Managing Recreation

The New Forest is a lovely place to enjoy a walk, follow one of the marked cycle routes or ride a horse. Other people like to take photographs, look for wildlife, have a picnic, or just enjoy the view.

Each of these activities can help our wellbeing and none should be harmful to the Forest. However, recreation can have negative impacts – in the ‘wrong’ places or times of year, if too many people are involved and when people inadvertently do the wrong thing.

Landowners and managers, and National Park staff, are therefore always looking for ways to help people enjoy the outdoors responsibly without any negative impacts.