The Children of the New Forest

Set in the turbulent year of 1647, the story follows the four orphaned children of a Royalist colonel who have been left behind at the remote estate of Arnwood, on the edge of the ancient New Forest. With their mother dead and the war scattering their relatives, the youngsters are placed under the watchful eye of Jacob Armitage, a stoic forest keeper who has known the land all his life. The narrative opens as England reels from the defeat of King Charles I, and the forest itself becomes a refuge where the children must learn to survive amid dwindling supplies and the ever‑present danger of a country still at war.

Against this historic backdrop, the siblings discover the rhythms of forest life—hunting, foraging, and navigating a community of keepers, verderers, and other displaced folk. Their daily challenges forge a tight bond and awaken a fierce independence, while the looming presence of the conflict beyond the trees hints at larger choices they may soon face. The tale blends vivid period detail with a heartfelt coming‑of‑age journey, inviting listeners to walk the shadowed paths of the New Forest and share in the children’s quiet courage.