The New Forest Hampshire
During the middle ages Hampshire had more Royal Forests than any other county and
the New Forest remains largely intact.
It was created as a royal forest around 1080 by William the Conqueror for
hunting and was first recorded as "Nova Foresta" in the Domesday Book in 1086.
Two of William's sons died in the forest, Prince Richard in 1081 and William Rufus in 1100.
The reputed spot of the Rufus' death is marked with a stone known as the Rufus Stone.
The Rufus Stone marks the place where William Rufus died.
The area contains several kinds of important lowland habitat
including valley bogs, wet heaths, dry heaths and deciduous woodland.
Three species of snake inhabit the Forest. The adder is the most common being found on open heath and grassland. The grass snake prefers the damper environment of the valley mires.
The rare smooth snake can be found on sandy hillsides with heather and gorse.
One of the prettiest areas close by is Bucklers Hard, part of the Beaulieu Estate,
with Georgian cottages
running down to the river.
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