Behind the Scenes

Come ‘Behind the Scenes’ of the New Forest National Park

As part of the 75th anniversary of National Parks, the New Forest National Park Authority and partners launched a campaign taking people behind the scenes and revealing the secrets of the New Forest.

The New Forest is one of the best places for wildlife in Europe and it’s a living, working landscape with a wide range of people helping to take care of it. ‘Behind the Scenes’ takes a deep dive into the mysteries of the rare habitats and wildlife that live in the New Forest and the experts and volunteers working in the background to ensure it survives for future generations. Each person was photographed by internationally-renowned portrait photographer Steve Poole, some of which were part of his ‘Uncommoners’ book. Click the photos below to hear why the Forest is special to them and the extraordinary lengths they go to when looking after it. You can find out more about Steve Poole and ‘Uncommoners’ on his website: www.steve-poole.com/the-new-forest

‘Behind the Scenes’ kicked off at the New Forest Show 2024 with a ‘Team New Forest’ reception for people working for nature in the National Park, as well as an exhibition of Steve Poole’s photos and the words of those behind the scenes in the Forest. The campaign was commissioned by the leaders of the New Forest National Park Partnership Plan organisations – Hampshire County Council, Wiltshire Council, Forestry England, New Forest District Council, Test Valley Borough Council, the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Verderers of the New Forest.

New Forest National Park Authority Chairman David Bence said: ‘With many rare species and an incredible mix of different habitats all underpinned by the ancient tradition of commoners’ animals grazing the landscape, there really is nowhere else like the New Forest.

‘However it’s under threat from a range of issues including climate change, nature depletion and the future funding of commoning. So it’s vital now more than ever that we work as a “Team New Forest” pooling our resources and energy to work together to help the Forest survive and thrive into the future.’

Official Verderer and Hampshire County Councillor Edward Heron said: ‘Day in, day out, whatever the weather, commoners are out on the Forest managing their stock. The free-roaming ponies, cattle, donkeys, sheep, and pigs are vital to the Forest’s survival as one of the most biodiverse lowland habitats in western Europe – they are the “architects of the Forest”.

‘Without commoning the Forest as we know it, much of the rare flora and fauna would cease to exist. It is only by working together that we will overcome the challenges the Forest faces and support this precious environment to thrive into the future, whether this be managing increased recreational pressure or ensuring the viability of commoning for the current and future generations, it is only as “Team New Forest” that we will succeed.’

Keep up to date with the ‘Behind the Scenes’ campaign on the New Forest National Park Authority social media channels and join in by sharing your photos, videos and comments with #BehindTheScenes and tagging @newforestnpa.