This presentment relates to the food and beverage concessions at Wilverley and Boltons Bench.

For context there have been ice cream vans across the Forest for decades; in recent years we have been evolving the offer to reflect modern society (such as the coffee culture we now have).

A key change has been measures that reduce the impact on the Forest such as units that are more in keeping with the Forest landscape, and in robust locations with appropriate fencing that minimise livestock interaction risk. The design and management has been informed by careful consideration of habitat regulations, commoning interests and local circumstances.

The management of the concessions include a wide of control measures to ensure operators are engaged in key messaging including New Forest Code, minimal packaging and litter picking. Operators provide more eyes and ears on the Forest to identify and highlight any issues arising to our team, which has proved invaluable.

Since our revised approach has been enacted, there has been a significant improvement in their operation, we have not experienced issues including livestock interaction and received lots of complimentary feedback from forest users and customers that include members of the New Forest community.

The two concessions bought to Court today build on a long legacy at those car parks. They reflect our improved offer and management, and details have been discussed with the Verderers over the last few months including site visits. Precise locations for the proposals have been agreed including fencing adjustments where appropriate. Forestry England believe this represents a continuation of what has been offered for many years and that all real or perceived concerns have been considered and mitigated, but we bring this to Court at the request of the Verderers.

The Verderers believe the proposed Food Concession at Boltons Bench is contentious and have therefore held off making their decision to allow the public to make any presentment to the Court on Wednesday 21^st October

Justine Bayley
Clerk to the Verderers
Verderers of the New Forest
The King’s House
LYNDHURST   SO43 7NH

Tel:  023 80 282052
Web:  www.verderers.org.uk