Keep your distance from the animals and don't feed or pet them - you may be fined.

Protecting

What we're doing

We work with communities, visitors, and partners to help the New Forest thrive. From protecting nature and heritage to supporting sustainable access and local life, we’re here to help everyone enjoy and care for the National Park, now and for the future. Find out more about our programme.

An aerial view of a woodland during autumn, all the trees are orange, yellow or red and illuminated by a setting sun

Climate

Climate Climate

Banded demoiselle damselfly with metallic blue body and dark wing patches perched on green reed

Nature

Two volunteers wearing gloves carry cut tree branches in woodland at Copythorne Common

People

Wooden sign reading New Forest National Park with carved tree and ponies, beside a green roadside path

Place

Partnership plan Partnership plan

Group of people outside with a sign of the New Forest Code

Partnerships

The National Park Authority works closely with organisations, businesses, landowners and communities to secure a sustainable future for the National Park.

Partnerships Partnerships

1 - 5

Why it matters

Our wildlife

Over 20,000 different species are found here, many of them rare.

Our wildlife Our wildlife

common lizard on rock

Misty autumn landscape with a winding grassy path through red bracken and distant trees in low fog

Rusty steel bollards and concrete blocks on Lepe shoreline, with old harbour supports standing in the water under a clear sky

Curlew top half close up

Our progress

Sun shining over vast pools of water amid green trees

Flagship projects

Flagship projects Flagship projects

A group of people walking along a path surrounded by trees

Past projects

Past projects Past projects

Two cyclists wearing helmets and backpacks ride on a gravel path through a green countryside with trees

Our progress

Our progress Our progress

Supporting landowners & commoners

young child planting a hedge

Planning for the future

Supporting landowners Supporting landowners

Tan pony grazing in the New Forest under blue sky

Commoning & grazing

Commoning & grazing Commoning & grazing

a person moving three cows across a field

Farming in Protected Landscapes

Farming in Protected Landscapes Farming in Protected Landscapes

Stand alone tree at sunrise amongst ferns in the New Forest

Sustainable land management

Sustainable land management Sustainable land management

a row of people digging a trench

Working with the NPA

Working with the NPA Working with the NPA

Protecting news and stories

cars parked by a field

Forestry England introducing car parking charges

CrossCountry train standing at Brockenhurst station platform, with footbridge and station sign visible

CrossCountry boost at Brockenhurst in upcoming timetable change

A community festival on Southampton Common

Take a walk on the wild side with a week of events celebrating Southampton’s nature

Wooden posts in a line at the base of a large oak tree by a roadside, with fields and fences behind

Community comes together to save New Forest’s Queen Oak

A row of people holding awards in front of a table with a cloth saying New Forest Show

Honouring rural heroes: 2026 New Forest National Park Awards now open

Protecting the Forest Protecting the Forest

Sign up to our email newsletter

For all the best walks, cycle rides and events - hear about it first!

• Subscribe today