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About us

Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) 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 the New Forest’s internationally-important habitats.

The scheme 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 New Forest Commoners Defence Association and Natural England.

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 to help sustain grazing livestock.

16

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

5

There are five main aims which underpin the projects which fall within the HLS scheme

HLS aims

The five main objectives for the HLS scheme are:

Conserving wildlife
Protecting the historic environment
Maintaining and enhancing the landscape quality and character
Promoting public access and understanding.

Who are the Higher Level Stewardship scheme partners?

The scheme is overseen by a Board drawn from the chief executives of the three partner organisations.

The Board is supported by a programme administrator who operates the whole programme on behalf of the Board.

Verderers

The Verderers of the New Forest have the statutory authority from government to manage the use of the land.

Verderers Verderers

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Forestry England

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

Forestry England Forestry England