Wildlife
The New Forest National Park is an unrivalled mosaic of extensively-managed habitats including lowland wet and dry heaths, mires and bogs, ancient pasture woodland, coastal habitats and acid grasslands.
The New Forest hosts rare specialities such as wild gladiolus and New Forest cicada. It is important for Dartford warbler, nightjar, woodlark, wintering waterfowl and breeding waders. Other characteristic species include slender cotton-grass, sundews, smooth snake, southern damselfly, Bechstein’s bat, and stag beetle.
There is an opportunity to see wildlife in its natural state, or learn about it at various locations in the National Park
Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve
This nature reserve is an area of coastal marshes, lagoons and former salterns. It is nationally important for its birdlife, plants and insects. Good views can be obtained from the seawall path.
Hampshire County Council Countryside Service
Lepe Country Park
Managed by Hampshire County Council, it is part of the North Solent National Nature Reserve, occupying 770 hectares of the Beaulieu and Cadland Estates. The Country Park is next to the Solent, and has wildflower meadows which attract many species of insects. The nearby river and sea attracts an abundance of water and song-birds.
Hampshire County Council
National Trust Commons
The National Trust protects over 1,330 hectares (3,300 acres) of land in the New Forest – made up of the Commons of Bramshaw, Ibsley, Rockford, High Town, and Hale Purlieu.
National Trust
