flora supporting the main concentration of plant species of conservation concern including Mentha pulegium, Pulicaria vulgaris, Galiium constrictum and Ludwigia palustris, the latter requiring cattle poached pond edges to survive.

The communities of Permanent Ponds are complex but vary according to the water chemistry and have not been fully investigated or classified. Nutrient poor-acid/neutral ponds are often dominated by Shore-weed (Litterellion uniflorae) communities while richer acid/neutral ponds often have Common water-crowfoot (Ranunculus peltatus) as a dominant species.

Key Wetland SAC habitat types are associated with ponds comprise:

• Hatchet Pond which is in fact three ponds, one of which is an example of an oligotrophic waterbody amidst wet and dry lowland heath developed over fluvial deposits. It is defined as SAC habitat type 3110 Oligotrophic water containing very few mineral of sandy plains (Littorelletalia uniflorae). It contains shoreweed Littorella uniflora and isolated populations of northern species such as bog orchid Hammarbya paludosa and floating bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium, alongside rare southern species such as Hampshire-purslane Ludwigia palustris. Hatchet Pond is therefore important as a southern example of this lake type where northern species, more common in the uplands of the UK, co-exist with southern species.
• 3130 vegetation of the Littorelletea uniflorae and/or of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea which occurs on the edge of large temporary ponds, shallow ephemeral pools and poached damp hollows in grassland. These areas support a number of specialist species in a zone with toad rush Juncus bufonius. These include the two nationally scarce species coral-necklace Illecebrum verticillatum and yellow centaury Cicendia filiformis, often in association with allseed Radiola linoides and chaffweed Anagallis minima. Heavy grazing pressure is of prime importance in the maintenance of the outstanding flora of these temporary pond communities. Livestock maintain an open habitat, controlling scrub ingress, and trampling the surface. Commoners’ animals also transport seed in their hooves widely from pond to pond where suitable habitat exists. Temporary ponds occur throughout the Forest in depressions capable of holding water for part of the year. Most ponds are small (between 5-10 m across) and, although great in number, amount to less than 10 ha in total area.

Streams

The New Forest streams are in themselves unique due to the fact they are a geographically isolated type with no equivalent in lowland England. As the streams flow downstream, they gradually become less acidic and less nutrient-poor, supporting a distinctive sequence of vegetation succession. This transition begins with acid-tolerant communities resembling those of upland mountainous regions, progresses through more diverse stream floras within open grassland and woodland habitats, and culminates in enriched, neutral river plant communities in the lower reaches. The streams support a unique assemblage of macrophytes (higher plants) and important populations of macroinvertebrates and fish species. Along many reaches of stream where the channel is shaded stands of macrophytes are generally non-existent. However, where open sections of slow flowing channels exist where silt deposition occurs, macrophyte growth can be prolific. Many of the streams, especially in their upper reaches dry out in summer and exhibit a bare, dry gravel bed.

The New Forest streams support a diverse population of macroinvertebrates including several rare species. Community structure varies according to whether the channels are sinuous or channelised and the macroinvertebrate communities are a valuable marker of the health and character of the channel and variation in a range of parameters. However, the conservation value of the macroinvertebrate fauna does not differ between sinuous or straight channelised reaches. It is worth noting that some areas of marginal aquatic habitat are found to support extremely valuable invertebrate communities including the rare Mud Snail, Lymnaea (Omphiscola) glabra. The richest marginal habitats are those that flood on a regular basis including palaeomeanders and ephemeral leaf litter pools.

The New Forest streams have been subject to intensive modification and canalisation due to historic drainage programmes for both forestry and commoning purposes but in the last 20 years significant efforts have been made to restore the hydrological functioning along sections of modified streams.

3.9 Species

The New Forest supports thousands of important species, many of which are rare or notable. Due to the complexity and number of different species, many of which have their own particular habitat niches, it is impossible to outline them all in any real detail as part of this report; further, extensive detail is available in the SAC plan. Key qualifying features given as reasons for notification of the various designations are listed in Annex B of the SAC Plan and include populations of Schedule 5/Red data book plant species, populations of Schedule 8 fungi, lichens and plants along with the plant communities and butterfly species which have suffered serious population declines.

Species often have competing interests, for many, what benefits one will be detrimental to another. A key management principle for the bodies managing the forest has been to concentrate on the condition of the various habitat rather than on individual species. However, public bodies do need to have regard for the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, which lists 56 habitats and 943 species first identified as priority habitats and species in the UK. The New Forest contains a significant proportion of the 943 species listed other than perhaps those confined to montane, limestone pavement and offshore environments. It is recognized that there are knowledge gaps on the populations and distribution of some of the rarer species so efforts have been underway in recent years to carry out more detailed studies to enhance the knowledge base.

The following section gives a brief overview of the various species groups that are present on the forest, many of which contribute to the qualifying features supported by the various designations.

Overview of Main Species Groups & Conservation Status

The New Forest is known to support 39 bird species of conservation concern and is well known for its aggregations of lowland damp grassland and heathland breeding bird assemblages. The New Forest SPA is notified because during the breeding season the SPA regularly supports:

• Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata, 538 pairs representing at least 33.6% of the breeding population in Great Britain
• Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, 2 pairs representing at least 10.0% of the breeding population in Great Britain
• Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, 300 pairs representing at least 8.8% of the breeding population in Great Britain
• Woodlark Lullula arborea, 184 pairs representing at least 12.3% of the breeding population in Great Britain (Count as at 1997)
• During the non-breeding season the SPA regularly supports over wintering Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus, with 15 individuals representing at least 2.0% of the wintering population in Great Britain.

During the breeding season the SPA regularly support qualifying individual species not listed in Annex I of the Wild Birds Directive, notably:

• Hobby (Falco Subbuteo) – up to 25 pairs representing around 3% of the British breeding population at the time of SPA classification
• Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) – in excess of 350 pairs representing at least 3% of the British breeding population at the time of SPA classification.

The New Forest mires (together with other New Forest open wetland habitats) are extremely important for breeding waders including snipe, curlew and redshank. The snipe population represents nearly 6% of the English population, the curlew population represents 15% of the southern England regional population and redshank 1.5% of southern England numbers, the majority of which breed at the coast. In addition, the number of breeding lapwings are likely to be of regional significance.

The Forest supports 18 mammal species of conservation concern including Water vole, Otter, Polecat, Pine martin and Dormouse as well as most of the UK bat species, including Bechstein’s and Barbastelle. Although not of conservation concern the forest supports all species of British deer which play their own unique role in the forest ecosystem.

The rivers and streams support good populations of fish species with at least 20 species recorded, including several species of conservation concern such as the Bullhead, Brook Lamprey, European Eel and Brown Trout. Migratory sea trout also spawn high up in the New Forests streams.

Amphibians are well represented across the forest with most species present other than the Natterjack toad which became extinct around 1950 and was never widespread as the habitat is generally sub-optimal for this species. Great crested newts Triturus cristatus are a qualifying feature of the New Forest SAC and are known to be present in at least 13 sites.

All six species of UK reptiles - Smooth snake Coronella austriaca, Grass snake Natrix natrix, Adder Vipera berus, Slow worm Anguis fragilis, Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara and Sand lizard Lacerta agilis are found in the Forest’s heathland and woodland habitats. Only the latter, the Sand Lizard, is confined to the dry heathland habitat.

Of the 57 resident species of butterfly in the UK, 33 have been recorded in the New Forest since the 1980s including 17 species of conservation concern. Since the 1960’s, several species, particularly the woodland butterfly species have been continuing to decline and attempts to reintroduce species have not been entirely successful. The greatest losses appear to have been those species dependent upon a rich and structurally diverse herb and shrub layer characteristic of the open woodland habitat. Factors for this decline are considered to be indiscriminate incursion of livestock into Inclosures, habitat loss from intensive forestry operations and fragmentation of broadleaf woodland by coniferization. Climate change may also be playing a role. However, recommended changes in management practises to reverse this decline are now being delivered through the New Forest’s Forest Plan.

At least 1,455 moth species have been recorded from the New Forest although a number have been in decline especially in recent decades. As of 2021 there were at least 123 species of conservation concern, of which about two thirds were associated with woodland habitats and a third with heathland habitats.

Of the 41 species of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) present in the UK, 27 breed in the New Forest, of which five are of conservation concern. Odonata are typically found around wet heath, seepages, slow moving runnels, bog pools, vegetated streams, permanent pond and ditches. In terms of the New Forest SAC, a qualifying feature is the Southern damselfly (Coenagrion mercurial). The forest supports several strong population centres estimated to be in the hundreds or thousands of individuals with a long history of records. Some colonies are thriving while other are in decline where the habitat has become less favourable.

Of more than 4,000 species of beetles present in the UK, up to half have been recorded in the New Forest of which some 240 species of conservation concern have been recorded since 1970. Of these, 54% are associated with the woodlands and 46% with heathlands. A plentiful supply of fallen and standing deadwood of all sizes and stages of decay is essential to many beetle species, while others are associated with wetland habitats such as acid mire pools and runnels to base-rich flushes and forest streams. Others are reliant on animal dung produced by the grazing livestock. The Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus is one of the Qualifying Features of the New Forest SAC which is considered one of the most important sites in the UK for fauna associated with rotting wood, and was identified as of potential international importance for its saproxylic invertebrate fauna by the Council of Europe (Speight 1989).

Amongst the 6,000 or more UK Hymenoptera (ants, wasps and bees) some 43 species of conservation concern have been recorded in the New Forest since 1970. All but three are associated with heathland habitat, often being dependent upon dry heathland and south facing bare sandy slopes.

Of 540 species of UK Hemiptera (Bugs), 9 species of conservation concern have been recorded in the New Forest since 1970. Three are associated with the woodlands, six with the heathlands. This includes the elusive New Forest cicada Cicadetta montana.

In relation to crustacea, two species of conservation concern are found on the forest - the tadpole shrimp Triops cancriformis and the fairy shrimp Chirocephalus diaphanous. Whilst the presence of livestock is important in keeping ephemeral ponds open and providing nutrients from dung, aquatic crusacea are highly susceptible to the toxic effects of certain veterinary compounds excreted in livestock dung. The shading effect caused by the spread of Crassula Helmsii is also of concern not just to this species but to another of the New Forest’s scarce and protected inhabitant, the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis for which the New Forest ponds are a national stronghold.

A total of 369 spider species have been recorded on the forest since 1940 with 119 species recorded in 2018 of which 24 are key target species. As such it is considered that the New Forest is of national importance for spiders.

The acid condition of the forest means that the New Forest is not abundant in molluscs but it is a known stronghold for the Mud Snail Lymnaea glabra, a species of conservation concern, which can be found in softer waters of small muddy pool and ditches especially ephemeral water bodies.

No lichen species are Qualifying Features of the New Forest SAC but lichen assemblages are a feature of the SSSI. Over the past 20 years, a large number of lichen records have been verified and catalogued by Neil Sanderson, supporting the case for the New Forest SAC to be of international importance for lower plants in both woodlands and heathlands. The woodland and heathlands support an outstanding assemblage of rare and scare lichens. Of the 718 species recorded to date (accounting for at least 30% of the British and Irish flora), 71 are of conservation concern. Of the total species recorded 74% are epiphytes predominantly found in pasture woodlands and 26% are heathland species growing on a range of substrates including heather stems, bare rock and soil, mosses and aquatic environments including on gravels in New Forest streams.

No bryophyte features (mosses and liverworts) are qualifying features of the SAC but bryophytes assemblages are a notified feature of the SSSI. There are around 1030 species of bryophytes in Britain of which 326 have been recorded from the New Forest SAC including 96 liverworts and 230 mosses of which 33 are of conservation concern.

The woodlands support outstanding assemblages of rare and scare fungi with the heathlands also supporting some notable species. Fungi has been recorded in the forest for at least 150 years and records suggest that 2,500 species of non-lichenised fungi have been recorded from the New Forest, of which at least 89 are of conservation concern. However, 18 species previously recorded have not been seen in the last 50 years. Most species of conservation concern are woodland species, with the exception of 9 grassland and heathland species. The best-known heathland species is Poronia punctata which is a specialist fungi confined to dung from horses grazing acidic rough pastures and may only be confined to the New Forest in terms of European distribution. Some of the rarer woodland species are only found on old or fallen large trees within pasture woodlands and only ever found on a small number of old trees in large areas of pasture woodland.

3.10 Historic Environment Designations

The New Forest has been under some form of protective designation since it was declared a royal hunting forest in 1079. This early designation has helped safeguard much of the area from enclosure, development, and modern agricultural practices such as ploughing and other forms of intensive cultivation. As a result, a significant number of historic features have been preserved.

Today, a range of statutory designations continue to offer protection to these historic assets. These include Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs), and Registered Historic Parks and Gardens.

Listed Buildings

The listing of buildings of special architectural or historic interest began in the 1940s under the Town and Country Planning Acts of 1944 and 1947. The current framework is governed by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Section 1. In England, there are currently over 370,000 listed building entries.

Listed buildings are classified into three grades:

• Grade I – these are of exceptional interest (only around 2.5% of all listed buildings are listed grade I)¹.
• Grade II* - These are buildings of particular importance with more than special interest
• Grade II – These are buildings of special interest. Approximately 91.7% of all listed buildings are in this class¹.

By virtue of a building being ‘listed’ consent has to be sought before making any changes to that building to assess whether the changes might affect the building’s character. Carrying out works on buildings without listed building consent is a criminal offence.

Conservation Areas

Governed by the same legislation as listed buildings, conservation areas can be created where a local planning authority identifies an area of special architectural or historic interest, where careful management is required to protect its character. There are approximately 10,000 conservation areas in England¹. Consent must be sought before carrying out certain works to buildings or trees located within a conservation area.

Scheduled Ancient Monuments

Scheduling is the oldest form of heritage protection in England, dating back to the 1882 Ancient Monuments Protection Act. Today the Ancient monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 is the relevant legislation offering protection. Scheduled monuments are selected based on their archaeological or historical interest as well as their management requirement. There are approximately 20,000 entries in England¹.

Historic Parks and Gardens

The Register of Historic Parks and Gardens was established in 1984 and now includes over 1,700 designated landscapes. These are graded similarly to listed buildings:

• Grade I – Parks and gardens of exceptional interest.
• Grade II* – Particularly important sites of more than special interest.
• Grade II – Sites of special interest.

While registration does not offer direct legal protection, it is a material consideration in the planning process and helps ensure that the historic and aesthetic value of these landscapes is recognised and preserved.

¹ Historic England (2024)

3.11 Historic Environment Key Features

The New Forest National Park Authority maintains a record of the historic environment for the area and has provided us with access to their records. This has allowed us to identify the statutory designated historic features located within the New Forest Perambulation in line with our instructions. The records that we hold were downloaded from the National Park’s database on 24th May 2024. Given that the database will inevitably be added to over time, we recommend checking whether there have been any new data entries in advance of submitting an application. We also recommend that any future management agreement sufficiently allows for new discoveries and entries to be accounted for. Schedules containing the features that we have identified can be seen at Appendix C.

Listed Buildings

We have identified 310 listed buildings located within the New Forest Perambulation, being our Study Area. Of these, eight buildings are listed as Grade I:

• Palace House, Beaulieu
• Remains of Outer Wall Around Cloister and Foundations of Abbey Church, Beaulieu.
• Domus and Ruins of Lay Frater, Beulieu
• Remains of St Leonards, Beaulieu
• St Leonards Barn, Beaulieu
• Church of All Saints, Minstead
• Church of St Michael and All Angels, Lyndhurst
• Church of the Blessed Virgin and Child, Beaulieu

We have also identified 17 Grade II* and 285 Grade II list entries. Not surprisingly the listed buildings are generally located within the New Forest villages, with high concentrations in the villages of Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Burley, Lyndhurst, Minstead and Bramshaw. Very few of the listed buildings have any interaction with the New Forest’s common land and/or land designated for conservation interests. The few that do, include:

• Nomansland War Memorial – Grade II listed memorial located on the New Forest SSSI
• Rufus Stone – Grade II listed memorial located on the New Forest SSSI
• Castle Malwood – Grade II listed lodge which is surrounded by common land designated SSSI, SPA, SPA and Ramsar. The designations appear to include at least part of the boundary banks.
• Milestone 250m north of the Kennels, Lyndhurst in Furzey Lawn Inclosure – Grade II
• Milestone 300m north of Knavesash – Grade II
• Milestone 300m south of Picket Post junction – Grade II
• Milestone opposite entrance to New Park – Grade II
• Guidestone at SU 199043, Burley

A full schedule of the 310 listed buildings identified can be supplied on request.

Conservation Areas

There are 13 Conservation Areas designated within the New Forest Perambulation. These include many of the New Forest villages and settlements bordering the common land. Many of the designated Conservation Areas contain areas of verge, greens and lawns that form part of the common. These areas are invariably also designated under the New Forest SSSI.

The following conservation areas are wholly or partly located within the New Forest Perambulation:

• Bank
• Beaulieu
• Brockenhurst
• Bucklers Hard
• Burley
• Forest Central South
• Forest North East
• Forest North South
• Fritham and Eyeworth
• Lyndhurst
• Swan Green
• The Weirs
• Western Escarpment

Scheduled Ancient Monuments

According to the New Forest NPA’s database, there are 174 Scheduled monuments located within the New Forest Perambulation and of these, only two are not located on common land. The listings range from bowl barrows to Roman pottery kilns and sites of former Royal hunting lodges.

Undesignated Historical Features

We understand from the New Forest National Park Authority that many additional features have been identified in their historic environment records as potentially worthy of protection through Scheduled Monument designation. However, assessing these features—many of which were identified through LiDAR surveys—requires detailed data obtained through intrusive archaeological investigation. In practice, such investigations are often extremely challenging, if not unfeasible, due to the overlapping nature conservation designations that apply to the same areas of land.

Forestry England follows a policy of consulting the NPA’s historic environment record prior to undertaking any practical works, as part of their Operational Site Assessment process. This includes consideration of both designated and undesignated heritage features. The NPA aspires to carry out further surveys and data analysis to determine which of these undesignated features are of genuine historic significance. Clarifying the status of these features could potentially lead to more efficient land management and a reduction in associated costs.

4 Geographical Area

Whilst our Study Area is the Perambulation of the New Forest, we have been asked to consider what land is required to support the Key Features identified in section 3 above. In doing so, we have considered lands both inside and outside of the Perambulation. Ultimately the purpose of this part of the study is to inform where lines could be draw when drafting future management agreements for the New Forest.

We have met and interviewed many of the larger local land mangers both inside and immediately adjacent to the Perambulation and during our interviews a number of themes emerged. We have used these themes to help us consider this part of the study.

We have reviewed the following when considering the geographical area necessary to support the Key Features identified in section 3 above:

1. The areas subject to the various nature conservation designations in the New Forest
2. Land ownership and management
3. The grazing systems that exist within the New Forest
4. Water catchments
5. Deer management
6. Management of invasive species
7. The eligibility of Forestry England’s New Forest Inclosures (as specifically required within our instructions)
8. Climate change – mitigating impacts

4.1 Designation Boundaries

Given that the Key Features have been defined by way of the various statutory designations, the designation citations have been a primary source of information when considering what land is necessary to support the Key Features. As such we have produced a plan illustrating the key New Forest environmental and landscape designations (the New Forest SSSI, The New Forest SAC, The New Forest SPA, The New Forest Ramsar, The New Forest National Park and the New Forest Perambulation). This plan can be seen at Appendix D (i). Some of the New Forest designations encompass land outside of the Perambulation, such as the New Forest SSSI, which has units within Natural England’s Langley Wood Reserve and the RSPB’s Franchise Lodge Reserve.

Approximately 81% of the Perambulation (our Study Area) is subject to one or more nature conservation designation(s) and almost 100% of the common land in the New Forest is designated both a SSSI and an SAC.

4.2 Land Ownership and Management

When trying to deliver landscape scale projects of any kind, it is often the case that this is more likely to be achievable where there are a small number of land managers holding management control over a large area of land. This happens to be the case in the New Forest, with Forestry England being responsible for the management of an area in excess of 26,800ha (66,222 acres) within the New Forest National Park. This equates to approximately 47.33% of the National Park and 71.53% of the land within the Perambulation. The New Forest’s Crownlands were historically bordered by a number of large, landed estates, many of which had manorial waste forming ‘satellite’ commons adjacent to the Crownlands. Some of these large, landed estates remain in private ownership, whereas the ownership of others has become fragmented and developed into villages or housing estates. We interviewed representatives of the following land managers as part of our research:

*This includes land that currently forms part of the single grazed unit in the New Forest. This could include land that is not technically common land.

We established whilst interviewing the above land managers that there are some large landholdings just outside the Perambulation which historically would have been grazed by commoners’ livestock that had strayed from the nearby common land upon which they had been depastured. Whilst these areas now form separate grazing units from the wider New Forest common, the land managers frequently use local commoners/graziers to provide extensive grazing to these areas, which are often designated areas. Roydon Woods (Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust), Franchises Lodge Reserve (RSPB) and Langley Wood Reserve (Natural England) are all examples of such areas. We established during our discussions that the respective land managers wish to retain control over the grazing of these areas which means that they will remain separate grazing units. During our interviews it was mentioned that the grazing often has little or no grazing value to commoners. As such, it is common for conservation grazing to be made available without charge. This meant that fencing, livestock handling facilities and water supplies had to be installed at the land managers’ cost. Support from capital grant schemes would appear to be essential to allow these areas to continue to be grazed.

A plan showing the different ownerships of the New Forest’s common land/ shared grazing can be seen at Appendix D(ii).

As part of the study, we have gathered Rural Land Register (RLR) data from each of the above land managers so that this information is readily available should it be required as part of a scheme application. This data includes the respective land managers’ Single Business Identifier (SBI) and the grid and parcel numbers for each parcel of land.

4.3 Common Land / Grazing Units

The extensive grazing system that operates in the New Forest is referenced above for its role in maintaining the Key Features of the Study Area. In many ways this extensive grazing system defines the Study Area’s landscape and biodiversity. The grazing rights that continue to be exercised in the New Forest span over multiple ownerships, however the day-to-day land management decisions are typically managed at an ownership or land manager level, despite the internal ownership boundaries being unfenced. The extent of the Verderers jurisdiction is defined by the Perambulation, which allows the grazing system to be administered across the entire area over which commoners’ livestock have access. As a result, the Verderers Court often finds itself acting as a forum for dealing with many cross-boundary issues, besides grazing.

The New Forest is not registered under the 1965 Commons Registration Act, instead its protection was documented under the various New Forest Acts of 1877 and 1949 although it is widely accepted as being common land. As a result of not being formally registered, there hasn’t been a need to maintain a map identifying the extent over which commoners’ livestock have access. This is something that we have sought to address through this feasibility study, although the scale of this exercise means that we have only been able to produce something that we believe to be 99% accurate. The reason for undertaking this exercise is linked to the requirement that an applicant to one of DEFRA’s Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) should have ‘management control’ of the area that they enter into a management agreement. With grazing being so important in relation to the management of the Key Features, being able to demonstrate that the applicant has some degree of control over the grazing pressure is likely to be important. It would also naturally be desirable to include the entire grazing unit within one land management scheme. As a first step towards attempting to achieve this, it seems logical to identify the extent of “the common”. Importantly, we note that DEFRA has recognised the New Forest as a single common as opposed to a collection of contiguous commons in the application of agricultural policy to date (eg Single Payment Scheme and Basic Payment Scheme).

We have identified 23,673 ha (58,499 acres) of land that we believe will be accessible to commoners’ livestock by 2029. This includes a number of timber growing inclosures that Forestry England informs us are currently fenced but will be made available to livestock within the next few years. It also includes areas that are understood to be grazed under the consent of the Landowner as opposed to by way of right. This contiguous area of land forms a single grazing unit, incorporating various lawns, lanes and verges within the Perambulation. A plan identifying this area can be seen at Appendix D (iii). It should be noted that the precise area is likely to be subject to constant change due to the combined effect of regular encroachments as well as areas being made available as a result of dilapidated fencing or through intentional reintroductions of grazing (such as timber growing inclosures being ‘thrown open’).

In addition to identifying the extent of the common, we have sought to establish its ownership, the objectives of the respective landowners/managers, information regarding what land is currently entered into a management agreement and the Rural Land Register data for the common. The subsequent database that we have produced will need to be maintained to prevent it becoming outdated as a result of ownership changes and remapping exercises. We have identified the current ownership of 23,462.20 ha (57,976.35 acres) leaving just 210 ha of land where we have not been able to establish the current landowner or manager, primarily due to the fact that the land is not registered with HM Land Registry. Of the parcels for which we have established ownership, we have only contacted and obtained further information on those land holdings exceeding 10 acres in size.

As mentioned in the previous section, besides the New Forest Common, there are other large grazing units adjacent to the Perambulation, but these tend to be seasonal and involve just one grazier per grazing unit. Roydon Woods, Franchise Lodge, Langley Wood and some of the coastal marshes such as Calshot and Keyhaven are examples of such. The land managers to whom we have spoken have all advised that they intend to keep these grazing units separate from the New Forest Common to allow them to retain control over the grazing pressure. That keeping separate grazing blocks or units might help act as a ‘fire break’ in terms of disease management was also raised in discussions.

4.4 Back-Up Land

Through our engagement with commoners and representatives of the community, it is evident that the extensive grazing system operating in the New Forest depends upon there being sufficient enclosed land in and around the New Forest National Park for owners of the livestock to source winter forage and to accommodate livestock requiring supplementary feeding or additional supervision for welfare reasons during the winter months. This land is often described as “back-up land” or “back-up grazing”. Some of this land comprises hay meadows which can offer species-rich grassland, but the better drained back-up land is generally used reasonably intensively during the winter months. The more intensive use of some back-up land, where supplementary feeding takes place means that the land typically is not eligible for any agri-environmental scheme. This land often requires maintenance in terms of fencing, ditching and hedgerow management. It also requires livestock handling facilities to allow livestock owners to safely manage their livestock during vet visits for example. As a result, the upkeep and management of backup land represents a significant proportion of commoners’ cost and without any form of grant funding, the standard to which this land is maintained could potentially be low.

The exact land that is used as back-up land is not fixed and will change from year-to-year as a result of changes in circumstances for both the grazier and the landowner.

During a consultation of New Forest Commoners, we asked those who attended the live consultation meeting to document on a plan the land they knew to be used for supporting the commoning system in 2024. During this exercise, just over 1,800 ha of land were identified. We believe this exercise captured only a small proportion of the amount of land actually being used for back-up grazing.

We have not published a plan showing the location of the backup land in 2024 as we understand that this data is sensitive and the publication may result in landowners not making their land available to commoners in the future for fear that it could restrict how they are allowed to use the land in the future.

4.5 Water Catchments & Quality

The New Forest can be broadly described as a gently sloping plateau that dips from north to south, divided into six principal river basins that originate within the Perambulation:

• Lymington River
• Beaulieu River
• Bartley Water
• Cadnam River
• Avon Water
• Hampshire Avon Tributaries

While the Langdown Stream and Becton Bunny catchments lie largely outside the Perambulation boundary, the other rivers and streams have their headwaters in the heart of the Forest, and their estuaries remain within the bounds of the Perambulation.

For catchment management and monitoring purposes, the Environment Agency has subdivided these six main basins into a series of operational catchments, each drained by a complex network of rivers, streams, and artificial channels (see Figure 2: Forest Plan Progress & Future Ambition (Source Forestry England) and Table 1: New Forest Catchments, Streams and Estuaries). Most of the New Forest catchments fall within the South East River Basin District, whereas those draining into the Hampshire Avon are part of the South West River Basin District.

Topographically, the Forest’s steeper western escarpment borders the broad Avon Valley. To the east, the boundary follows the lower River Test valley and Southampton Water, while the gently sloping southern margin is bounded by the Solent. The main watershed runs roughly north to south, separating the Hampshire Avon tributaries to the west from the other principal basins. The Blackwater and Cadnam Rivers drain eastward into the Test and Southampton Water, respectively, while the Lymington, Avon Water, and Beaulieu Rivers flow southeast into the Solent.

Hydrology

Streams in the New Forest are fed by a combination of seepage and valley mires, surface runoff, and throughflow. Many of these streams exhibit a mean daily flow of less than 0.5 m³/s in dry weather, with significantly lower flows during periods of summer drought. Despite these modest base flows, New Forest streams are naturally "spatey" or "flashy", with rapid increases in volume and sediment load following heavy rainfall, which subside quickly after rainfall ends.

In summer, streams supported by well-developed seepage zones and mires continue to flow, albeit with only a few centimetres of water. Conversely, some, particularly those within the Hampshire Avon Tributaries,may become seasonally dry or reduce to isolated pools and dry gravel bars. Only the deeper pools, often scoured behind debris dams or in meanders, retain water through the driest months.

Historical Channel Modification

Since the 1870s, more than half of the Forest's main rivers and first-order tributaries have been altered by drainage works designed to enhance land for forestry or grazing. For instance, 78% of surveyed channels in the Blackwater and 44% in the Highland Water have undergone some degree of modification. Nevertheless, the New Forest still contains some of the best-preserved examples of lowland river systems in southern England.

Water Quality

The core wetlands of the New Forest are renowned for their exceptional water quality, with 74% of freshwater sites sampled by monitoring organisations showing no signs of pollution. However, water quality tends to decline further downstream, mainly due to:

• Diffuse agricultural runoff
• Leakage from septic tanks
• Discharges from sewage treatment works

Climate Change Implications

Climate change is progressing at a faster rate now than at any point in the last 10,000 years, posing numerous challenges to the integrity of the New Forest’s wetlands. Key anticipated impacts include:

• Increased winter flooding and erosion potential
• More frequent summer drying
• Reduced summer water availability for livestock
• Increased invasion by alien species, pests, and diseases
• Shifts in hydrological regimes
• Declines in water quality due to higher temperatures, reduced oxygen levels, and higher respiration rates
• Changes in fish and macroinvertebrate populations
• Alterations in species diversity and distribution (e.g. wetland waders)
• Reduction in drought-intolerant species
• Impacts from rising sea levels

Restoration and Resilience

The Forest’s streams and river corridors are ecologically vital, providing habitat connectivity from source to sea. Activities in upstream headwaters can have significant consequences downstream. As such, maintaining or restoring wetland habitats and hydrological regimes is essential for building resilience to climate extremes.

Key conservation strategies include:

• Restoring mires to retain water and improve downstream flow stability
• Re-establishing natural hydrology to enhance stream resilience
• Maintaining summer base flows to preserve water quality
• Reducing downstream flood risk through improved water retention in headwaters
• Supporting habitat migration by enhancing corridor connectivity

Table 1: New Forest Catchments, Streams and Estuaries

Operational Catchment: Lymington & Beaulieu

Given the integral role that hydrology and water quality play in shaping the New Forest’s ecological integrity, ideally any future land management scheme should be designed to reflect natural catchment boundaries rather than relying solely on administrative or ownership boundaries. While the Perambulation captures the headwaters of the main rivers, the health of downstream habitats and waterbodies is also influenced by land use and water inputs originating just beyond its borders. Therefore, the management of the six principal river basins originating within the Forest should be joined up with the adjoining sub-catchments such as Langdown Stream and Becton Bunny, which, though outside the formal boundary, are hydrologically connected. A catchment-based approach will enable more effective coordination of habitat restoration, pollution control, and water resource management, ensuring that interventions are ecologically coherent and aligned with the landscape’s natural processes. Integrating the management of these extended hydrological units is essential for maintaining water quality, supporting biodiversity, and building climate resilience across the broader New Forest landscape.

A plan showing the water catchment and main reivers can be seen at Appendix D (iv).

4.6 Deer Management

The New Forest was designated a Royal Hunting Forest in 1079, and since that time, deer management has been shaped by a series of contrasting policy approaches. As royal interest in deer for hunting declined and priorities shifted toward timber production, various efforts were made over the past two centuries to control deer populations. The most significant of these was the Deer Removal Act of 1851, which marked a major attempt to reduce numbers. Since then, deer populations have steadily increased, reaching levels that many land managers in and around the study area now consider a significant threat to forestry, agriculture, and biodiversity.

Today, five species of deer are present within the New Forest National Park, of which only two (Red deer (Cervus elaphus) and Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)) are considered native. The others, including Fallow deer (Dama dama), Sika (Cervus Nippon) and Muntjac (Muntiacus) have proliferated in recent years, contributing to mounting pressures on woodland regeneration and ground flora.

Deer management emerged as a key topic during discussions with land managers interviewed for this study. A recurring theme was the recognition that deer populations cannot effectively be managed at the scale of individual landholdings. Instead, a landscape-scale approach is essential, particularly in relation to managing the highly mobile Fallow deer population.

In response to this challenge, several deer management groups have formed across the New Forest, feeding into a broader New Forest-wide Deer Management Group, which convenes annually. Among these, the Northern New Forest and Southeast Wiltshire (NNFSEW) Deer Management Group has been especially active in recent years. In response to an exceptionally high density of Fallow deer, the group has promoted collaboration among local landowners through the sharing of population census data and coordinated cull records. This collective effort has resulted in a significantly increased annual cull, helping to bring numbers under control in the immediate area.

However, the success of this focused effort is believed to have displaced some deer into adjacent areas where Fallow populations were historically low or absent. This unintended outcome underscores the necessity of managing deer at a regional landscape level, beyond traditional land ownership or administrative boundaries.

The three main deer management groups within the New Forest delineate their boundaries using prominent landscape features such as rivers, roads, and the coastline. A map illustrating the approximate extent of these deer management areas is provided in Appendix D (v).

4.7 Management of Invasive Plants

Another theme that emerged during our interviews with various land managers within the Perambulation is the importance of and difficulty with managing non-native invasive plants. Examples that were given include:

• Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)
• Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum)
• Pitcher plants (Sarracenia purpurea)
• American Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanus)
• Giant hogweed (Hermacleum manteganzzianum)
• Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)
• Parrots feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
• New Zealand pygmyweed (Crassula helmsii)
• Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster)

These invasive species pose a threat to the Study Area’s Key Features and as such should be managed carefully.

Past agri-environment schemes and other funding sources have invested in the eradication of these species from some land holdings within the Study Area, however any pause in monitoring and follow-up remedial action can result in these species making a quick comeback resulting in a significant threat to local biodiversity and becoming a much more significant task of which to regain control. Despite investment through various schemes and programs in the past, a significant amount of the monitoring and ongoing management of some of these plants is undertaken by volunteers with very limited resources. The New Forest Non-Native Plants Project operates across the New Forest and is a partnership hosted by the HIWWT. The project has benefited from funding granted by partners, local charities and funding streams provided to the area but is dependent on a significant amount of volunteer time.

In terms of geographical area, some non-native plants tend use corridors in the form of boundary features and watercourses whereas others spread through airborne seed or rhizomes. For those that spread along watercourses it is essential that monitoring and any necessary management takes place along entire watercourses wherever possible.

4.8 Inclosures

The process of enclosing previously open land for timber production in the New Forest began in the 1700s, and became legalised by the New Forest Acts of 1698, 1808, 1877 and 1949. Today, the total area covered by New Forest Inclosures extends to around 8,500 hectares (around 21,000 acres). The Inclosures are clearly demarcated areas of predominately plantation woodland supporting both conifers and broadleaves. An Inclosure may or may not be separated from the grazed Open Forest by stock fences.

There are four legal categories of Inclosures:

• Statutory Inclosures
• Verderers’ Inclosures
• Crown Freehold Woods
• Leasehold Woods

Statutory Inclosures - formed under the New Forest Acts of 1698, 1808 and 1851 and are held in perpetuity. These Inclosures were originally set up to grow timber for the Royal Navy and comprised predominantly oak or beech plantations. Most of the early plantations dating from the 18th century were felled during the 19th and 20th centuries, often being replanted with conifer. In 1924 the Forestry Commission took over the management of the New Forest Crown Lands which resulted in a period of more intensive forestry production with a greater emphasis on conifer production to support the national need for timber. Statutory Inclosures currently cover 7,108 hectares (17,564