New Forest Thrive festival

An event celebrating people, wildlife, and the future.

New Forest Thrive festival returns to Ringwood for 2026 on Saturday 4 July from 10am to 3pm highlighting the unique and special place that is the National Park, as well as important community connections to it. Led by the New Forest National Park Authority, the event looks to the future to celebrate the Forest’s communities, its wildlife, landscapes, and so much more.

Who to expect at New Forest Thrive festival 2026:

There will be performances from the Bee Circus with animatronic bee puppets and acrobatic dance duet Joli Vyann with “Life’s a Beach” as well as bike and scooter marking with the police.

PEDALL – New Forest Inclusive Cycling is inviting young people to add to its 10,000km for £10k fundraising challenge by riding a fun go kart cycle loop.

African Activities will bring its crowd-favourite Nightjar Project, with West African drumming, interactive storytelling, and the creation of recycled milk bottle “belonging birds”.

The New Forest Youth Board, The Parks Foundation, New Forest Aquaponics, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC), Greening Ringwood, and Ringwood Actions for Climate Emergency (RACE) are among other attendees, plus a choice of local food and drink vendors offering tasty refreshments.

• Ringwood Actions for Climate Emergency (RACE)
• Greening Ringwood
• New Forest Aquaponics
• Ringwood Riders
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police with bike marking
• PEDALL – New forest Inclusive Cycling with a fun go kart cycle loop
• Flourish in Nature
• Joli Vyann with Life’s a Beach
• The Bee Circus
• African Activities with the Nightjar Project, drumming, and Story in a Suitcase
• CODA Music and Arts Trust
• Forestry England
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s Solent Seacscape
• Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC)
• New Forest Association
• Dorset Rewilding
• The Parks Foundation
• Coffeewagen
• Idelica
• New Forest Youth Board
• New Forest NPA Junior Rangers
• New Forest NPA Wild Play
• Evolve Mental Health

Check back to be the first to know as more attractions, performers, and stalls are confirmed.

This summer’s event follows the success of New Forest Thrive’s 2025 launch attended by more than 500 people when the event featured four unique zones – creative, discovery, chill out, and sustainable transport – each with interactive displays, activities, and performances to inspire people of all ages and promote climate and nature-based actions.

Find out more about New Forest Thrive 2025 here and watch highlights from the day. Check back form more information about New Forest Thrive 2026 as details are confirmed.

On the day

New Forest Thrive festival is taking place at Carvers Recreation Ground, Southampton Rd, Ringwood, BH24 1JD. The festival site is close to town and accessible by foot via Southampton Road or Carvers Lane. 

Getting to the festival

• We are encouraging everyone who can to travel to the event in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Active travel is the best option if it is available to you and there are great bus and coach links with Ringwood. If you live locally consider whether you can walk or cycle. There will be space available to lock your bike on site and the police will be present offering bike marking during the event (all bikes are left at the owner’s risk).
• The main bus station is located at Meeting House Lane, Ringwood BH24 1AT and is approximately a 6-minute walk to Carvers Recreation Ground. Check with local providers for up-to-date timetables.
• If you do need to drive, the main car park can be found in Ringwood town centre, the Furlong Car Park is operated by New Forest District Council. The postcode for the car park is BH24 1AT and is approximately a 6-minute walk to Carvers Recreation Ground.

Refreshments

• Food and drinks will be available from local vendors at the festival. This includes from New Forest Marque members and Carvers Clubhouse.

Facitlities

• There are limited toilets available for use on the day in Carvers Clubhouse. Alternate public toilet facilities can be found in the town centre at Ringwood Gateway, Ringwood Gateway Council Offices, Ringwood BH24 1AT (next to the main bus station and car park), approximately a 7-minute walk to Carvers Recreation Ground.

• New Forest Thrive is supported through the Youth for Climate and Nature (YouCAN) scheme, made possible thanks to National Lottery players through The National Lottery Community Fund. Find out more about YouCAN here.