THE New Forest will officially become Britain's newest National Park on Tuesday.

Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael announced yesterday that March 1st, 2005 will be its official date of birth.

"This will be an historic day," he said. "After 900 years of special recognition and 50 years after it was first considered for designation, the New Forest will finally have National Park status.

"It takes its place alongside areas such as Dartmoor and the Lake District in the first rank of our protected areas.

"Like the existing parks, it will have a vital role in conserving our natural and cultural heritage, and in balancing environmental priorities with those of communities.

"It needs to protect its unique character - valued by so many people and acknowledged as a national treasure for nearly a thousand years - whilst remaining a working, living place with social and economic needs."

On top of the special protection, the Forest will also receive Government funding to the tune of £3.5 million per year when it takes on its full responsibilities in 2006-07.

Britain's smallest National Park with an area of about 570 square kilometres but one of its biggest in terms of population with 34,000 inhabitants inside the National Park area, it will be run by a 22-strong National Park Authority.

Twelve of those members will be drawn from the local authorities and parish councils within the Park and the remainder will be appointed by the Secretary of State. They will be appointed in March and the Authority will come into being from April 1st.

But there is one legal procedure still to be completed. The designation order will be placed on deposit for a minimum of 28 days and anyone wishing to question its validity has to apply to the High Court within the six weeks - March 14th to April 29th - it is on deposit following the publication of the confirmation notice in the local and national Press.