Hearts of Oak

The New Forest unravelled

Hello everyone. Twenty six members joined today’s Zoom meeting to hear Gale Pettifer’s talk on the New Forest and some of the political intrigues that have shaped its laws and the environmental character that we know today. Gale has Commoner’s rights to de-pasture her livestock, on to the Forest, an important and ancient custom that has maintained the condition of the Forest over the centuries. Oak for the building of ships eventually gave way to iron ships but the evidence can still be seen today at Bucklers Hard and in the presence of ‘enclosures’ to enable new trees to grow without being eaten by the wildlife before maturity.

Talking of being eaten, next month’s meeting will be another opportunity to renew our fellowship before we get back to a South Lawns once again. If you have not renewed your membership please do so soon and be ready for the great day when we can all meet over coffee and lunch once more.