KGM Motors UK, formerly SsangYong, is supporting the Verderers of the New Forest with the handover of five all-new Musso pickup trucks, supplied by Balmer Lawn Group.
The New Forest Agisters, who form part of the Verderers, were established under the New Forest Act of 1877 and are the last remnants of the traditional Forest government.
Their work, in conjunction with Natural England, Forestry England and other landowners, ensures the preservation of traditional rights, the welfare of commonable animals, and the conservation of the historic landscape on behalf of the Crown.
Such work includes monitoring and managing livestock, enforcing commoning laws, and responding to emergencies across varied terrain – and the New Forest Agisters required capable and versatile vehicles that could handle the demands of their daily duties.
Richard Manley, appointed Defra Verderer, said: “The KGM Musso stood out as the best option for the Agisters due to its combination of affordability, reliability and excellent towing capability. These trucks will allow the Agisters to continue effectively carrying out their crucial work across the New Forest, ensuring they can respond quickly and efficiently to any situation.”
The Musso range comes in three trim levels, starting with the Rebel and rising to the auto-only Saracen and Saracen+ models. The latter trim has an extended cab, a foot longer than the standard Musso, and claims the title for best-combined towing and payload figures in the UK market.
The Saracen and Saracen+ also offer premium features such as heated and cooled leather seats, a heated steering wheel, rear parking cameras, and an advanced infotainment system with TomTom navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
Paul Lamar, managing director at Balmer Lawn KGM, said: “We are incredibly proud to supply these trucks to such a historic and vital organisation. As a family business with deep roots in the New Forest since 1971, this is a significant milestone for everyone at Balmer Lawn.
“The Verderers play a crucial role in preserving the integrity of the New Forest, and we are honoured to support their work. We look forward to seeing them benefit from the reliability and capability of the Musso, a vehicle perfectly suited to their demanding responsibilities.”
