Letter: ‘Proud to have worked for New Forest Committee.’

Regarding ‘How Team New Forest is fighting on all fronts’ (A&T, 2nd Aug) – the New Forest National Park Authority’s (NFNPA) new campaign launch.

The New Forest Committee (NFC) was formed in 1990 with two staff and a chairman to “bring together into one organisation the statutory bodies involved in the New Forest so that by co-ordinating their responsibilities the Forest and the heritage area may be better conserved.” Its aim: to “promote the conservation of the traditional character of the area through the encouragement of common strategies, policies and attitudes”.

Its membership: Countryside Commission, English Nature, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Hampshire County Council, New Forest District Council, verderers of the New Forest, Test Valley Borough Council, Salisbury District Council. Observer organisations: National Farmers’ Union/Country Landowners’ Association, Wiltshire County Council.

Each organisation contributed towards the running costs of the NFC and its staff.

NFC co-ordinated its members on a daily basis, to ensure liaison on projects and working together ‘from the same hymn sheet’. It worked hard to gain the confidence and trust of commoners and working Forest people by listening.

They understood the importance of the New Forest to them, sharing their passion, commitment and dedication.

NFC administered the New Forest Consultative Panel: 74 organisations of parish councils and interest groups in the Forest. An important link between the NFC and ‘grass roots opinion and concerns’.

The panel continues its important work today.

In 2005 the NFC disbanded, all documents including ‘A Strategy for the New Forest’, minutes, results of complex consultations, achievements and background work were handed to the NFNPA for a smooth transition.

The member organisations were working extremely well together, delivering on many Forest issues. The five NFC staff were transferred by government to the NFNPA, to ‘kick-start’ the national park using their wealth of expertise and knowledge of the Forest.

NFNPA chair Mr David Bence, commented “It’s vital now, more than ever, that we work as Team New Forest, pooling our resources and energy to work together to help the Forest survive and thrive into the future”. Sound familiar?

This ‘initiative’ was carried out 19 years ago – and is very much part of the Forest’s history. The NFC strived to produce a ‘tailor-made’ national park to protect the Forest.

I am very proud to have been part of the work of the NFC, even if our organisation is no longer remembered.

Linda Ryan

Everton