‘We have a responsibility to keep up the momentum’ – New Forest CDA chair Andrew Parry-Norton’s Verderers’ Court presentment

Andrew Parry-Norton delivered a presentment on the urgent need for a sustainable agri-environmental future for the New Forest at this month’s sitting of Verderers’ Court.

The chair of the New Forest CDA and Forest Farming Group emphasised the growing pressures facing the Forest, including diminishing government support for rural and agricultural sectors.

He underscored the essential role of commoners’ grazing in maintaining the landscape and biodiversity of the Forest, as well as the ongoing need for funding to support infrastructure and ranger services.

The Forest Farming Group, comprised of multiple organisations, is working towards securing the New Forest’s entry into a new agri-environmental scheme. The recent PA2 study, commissioned by the FFG at Defra’s request, concluded that while the Forest’s needs are clear, there was insufficient data at the time to define a suitable Forest-wide scheme.

However, the Landscape Recovery scheme has emerged as the most promising option. This government initiative, if adapted appropriately, could serve the Forest well. Andrew noted that a narrow application window could open in the near future, so the Forest must be prepared to submit a compelling bid.

He called on the Verderers to continue taking a leading role in uniting Forest organisations and shaping a shared path forward. In closing, he stressed that only through collective commitment can the Forest achieve a sustainable, resilient future that supports both its unique environment and the people who depend on it.

Read the presentment in full here