THE first book to be written about Lyndhurst's history was launched at the weekend.

Lyndhurst, A Brief History and Guide, has been written by Georgina Babey and Peter Roberts of Ashurst-based Nova Foresta Publishing.

The pair have drawn on earlier works to give an overview of Lyndhurst but have also conducted new research.

Georgina, who was born and bred on the edge of the New Forest, has developed an enormous respect for her native area.

"I am well aware that my life would have been very different had my grandfather not decided to give up the commoning way of life that his ancestors had followed for many generations," said Georgina.

In 1994 she realised two lifelong ambitions - to run a second-hand bookshop and to become a freelance writer.

Since then she has become familiar with nearly every book ever written on the New Forest.

Her writing concentrates on social aspects of Forest history - writers, artists, personalities and village history.

The latest book is her fifth, and she is editor of a bi-annual magazine, Nova Foresta.

Peter Roberts has been involved in New Forest conservation since the mid 1980s and was appointed to the Court of Verderers in 1994.

He resigned in 2001 and has since concentrated on local history research and writing.

Roy Jackman, secretary of Lyndhurst Historical Society for over 35 years, was presented with the first copy of the new book at a private launch on October 10 and a book signing followed on Saturday.