THE VERDERERS OF THE NEW FOREST

Higher Level
Stewardship scheme

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About the Verderers of the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship scheme

The Verderers of the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme is the largest environmental improvement scheme in England.

It supports the ancient tradition of commoning, and helps restore and enhance the New Forest’s internationally-important habitats.

20,000

More than 20,000 hectares of open heathland - unequalled in Europe for the complexity and range of wildlife and plant life – are covered as part of the scheme

£25m +

The scheme has brought in more than £25million to the New Forest – from habitat restoration projects to payments helping sustain grazing livestock

17,000

HLS work has included identifying and protecting historic sites across an area the size of 17,000 football pitches in the New Forest

16

The HLS scheme is now in its 16th year in the New Forest, having started in 2010

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HLS projects

The Higher Level Stewardship scheme oversees a wide range of work which has a positive impact on the New Forest landscape, including:

  • Wetland restoration
  • Habitat restoration
  • Commoning support
  • Education
  • Heritage

Who are the partners in the HLS scheme?

The three main partners in the HLS scheme are the Verderers of the New Forest, Forestry England and the New Forest National Park Authority.

They are supported by the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association – which acts as a voice for Commoners and helps ensure their interests are represented – and Natural England which offers technical advice and assistance towards various HLS projects.

A sign with two ponies and a tree

New Forest National Park Authority

The New Forest National Park Authority has overall responsibility for the management of the whole of the New Forest National Park and leads on the heritage and education aspects of the scheme

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Working together

Natural England provides technical advice and support to the scheme that is managed by the Verderers of the New Forest in partnership with Forestry England and the New Forest National Park Authority, with support from the Commoners Defence Association.

This is because in the New Forest:

  • the Crown Lands are managed by Forestry England
  • the Verderers have the statutory authority from government to manage the use of the land
  • the National Park Authority has overall responsibility for the management of the whole of the New Forest National Park
  • commoning is the traditional system of land management which shapes the New Forest.

The scheme is overseen by a Board drawn from the chief executives of the partner organisations. The Board is supported by a Programme Administrator who operates the whole of the programme on behalf of the Board.