Even for seasoned walkers, many of the New Forest’s historical sites and local landmarks can be easily passed by without noticing – sometimes they are literally under your feet.

Now, thanks to Jodi Longyear’s guidebooks, you can find the hidden history, geography and culture in every square mile of the forest.

New Forest 222 divides the national park into 222 individual squares. Remarkably, geography teacher and outdoor instructor, Jodi has visited every single one of the square miles.

Each square mile yields something of interest – beit a village, a wartime relic, historical structure, a natural wonder or just something downright quirky.

Visit each one and tick them off – battleships style – in a bid to enter the Hall of Fame of the select band who can claim to have visited every square.

It undoubtedly adds an extra fun dimension to any walk in the forest, with many of the squares sitting on popular walking routes.

Grid references allow you to plot your course through the history, geography, flora, fauna and culture of the New Forest.

Well-trodden walk routes fall within the squares, many with an interesting backstory – such as Victorian collectors bringing trees from around the world to Blackwater Arboretum near Rhinefield (J9) and the Forhawk Ride – established as a haven for butterflies between Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst (J12). 

Down on the coast there is the Hurst Spit lighthouse and Lymington’s obelisk to long-term MP Admiral Sir Harry Burran Neake at D13.  Another famous 19th Century resident – snakecatcher Brusher Mills – gets a mention for square J11,at his former home in Hollands Wood near Brockenhurst.

Some squares have famous landmarks.  One of the most unusual buildings in the forest, the The Sway Tower occupies E10. Built by High Court judge Andrew Peterson in the 1880s, the 70m high structure is thought to be the world’s tallest building made of non-re-enforced concrete.

Other squares have a pub – such as P7 – location of the Royal Oak at Fritham.  Dating from the 1600’s, the cosy thatched watering hole is part of New Forest folklore.

With the New Forest playing such a key role during World War Two, it’s not surprising that reminders of that wartime history also feature. 

The remains of the high frequency directional finding station – or Huff-duff station on Ibsley Common are in square M3. 

The Canadian Memorial is in square M8 – the poignant wooden cross near Bolderwood which marks the site where Canadian troops gathered for services before they embarked for the D-Day landings in 1944.

There is also some suggestions for games on a day out in the forest – such as counting how many times you can spot the three-diamond symbol in the Beaulieu Estate – square I18. Or, in square H3, play the Hatchet Pond game to try and find all the surrounding smaller ponds.

Jodi explained that he grew up visiting the New Forest with his family.

“Ninety-nine percent of the time we’d just go on a family trip to Lyndhurst. 

 “Lyndhurst is a lovely place, but when I started to explore the area in my teens, I discovered there was so much more! 

“My knowledge of the New Forest expanded when I joined the Air Cadets and completed my Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award and numerous camping trips there.”

After a period of time living abroad he returned to the area, and as a teacher it became his role to introduce young people to the area. 

“Their joy and amazement was infectious and I made it my business to visit more and more of the New Forest.”

The inspiration for the guides came from Dartmoor 365, which divides the Devon national park into 365 individual square miles in a similar way. Having tramped across Dartmoor ticking off the sqaures, Jodi was inspired to create one for the New Forest.

New Forest 222 Plus came about as he realised he had lots more material after the release of the first book – incorporating areas just outside the national park boundary.

Together, they are ideal companions for dipping into forest nature, history and folklore and planning visits to some of the forest’s more hidden corners.

Buy New Forest 222 and New Forest 222 Plus online. New Forest Walks Members can claim a 10% discount.

For details, visit the Members Offers Page.