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The Countryside Agency welcomes England’s eighth National Park, the first to be created in the South East. 
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Historic day for the New Forest - 1 Mar 05

The Countryside Agency welcomes England’s eighth National Park, the first to be created in the South East.

The Countryside Agency welcomes England’s eighth National Park, the first to be created in the South East. 

Dr Stuart Burgess, Countryside Agency chairman,  said: “We are delighted that the Secretary of State has confirmed the designation of the New Forest as a National Park, bringing this remarkable historic landscape into the family of English protected landscapes. 

“Today’s announcement is the culmination of a five-year process led by the Countryside Agency which has involved extensive consultation with local people, landowners and businesses.

“England’s protected landscapes - our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - cover nearly a quarter of the country, ensuring that our finest countryside is protected by law for present and future generations to live in, work in and enjoy.

“The New Forest is a landscape of international importance with 900 years of history, not least due to the stewardship of the verderers, foresters and commoners.   The Countryside Agency believes that National Park status is the best way forward, to protect the New Forest from the pressures of the 21st century.

“The creation of a dedicated National Park Authority, supported by a budget of £3.5 million in grant from the Government, will help to ensure co-ordinated, first-class land management, conserving this rich landscape, enhancing it for the enjoyment of current and future generations and driving forward sustainable development for the benefit of local communities and the country as a whole.” 

Further east, the 13-month public inquiry into the proposed South Downs National Park has now finished hearing evidence.   The Government’s decision whether to confirm the Countryside Agency’s designation is expected later this year.

Notes to editors:                                                                                                            2005/10

1.       The Countryside Agency is the statutory body responsible for designating National Parks under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, for the twin purposes of preserving and enhancing their natural beauty and of promoting their enjoyment by the public. The Environment Act 1995 gives National Park Authorities (NPAs) the main purposes of: conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Parks; and promoting opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities by the public. NPAs must also take account of the economic and social needs of local communities.                             mf

2.  The New Forest National Park joins England’s family of seven existing National Parks: Dartmoor; Exmoor; Lake District; Northumberland; North York Moors; Peak District; and Yorkshire Dales. The Broads, while not a National Park, is recognised as an equivalent in status and is a member of the International family of National Parks.

Background briefing:

The process :

?            The Countryside Agency began work to designate the New Forest as a National Park in 1999 by identifying a suitable boundary and preparing advice to government on the arrangements needed to set up a National Park Authority to manage the area and take into account the special circumstances within the forest.

?        A public consultation was held on the boundary in late 2000, after which the proposals were revised as a result of new evidence put forward.  Local authorities within the area were consulted.  

?         The Countryside Agency held seven public road-show events and received more than 3,500 responses to the public consultations from the public.

?          In February 2002, under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949,  the Countryside Agency published a Designation Order for a New Forest National Park .  

?            A public inquiry was held to examine the boundary and administrative arrangements for the National Park.  This ran from October 2002 through to April 2003.   

?         The Planning Inspector reported to Defra on his findings in December 2003.  It is on the basis of his recommendations the Minister for Rural Affairs confirmed the Countryside Agency's decision to designate a New Forest National Park.

?            The Confirmation Order is being placed on deposit in local authority offices in the New Forest for a minimum of six weeks.   Maps of the boundary will also be available for viewing at local libraries or on the Countryside Agency website at www.countryside.gov.uk/livinglandscapes/finest_countryside/national_parks

Facts and figures:

·         The New Forest is the smallest National Park by area (571sq km/220sq miles), but one of the largest by population, with an estimated resident population of some 34,000.    It lies mainly in south-west Hampshire, extending from east of the Avon valley to Southampton Water, and from the Solent Coast to the edge of the Wiltshire Chalk downs.

·         Currently around 7 million day visits are made to the National Park area of the New Forest each year.  Research by University of Portsmouth (1996) has shown that this figure underestimates the number of visits made by local people, boosting the number of day visits to an estimated 18 million per year. 

·         Tourism makes the single most important contribution to the economy of the New Forest, providing 30% of all employment and £156 million annually (2001 figures).

·        15 million people live within day-trip range (a 90-minute drive) extending to London and the major conurbations along the South Coast including Southampton, Bournemouth and Poole.