Conservation

Our work to ensure the National Park is protected and enhanced.

Conserving the Forest

The New Forest has long been recognised as a beautiful place, rich in history and wildlife habitats, and an oasis of calm in a busy world. Its designation as a National Park gives it the highest level of landscape protection and this section covers the work we do to ensure the area is protected and enhanced.

Landscape partnership projectsOur Past, Our Future ended in March 2021....

Land Advice Service

An independent service for the land managing community in and around the...

Rivers and streams

The New Forest contains many small rivers and streams which begin in...

Higher Level Stewardship

The New Forest Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme is England’s largest environmental...

Climate and nature emergency

Since the New Forest National Park was established in 2005, we’ve recognised...

Act together now

National Parks across the UK are pulling together to drive change and inspire positive action

New Forest Awakening Festival – event recordingsIn February, we hosted the...

New Forest Awakening Festival

Join us in tackling the nature and climate emergencies Virtual, throughout February...

Reducing our carbon footprint

Sustainability is at the heart of the National Park Authority. We aren’t...

How you can help

We can all help to protect the planet. Taking a few steps,...

Community engagement

Working with our communities has been crucial in tackling climate and nature...

Protecting verges

New Forest verges are among the most important...

Protecting nature

Understanding the New Forest’s Natural Capital

… And how its management provides public goods...

Protecting nature

Caring for nature is at the heart of our work. This includes our support for the Land Advice Service, which works with landowners and commoners to help nature thrive. We also work with partners to restore habitats, reduce disturbance of rare birds and ensure land is managed for nature.

Partnership Plan

All national parks have a partnership plan or management plan for their area, to help guide the work of partners with responsibilities and an interest in the national park.

Partnership Plan 2021-2026

Work has begun to progress the next version...

Partnership Plan

Partnership Plan 2015-2020

The first Management Plan for the New Forest...

Managing recreation

Helping or harming? How you can do your bit for the New Forest.

Over half of the New Forest National Park is...

Managing recreation

New Forest Dogs Forum

The National Park Authority recognises the many benefits...

Managing recreation

The most popular activities in the New Forest include walking, cycling and horse riding and the Forest is generally well-equipped to cater for these. We are always looking for ways to help people enjoy the outdoors and to minimise any negative impacts on the local environment or residents.

Climate and nature emergency

We're working with partners to combat the effects of the climate and nature emergencies, and keep the New Forest beautiful and sustainable.

Funded projects

Since 2006 we have funded sustainability projects within...

Climate and nature emergency

Sustainable transport

More than 95% of visitors to the New...

Preserving history and culture

Wartime heritage

Few people realise the important role that the...

Preserving history and culture

Archaeology in the planning process

One of the main tools we have to...

Preserving history and culture

The New Forest has a unique history; from royal hunting ground to Napoleonic ship building, salt making to World War Two airfields. The jewels in the National Park’s heritage crown are more than 200 scheduled monuments and 600 listed buildings. Use this section to find out about some of our work to record, protect and share this information with people of all ages and interests, as well as how we protect the area’s heritage through the planning system.

Supporting commoning

The New Forest has a long and proud history of commoning: the system whereby even today certain people have the right to release animals onto the open forest and collect firewood. It has given the forest its mosaic of grazed habitats and influences many aspects of the local communities. The New Forest remains one of the few extensive lowland commons where common rights are still widely practised and a strong commoning culture continues. This section details how we work with partner organisations to enable commoning to thrive alongside rising neighbouring populations, a vibrant and important economy, increased traffic, and higher land and house prices.

Support and advice

Through the New Forest Land Advice Service (NFLAS),...

Supporting commoning

Stopping petting of animals

Feeding ponies causes serious issues in the New...

Green Halo Partnership

Join us

With greater understanding about natural capital and the...

Green Halo Partnership

Our natural resources

The term 'natural capital' is used to describe...

Green Halo Partnership

Our vision is to be a global exemplar of how our most precious landscapes can work in harmony with a thriving, economically successful community. We bring together businesses, universities, charities and communities to ensure our world class environment in and around the New Forest National Park flourishes as an integral part of our wider area's thriving economy and society. Join us Find out how you and your organisation can get involved on the Green Halo Partnership website.

Landscape partnership

Our Past, Our Future was a five-year landscape partnership scheme which ended in March 2021. It was led by the New Forest National Park Authority with 10 key partners. Here you can read about the scheme and what was achieved. Watch films highlighting the work of OPOF on our YouTube channel.

Landscape partnership projects

Our Past, Our Future ended in March 2021....

Landscape partnership

Volunteering

We are always looking for dedicated and passionate...