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he colorful cultural heritage of the New Forest stems
from the area’s long, rich history. In 1079, William the
Conqueror set aside this stunning expanse of
wooded pastures, heaths, and bogs as a royal
hunting ground. Activities that could restrict hunting, such as
enclosing land, were prohibited, leaving local inhabitants (called
commoners) to pasture their livestock in the open forest. Residents
continue the practice of commoning today. New Forest ponies are
the best-known of the grazing creatures, though numerous cattle,
donkey, sheep, and pigs roam freely in season as well. The area is
now a national park, and visitors can explore and enjoy a multitude
of outdoor activities.
T
simonbyrne/Corbis
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INTERVAL WORLD
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Fall 2015 IntervalWorld.com
AN UP-CLOSE LOOK AT
Central England’sNew Forest
In Focus