New book explores 1,000 years of New Forest history

Gerald Ponting, a local historian, author, and former biology teacher at The Burgate School in Fordingbridge, wrote The New Forest: Its Landscapes & Heritage.

Mr Ponting, who grew up in nearby Breamore, is the author and co-author of over 20 books about Hampshire communities and the countryside.

He said: "Finding a selection of old illustrations which won’t have been seen and come from unpublished books provides readers, who might have lived or known the New Forest for years, with new stories and information. People appreciate the facts and images together."

His new title explores how the New Forest formed as William the Conqueror’s hunting ground, the people and animals that shaped it, and the traditions that still define the landscape today.

Unlike most modern guides, the book features only historical illustrations, many of which will be unfamiliar even to long-time residents and visitors.

Gerald Ponting (Image: Gerald Ponting)

It delves into questions such as the influence of pigs, ponies, and commoners over the course of a millennium and who actually runs the New Forest.

Drawing on his background as a tourist guide and his zoology degree from the University of Southampton, Mr Ponting also highlights the region’s wildlife.

He shares which plants and animals visitors should look out for and how the woodland and heathland have changed over centuries.

Despite these changes, Mr Ponting describes the New Forest as a living mosaic of history, ecology, and tradition that continues to evolve while retaining its unique character.

The book aims to offer something new even for those who know the area well.

Wooden Books publishes it, and it is available from retailers including Amazon and Waterstones.