Caring for the New Forest
How to enjoy and care for the New Forest National Park.
Enjoy: Make time to enjoy healthy exercise, fresh air, beautiful surroundings and rich wildlife. Plan your route to be out of Forestry Commission car parks by dusk.
Birds: To help ground nesting birds rear their young safely, keep yourself and your dogs on the main tracks from the beginning of March to the end of July.
Dogs: The New Forest is great for dogs but please keep your dogs within sight and under control at all times. Some beaches are out of bounds to dogs during the summer; look out for local restrictions. Please remove dog mess from paths, areas where people may play or picnic and around car parks.
Parking: Please park only in designated car parks, not on a verge or in gateways. Lock your car, taking any valuables with you.
Driving: The speed limits on unfenced roads greatly reduce the number of accidents involving animals. Slow down and give walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and animals a wide berth. Be especially careful at night.
Fire: Because uncontrolled forest fires are a great threat, campfires are not allowed in the New Forest without the permission of the landowner. Barbecue sites are provided for hire at Wilverley and Anderwood car parks by the Forestry Commission (023 8028 3141 or www.forestry.gov.uk/newforest) and at Lepe Country Park by Hampshire County Council (please book in advance 023 8089 9108 or www.hants.gov.uk/lepe).
Cycling: Do enjoy the extensive network of off-road routes, but keep to the waymarked tracks or bridleways; give way to walkers and horse-riders, and call out a warning when approaching them. On narrow roads, ride in single file and never more than two abreast; wear bright colours to be visible and always use lights in the dark.
Camping: There are excellent designated sites to pitch your tent or caravan. Wild camping is not allowed
Forest management: Take notice of any warning signs and keep a safe distance from work sites. Only pass a vehicle loading timber when told it is safe to do so.
Litter: Please take your litter home.
Ponies: There is plenty of natural food for the grazing animals so please don’t feed them. It’s against the byelaws and human food can harm them. Some hand-fed ponies become aggressive with people who, quite rightly, keep their picnics to themselves. Even stroking ponies is dangerous - they may look friendly but they can bite and kick, especially mares with foals.
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