New Forest to benefit from 10m given to Verderers Higher Level Stewardship

THE New Forest is set to benefit from up to £10m of government funding to support conservation and education work.

The Verderers Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme, which is worth an annual £2m to the area, has been extended for a further five years.

As one of the largest environment schemes in England, the cash will be used to protect the national park’s internationally-important wildlife and landscapes by funding initiatives such as scrub clearance and habitat restoration.

The scheme was originally launched in 2010 and was set to run for a decade, with annual extensions agreed for the last three years.

Over this period it has delivered nearly £23m to the Forest.

National park authority chair Gavin Parker responded: “In a time when resources are tight, this commitment is particularly welcome.

“However, it will be important that the scheme helps secure a longer-term future for the New Forest and the things it delivers for nature, climate and people as we move fully into the new domestic agricultural policy from 2024.”

Natural England provides technical advice and support to the scheme that is managed by the verderers in partnership with Forestry England and the NPA.

However, there will also be an option for the verderers to benefit from the government’s new domestic agricultural policy as details are revealed in the coming months.

If the new Countryside Stewardship Scheme and Landscape Recovery Scheme are deemed to be better for the Forest, the HLS agreement could be terminated early.

Official Verderer Lord Manners said: “The five-year extension offered from the Rural Payments Agency is fantastic news for the Forest.

“It means that the partner organisations can build on their existing work as well as put longer-term plans in place to deliver vital projects.”

Since 2010 the HLS has supported the restoration of 20 miles of New Forest streams, which were artificially straightened in Victorian times, to reduce flooding risk.

Returning these waterways to their natural meandering routes has aided the restoration of rare and important wetland habitats, improved carbon storage, and supported rare species such as the southern damselfly and curlew.

Over 1,000 hectares of heath and grassland has also been restored back to natural habitats by removing trees from plantations to allow rare open heathlands to thrive.

In addition, 23 miles of roadside verges have been restored and protected.

Substantial work has also been undertaken to remove rhododendron and other non-native invasive species helping native habitats and wildlife to flourish.

Forestry England’s deputy surveyor of the New Forest, Craig Harrision, said: “A huge amount of work has taken place over the last decade to care for and enhance this incredibly special landscape thanks to the funding provided by this scheme.

“Its extension allows us to build on this and take further action to help ensure the Forest remains a haven for wildlife and resilient to the challenges faced by climate change.”

The HLS funding also supports commoning via a range of initiatives, and school visits have helped more than 18,000 children learn more about the national park.

Thousands of important archaeological sites have been discovered, surveyed and mapped using LiDAR technology, with a programme now in place to manage these with help from volunteers.

To find out more visit www.hlsnewforest.org.uk