Welcome to the new Verderers of the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme website.
Here you can learn all about the scheme, the key people involved and how the scheme benefits the New Forest.
The new website is user-friendly, accessible and interactive, so everyone can easily navigate around and find information while hopefully learning something new about the New Forest along the way.
Navigating the website
We have separated the website into different sections, outlining the major projects which come under the HLS scheme. Browse the top of the page to see each section and the drop down menu will take you to dedicated pages and case studies.
You’ll also find specific sections explaining how we’re protecting nature and habitats, from restoring wetlands and grasslands to supporting species recovery and building a more climate‑resilient future for the National Park.
As well as restoration projects and survey work, there are pages on New Forest commoning, heritage and education to help give you a clearer picture about the wide range of initiatives funded by the scheme to support those looking after the unique landscape.
To find out more about the partner organisations involved, head to the ‘About Us’ section in the top right corner, and beside that you will find the ‘News’ section where you can discover some of the latest stories.
If you need any help or want to find out further information, then fill in the form at the bottom of this page.
Top three picks to get you started
1. The Project Spotlights gives a handy overview of some of the main projects which have been undertaken to restore various habitats and help the species within them across the New Forest.
2. Do you know your aquatic beetles from your beetles? Find out about them on our Rare Species Surveys page which looks at the work being carried out to protect them.
3. The New Forest is full of fascinating history – much of which is hidden under the surface. Read about what the archaeology team gets up to on the Heritage page.