Whether you’re choosing food and drinks for a picnic, shopping for a gift for a friend, or dining out, you may come across the New Forest Marque while spending time in the area. But you might well wonder – what is the New Forest Marque?
This guide will walk you through all you should know about the New Forest Marque. Including what it is, where you might see it, and what sort of products are likely to display it.
Arts and crafts and retail and hospitality are affected by the New Forest Marque, as well as food and beverages. Read on to find out all about what it might mean for you!
What is the New Forest Marque?
The New Forest Marque is awarded to – and displayed as a logo on – produce that’s reared, caught, grown, brewed, crafted, or produced within the New Forest. The scheme therefore helps to support the local community.
The Marque is also used to promote businesses who provide food, drinks or craft items from the New Forest. It can thus apply to hospitality and retail, as well as producers.
The New Forest Marque team also campaigns to protect and promote the kind of traditional local practices that help to make the New Forest what it is.
The organisation is non-for-profit. It’s based in Lymington, with around eight staff.
The New Forest Marque Logo
An easily recognisable logo clearly identifies New Forest Marque products and providers. This is dark blue, and shaped like a wax letter seal. It has two oak leaves forming a circle in the centre, surrounded by “The New Forest Marque” in capital letters.
New Forest Marque Criteria
New Forest Marque products and providers must first of all fit the provenance criteria. The required area includes the land to the west of Southampton Water in the east, the coast between Calshot and Christchurch in the south, the town of Ringwood in the west, and various villages north of Lyndhurst.
Popular towns and villages within the New Forest include Ashurst, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Burley, Lymington, Lyndhurst, and more.
To use the New Forest Marque, products and businesses must meet at least one of the following seven benchmarks.
- Grown | 25%+ of life in the area
- Reared | 50%+ of life in the area
- Caught | Caught in the area by an authorised person
- Produced | 25%+ of produce from the area
- Crafted | 25%+ of raw materials from the area
- Brewed | 25%+ of produce from the area AND brewed there
- Hospitality & Retail | Use or stock 3+ New Forest Marque producers
New Forest Marque Categories
Food and Drink
All New Forest Marque plants or animals must have spent at least 50% of their lives growing or being reared in the New Forest. Alternatively, they could have been caught in the area by an authorised person.
Food and drink with the New Forest Marque could come from a Commoning operation, a smallholding, or a large-scale grower or farmer.
When it comes to New Forest Marque products, as many raw ingredients as possible should come from within the forest. Brewed, produced, crafted, or processed items need to contain at least 25% local produce.
Examples
Popular New Forest Marque food and beverage producers include the following. There are many more; these are just examples to give an idea of what you can expect.
- Beaulieu Chocolate Studio
- Fluffetts Free Range
- Fordingbridge Fudge
- Hockey’s Farm Shop
- La Patisserie Macaron
- New Forest Smokery & Trout Farm
- Noah’s Ark Farm
- Paul Tanner Turkeys
- Pig Beer
- Setley Ridge Vineyard
- Strides Honey
- The Box of Cheese
- The Fabulous Catch Company
- The Noble Bee
- Wildewood Bakery
Craft, Trees & Education
As well as local crafters, the New Forest Marque can be applied to educators who teach the public about this unique region. Those involved in tree care may also use the Marque.
Examples
- A S Potter Instruments
- Arizcrow Leather
- Baines Stiller Garden Design
- Countryside Education Trust
- England’s Firewood
- Herd Alpaca Apparel
- Kempe Wood Art
- New Forest Aromatics
- New Forest Heritage Centre
- Westbeams Tree Care & Firewood
Retail & Hospitality
Catering companies, cafes, pubs, bars, restaurants, B&Bs, hotels, self-catering accommodation and more may serve or supply a range of New Forest Marque produce to their customers.
Stores like butchers, delis, farm shops, greengrocers, garden centres and gift shops may also stock products that have been awarded the Marque.
Examples
- Anissa’s Thai Kitchen
- Burley Manor
- Coffeewagen
- County Foods
- Daisybank Cottage
- Everton Nurseries
- Harrow Wood Farm & Caravan Park
- Lime Wood Hotel
- Shallowmead Farm Shop
- The Trusty Servant
New Forest Marque Inspired
You can also find local products marked “New Forest Marque Inspired.” This is a newer category, offered since November 2023.
New Forest Marque Inspired is open to New Forest residents who mostly trade within the area, who create arts and crafts inspired by the New Forest.
This has been introduced because the New Forest Marque excluded those who weren’t able to source 25% of their materials from the area. It simply may not be possible to procure art and craft necessities such as canvas, clay, paint, and precious metals from local suppliers.
New Forest Marque Inspired is supported and funded by Arts Council England. It allows non-qualifying artisans of the community to uphold and promote and ethos of the Marque.
Examples
- 3D Chart Art
- Angels Farm Pottery
- Helen Green Ceramics
- Jan Hawker Art & Stained Glass
- Kate Smith Prints
- Love Coastal
- Marchwood Candles
- Monika Grabowska Photography
- The New Forest Tartan Company
- Vanessa Sharp Silver
Associates
While these local enterprises don’t qualify for membership, they become Associate members to support and champion local produce.
Examples
- Circle Insurance Services
- Freestyle Digital
- NFU Mutual New Forest
- Scott Bailey LLP
- Southern Coop
Will You Look for the New Forest Marque?
If you really want to experience the New Forest to the full, then looking out for the New Forest Marque during your stay is the ideal way to do just that.
Whether it’s food you’re being served or buying, a unique handcrafted item to take home, or visiting a venue like the New Forest Heritage Centre, using New Forest Marque approved suppliers can help ensure you enjoy an authentic, local experience.