Commoners Defence Association chair Andrew Parry-Norton warns verderers the New Forest is shrinking as landowners move fences

‘SEVERAL acres’ of the New Forest is being lost each year due to landowners moving fences, the verderers have been warned.

The impact of fence repositioning is shrinking the New Forest, the chair of the Commoners Defence Association says, warning of an ongoing battle to stop encroachments.

Speaking at a recent meeting of the Verderers’ Court, Andrew Parry-Norton called on the verderers to take a “much stronger approach” to encroachments to keep the Forest intact.

“The Forest is suffering from a gradual erosion of acreage; I would not be exaggerating to suggest this could possibly be several acres a year or more,” warned Mr Parry-Norton. “Every meeting our members report repositioning of fences. The situation is now widespread.

“To a property owner it might seem that moving a fence six inches has little effect on the Forest, but it’s cumulative.”

It was suggested that one preventative measure would be for the verderers to advise prospective property owners of the boundary rules, either via estate agents or land searches that are requested by registrars.

Mr Parry-Norton continued: “Often the owner is misinformed – the deeds state they own a ditch, bank or verge but are unaware they cannot fence it.

“The effect on the Forest is shrinking on a yearly basis, an unacceptable situation.”

Stating that the CDA works tirelessly to stop encroachments, Mr Parry-Norton said its officers James Young and Mike Eccles faced a neverending list to deal with.

“We cannot sustain this work unilaterally,” added Mr Parry Norton. “We request the verderers take a much stronger approach to the problem, coordinating with other Forest organisations to deal with all encroachments, large and small.”