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Back in 2002 Alun
Michael, Minister for Rural Affairs, decided that
the New Forest should become a national park after a year long public inquiry.
 | | New
Forest ponies |
Speaking
of the decision he said, "You can't just leave an area like this as a
museum of the landscape. They have to be living places and that means a national
park is in the best interest of maintaining something which has been regarded
as special for 1,000 years, and doing so in a way which respects the people who
live and work there now."
Three
years later and the New Forest National Park is finally born.
The green
area on the above map shows the boundary of the park. It covers an area of 571
sq km and is home to about 34,400 people. It's also inhabited by a huge variety
of wildlife including the famous New Forest ponies.
 | | Sunset in
the Forest |
National
parks are classed as areas of oustanding natural beauty with good opportunities
for outdoor recreation. They are considered to need special management to keep
them that way. National
park status should guarantee protection for the Forest, with its ancient woodland
and heaths. However, there is still concern from local residents that the area's
new status will bring an increase in tourism which could place additional strain
on the land and could boost house prices. Keeping
an eye on this and any other issues in the area will be the national park authority
which comes into limited force in April 2005 before gaining full power in April
2006. It will be responsible for running the park and overseeing any changes and
events happening within the boundaries.
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