Learn about wildlife

The varied communities of animals and plants within the National Park give a modern day view of the prehistoric woodland that once covered most of Britain.  However, it is important to remember that the New Forest is not a primeval landscape.  Instead it has been shaped since prehistoric times by people and grazing animals.  Indeed, since humans began settling, cultivating and turning out livestock on the land, the New Forest has evolved to create the mosaic of mostly semi-natural habitats that exist today.  The wide variety of different environments including valley mires, lowland heath, coastal lagoons, grassland and woodland provide a wealth of habitats for the abundant wildlife.

The New Forest is home to over 10,000 species of invertebrates including nearly half of the 2,500 species of British butterflies and moths.  All six species of reptile are found in the Forest including the only venomous snake in Britain, the adder.  The New Forest is also home to a number of rare and endangered species including the sand lizard, the New Forest cicada, the honey buzzard and the wild gladiolus.  Other common sights include the five species of deer which are resident in the New Forest as well as the distinctive sight of ponies, cattle and donkeys grazing in the Open Forest.

Factsheets

Factsheet 1 - Habitats of the National Park (632 KB)

Factsheet 2 - Ecology and management (697 KB)

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