New Forest woodland - an ancient 1000 year history.

The New Forest woodland really is an ancient woodland with a fantastic past - it has an intriguing story to tell.

This tree could house a small family! Imagine its girth when it was alive - what sights has it seen over the years?

If you want to look at it you will need to visit the Rufus Stone site - it's across the road, just behind the car park.

So many trees in the New Forest have a fascinating past to tell. New Forest woodland was vital to a successful outcome of World War Two and today the New Forest ponies are kept safe from acorns from these magnificent oaks by foraging pigs - what a history?

Much of the New Forest is made up of deciduous woodland.

This is oak, beech and elm - when Dutch Elm Disease has left any trees standing!

Although you can say that the New Forest woodlands are virtually undisturbed; today, they probably are in the safest period of their lives, as part of the New Forest National Park.

Over the centuries they have been subject to the whims of monarchs who have wanted their fantastic timber for shipbuilding.

They've also been felled for better hunting by the same monarchs in some areas. This would have lead to some ill feeling between the Forest Commoners and the Crown. The Commoners were trying to survive and live on the Forest.

New Forest woodland provided the timber for 3 of Nelsons ships which took part in the Battle of Trafalgar. You can find out just part of their history and the impact they had on Nelson by looking at the history of Bucklers Hard Village

You can see it either by driving through the Bolderwood Ornamental Drive.

Here you will see a car park on your right, just before you reach the A35 coming out from Lyndhurst.

Or, you can come down from Lyndhurst on the A35 and turn right at the sign for the Bolderwood Ornamental Drive.

Turn left immediately you come over the cattle grid.

In the Knightwood Oak car park you will find a marked trail to the site, you just have to cross the road and follow the signs.

You can find out more about the Knightwood Oak here, and also see two trees "kissing" - the technical term is inosculation but I prefer the more romantic description - don't you?

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