DAVID BRAUND-PHILLIPS: 16 Million to help the New Forest

I always enjoy bringing you news of good conservation work. This one is an especially great piece of conservation.

The New Forest is a 141,000-acre stretch of land in the south of England. It covers a large part of Hampshire and extends into Wiltshire. It became the New Forest and property of the crown in 1076 when William I chose it as a royal hunting ground. It has belonged to the crown ever since and was protected for the commoner in 1877. As you can imagine, it's not all forest: there are many different habitats in the area. They range from valley bogs and marshes to heaths and of course, woodland. All these important habitats are home to a wide range of rare and not so rare animals and plants.

Among the animals that inhabit the national park are some things you would expect Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) and our North American friend the Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). There are also some things you might not expect, like all 3 British species of snake, the Bechstein bat (Myotis bechsteinii) and the Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus). The plant life is just as widespread; it includes Marsh Gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) and Sundews.

In an effort to help the forest, on the 17th of March Natural England announced it would be providing sixteen million pounds to aid the forest. This money will help the forest in several fundamental ways. Firstly the forest is a large part natural farmland that is farmed traditionally by the local people. The cattle, pigs and ponies that graze the forest help to maintain the land and keep down scrub, preserving the forest. One third of the money will be used to aid the traditional farmers in keeping their livestock grazing freely in the forest area.

A good start, I think, but it gets better. More of the money will be used to help restore the rivers and streams back to their natural way. In the past they were cut straight, widened and made deeper. Now they will be allowed to meander and to restore the natural floor plan, while more wildlife is encouraged to return to the water's edge.

Poul Christensen, the chairman of Natural England, said the funding would help preserve the forest's environment.

Another great step for conservation, I think. I can't wait for the next one.