particular is not up to date. There have been changes to the topography which are not shown. These have occurred because there has been tree felling, heath land restoration and changes to some fences and boundaries. It seems Ordnance Survey relies on aerial photographs for most of its information and the photography has not kept up with the changes. The Forestry Commission is keen to ensure the maps contain accurate information so I hope the next one will be better. Ruth. As an experienced forest walker I have often noticed that fences and woodland edges are not accurately reflected on the map. This is understandable, especially woodland edges, as we seem to be experiencing a lot of habitat changes which have occurred since the map was produced. I quite often ‘retrieve’ lost walkers and cyclists who are not in possession of the latest map. I plead guilty to that charge, as my map is over 5 years old. However all is not ‘lost’ (as it were) because careful observation will often reveal the original line of the old fence or woodland edge. New fences and edges are obvious. Don’t forget the OL22 contains contours and they can give you an indication of the topography. Ed
The Government's conservation agency, Natural England, said that the record breaking Their grazing keeps down the growth of scrub and maintains habitats such as grassland and wood pasture, upon which many species depend for their survival. The area is home to New Forest ponies and other rare species, including nightjars, Dartford warblers, bog orchids, Bechstein bats, stag beetles and tadpole shrimps. The funding, which will channel £16m to the area over the next ten years, will also support efforts to restore some important habitats. Remote sensing technology will map the archaeological features of the Forest, which was a royal hunting ground of William the Conqueror and later a source of timber, for Navy battleships, as part of efforts to preserve its history.
Based on an article in The Salisbury Journal
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WHO ARE THE VERDERER’S ? The Verderers' primary objective is to regulate and protect the commoners' interests. They are not permitted to profit from their office The Court of Verderers was set up under the New Forest Act of 1877. It is the last remnant of the old form of Forest government, which was found in many parts of the country. Although greatly modified since the days when the Forest Law fulfilled its original purpose, the Court's authority is based on a blend of ancient and modern statutory powers. The Verderers are charged with regulating commoning on the Forest and inquiring into unlawful inclosures. Subsequent Acts have added to the Verderers' powers. The present Court has the same status as a Magistrates' Court and consists of ten Verderers. The commoners elect five, with elections taking place every three years. The office is entirely unpaid. They serve on the Court for six years. The other five Verderers are appointed one each by the Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs, the Forestry Commission, the National Park Authority and the Countryside Agency. The Official Verderer is the Chairman of the Court and is appointed by the Queen. The Verderers have a set of by-laws, which can be enforced, in the local Magistrates' Courts. The by-laws help to ensure that commoners act in a responsible manner in the exercise of their rights. In order to assist them to carry out their duties the Verderers employ five Agisters who ride the Forest and supervise the day to day welfare of the commoners' stock. The Court of Verderers meets on the third Wednesday of each month (except August and December) in public session, at which "presentments" may be made. A private committee meeting usually follows the Open Court. During WW II the Verderers had the power to delay the start of bomb testing on the Ashley Walk Range because the fence was incomplete and it had not been cleared of the Commoner’s animals. Some power! |
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