Ancient forest in southwest Hampshire, southern England, and the largest stretch of semi-natural vegetation in lowland Britain. Lying between the River Avon on the west and Southampton Water on the east, its legal boundary encloses 38,000 ha/93,898 acres (1995). Of this area 8,400 ha/20,756 acres is enclosed plantation, and 20,000 ha/49,420 acres is common land, including ancient woodland, heath, grassland, and bog. The remainder is privately owned land and villages. More than six million tourists visit annually. At least 46 rare plants are found in the New Forest, as well as more than half of Britain's species of butterflies, moths, and beetles. Features The principal trees in the forest are oak and beech, with large patches of holly as undergrowth. The area provides a habitat for many breeds of birds, as well as badgers, foxes, and deer. New Forest ponies, a small breed said to have descended from small Spanish horses, graze in the forest. Much of the grazing is unfenced and managed…