After razing 36 parishes near Winchester Castle to the ground, William the Conqueror had a royal forest for hunting planted in the area; there were heavy penalties for anyone found harming the trees or the deer. The area is now protected under the auspices of the New Forest National Park, which covers 571km2. Drivers should be aware: horses, donkeys, deer, cattle and even boar still roam free. The New Forest Museum, in Lyndhurst, makes an excellent introduction to the region.