LET'S MOVE TO Lyndhurst

LEAFY, HEATHY CAPITAL OF THE NEW FOREST, RICH IN WILDLIFE AND FOLKLORE

- SOPHIE GALE

The New Forest is famous for its ‘strings’ of wild ponies, some 5000 of which, owned by residents with commoners’ rights, roam freely across the 220 square mile national park in Hampshire. Somewhat lesser known are the pigs, turned out in autumn to feed on fallen acorns under a system known as ‘pannage’. The animals are managed by the ancient society of Verderers, headquartered in Lyndhurst, the park’s administrative centre. Despite the functional edge, there is charm to the red-roofed high street of this small town. Wild heaths are only a short trot out, via Bolton’s Bench, a hill steeped in legend.

IN THE ESTATE AGENT’S WINDOW