William the Conqueror, also known as William I and William the Bastard, was the Royal personage responsible for founding the New Forest. He did this in 1079, and the area was used mainly for the purpose of hunting Royal "beasts of the chase". These were wild deer and boar, and forest laws from this time still exist.
It is a unique area in many ways, and the ecology, history and agriculture are all part of this uniqueness. It is also a recently proclaimed National Park, although still mostly in the possession of the Crown, and is a wonderful recreational area.
Some of the most famous of the characters of the New Forest are the ponies, these are still grazed on New Forest lands, as are cattle, donkeys and pigs as part of the :rights of Common". These rights became enshrined as part of concessions by the Crown, and include gathering of wood for fuel, clay digging and obviously the use of the pastoral facilities. In some instances plots of agricultural and domestic lands have also been allowed near to the boundaries of the forest.
The New Forest is not natural; man has certainly played their hand in its development. It has been changed according to the priorities of various monarchies in its 900 year long history, and has even been used as land to grow timber for naval ship building.
Certain areas of the forest have been kept enclosed to keep out stock animals and allow the architects of the forest (deer) to do their work. This helps to prevent damage to plantations and timber. The ponies, pigs, donkeys and cattle are owned by the commoners and are allowed to graze in certain areas. It is still guarded by Verderers.
Evidence of Bronze Age cultivation and clearing of woods has been found, and during the time of William I the forest was classified as infertile and still is. Although William "afforested" it the soils were still considered to be poor, and only good for supporting the production of timber.
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