THE VERDERERS OF THE NEW FOREST

Higher Level
Stewardship scheme

Welcome

The Verderers of the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme is one of the largest environmental improvement schemes 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

HLS projects

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

Person measures a shallow wetland channel with a tape measure while recording notes on a clipboard beside the water

Wetland restoration

Medicinal leech with yellow stripes crawling through shallow water among wet grass and reeds

Habitat restoration

Highland cow lying on grass beneath pine trees, with two other Highland cows grazing in a wooded meadow

Commoning support

A woman in a green top and rucksack leads a group of schoolchildren on a walk in a woodland setting

Education

Aerial view of New Forest heathland at sunrise, low mist drifting over fields and woodland with long tree shadows

Heritage

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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, supported by the New Forest Commoners' Defence Association (which represents Commoners' interests) and Natural England (which provides technical advice).

About us About us

Verderers of the New Forest

The Verderers of the New Forest have the statutory authority from government to manage the use of the land and leads on commoning aspects of the scheme

A gravel path between a set of tall trees

Forestry England

Forestry England is the principal land manager for nearly half of the National Park and leads on the major heathland habitat and wetland restoration work for the scheme

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