What the experts think
We have commissioned a range of reports from external experts to help guide our long term management of the forest. These will give you a good insight into the issues which face us. In addition, we have provided a copy of our current conservation management plan.
The Historic Landscape Significance of Hatfield Forest
Dr Tom Williamson, Professor of Landscape History, University of East Anglia
The Historic Landscape Significance of Hatfield Forest (PDF / 0.3MB) download
" What is clear is that Hatfield is the best-preserved forest landscape in England…without parallel elsewhere in England, and possibly Europe. The continuing survival of the complex mosaic of traditional management regimes…depends on the perpetuation of versions of archaic techniques, here practised on a uniquely extensive scale. This is a unique inheritance which deserves particular protection into the future "
Archaeological and Historic Landscape Survey
Maria Medlycott, Historic Environment Consultant, Place Services, Essex County Council
Archaeology and Historic Landscape survey (PDF / 3.9MB) download
" Using a methodology developed for comparative analysis as part of the World Heritage Site evaluation: Hatfield Forest is the most complete and authentic survival of a medieval Forest. "
" Hatfield remains of outstanding value in the British cultural context, and probably in the worldwide cultural context too"
Portingbury Hills Environmental Archaeological Assessment Report
Quest, School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science, University Of Reading
Roman pottery from Hatfield Forest
Anna Doherty, UCL Archaeology South-East
The Last Forest - The Story of Hatfield Forest
Oliver Rackham, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
published by J M Dent, London, 1989; ISBN: 0 460 04736 1 (hardcover);
Pheonix, London, 1998; ISBN: 0 753 80525 1 (paperback)
The definitive account of the forest, covering both the history and natural history.
Internal reports
You may also be interested in reading our conservation management plan for the forest, for 2015 - 2020.
Hatfield Forest Conservation Plan 2015 - 2020
This is a compressed file and the quality of the images has suffered in the compression process. If you would like to view a high resolution version, please e-mail: hatfieldforest@nationaltrust.org.uk