AM 739/26 – Chief Executive’s Report

Summary:

This report covers the period since the Authority meeting on 26 March 2026. The report has been formatted to accord with our statutory purposes and duty; these are delivered by the Re:New Forest themes of ‘Climate, Nature, People, Place, Partnership and Achieving Excellence’ from our agreed Business Plan, summarised as follows:

Re:New Organisation: Achieving Excellence

• Delivering high-quality services through a capable and motivated staff team
• Maximising resources and using them efficiently and effectively
• Modernising our use of the office space and our wider ways of working

Recommendation:
To note the report.

Contact: Alison Barnes
Tel: 01590 646633
Email: alison.barnes@newforestnpa.gov.uk

Equality and Diversity

The Equality Act 2010 provides protection from discrimination in respect of certain protected characteristics and places us under a duty to have due regard to the advancement of equality in the exercise of our functions. We aim to eliminate discrimination, harassment, and victimisation and to advance equality of opportunity throughout all aspects of our work. More details regarding our projects and initiatives, such as PEDALL, are set out in the relevant reports and Equality Impact Assessments.

AM 739/26

NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY

AUTHORITY MEETING – 23 JULY 2026

CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT

Report by: Alison Barnes, Chief Executive

The late spring and early summer have seen the New Forest at its best; it’s arguably the time when we can most fully appreciate the exceptional richness of the landscape which we are so privileged to work for and which needs our concerted efforts to sustain it for future generations. This need for action has never been more pressing as we work with partners to ensure a positive future against a backdrop of fundamental administrative changes for local government and pressures within and beyond our landscape, including the recent extreme heat.

Rangers and our communications team have been at full tilt engaging with communities and visitors, focussing on disseminating the information on how to care for the Forest through patrols, school workshops, community events and partnership operations, with a particular focus on the New Forest Code, ground-nesting birds, driving safely in foal season and car park charging messaging. This included a piece featuring Ranger Jim Day on BBC Countryfile talking about the return of rare sand martins to Rockford and the importance of the New Forest Code.

This reach has been substantially boosted by the launch of the new National Park website, which improves accessibility, sustainability and online services, and the ability to promote of key projects such as YouCAN, PEDALL, the New Forest Show and the Local Plan consultation.

The team took part in the recent Hampshire Fire and Rescue LIVEX wildfire exercise with partners to ensure coordination, information sharing and support. We have also helped develop a UK National Parks Wildfire Management Position Statement recognising the growing wildfire risk arising from climate, changing land management practices, and increasing visitor use of protected landscapes. This commits all National Park Authorities to incorporating wildfire preparedness and prevention into their Partnership Plans.

We have also been focussing on building resilience for nature by continuing our work to increase the extent of habitat that is wildlife rich beyond the designated sites, securing £184,000 for wildlife-rich habitat projects that will contribute to the achievement of the Government’s 30x30 target, subject of a Delivery Plan launched on 13 July which places protected landscapes at the heart of its delivery. We are also set to host significant work on behalf of Natural England and partners on a Protected Sites Strategy for the National Park, this is a pioneering approach which is of national interest.

Our planning policy team has worked tirelessly to prepare the proposed Regulation 19 Submission draft Local Plan consultation for consideration at this meeting, a key milestone in meeting the Government deadline for submission of December 2026. The draft Hampshire Minerals and Waste strategy is also before members for decision in a separate paper.

Planning caseload remains high, with 149 planning applications received and 144 determined during the reporting period, achieving an 87% approval rate. Major applications have seen the team considering the A326 widening scheme on the Waterside; a solar farm at Totton which was refused; and engagement over the future of the former Fawley Power Station site.

The planning enforcement service has seen an exceptional period, with 40 new matters assessed, 41 cases concluded and 161 live cases at the end of June. In terms of appeals, 19 have been concluded, 12 of which were found in favour of the Authority. The team continues to ensure that decisions are robust, proportionate and supported by clear evidence.

We are launching our work towards the Partnership Plan for 2027 to 2032 at the New Forest Show asking people to give their views and thoughts on the New Forest of the Future. Our annual Partnership Plan Leaders Panel Tour in June focused on the water environment and was a great opportunity to get the conversation going, with leaders of partner organisations visiting local sewage treatment works and pristine Forest streams, hosted by Southern Water and Freshwater Habitats Trust.

Meanwhile our work to connect people with the National Park has included fully-funded school visits for eligible schools, helping to remove cost barriers to outdoor learning, while 371 pupils took part in curriculum-led visits between April and June. The YouCAN project is entering its final phase and youth engagement remains active through non-curriculum groups, youth volunteering, Junior Rangers and the Youth Board, with a lottery funding bid being developed to sustain this work after YouCAN ends.

Significant funding bids are being developed, including a Landscape Connections bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and a Reaching Communities bid to sustain youth, climate and nature engagement.

The past few months have seen us playing our part in conversations about how organisations will continue to work for New Forest at this time of change for local government, with people increasingly looking to us to provide continuity and a focal point for discourse about the New Forest landscape. We have been able to engage especially through our Partnership Plan and the Duty under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act for all public authorities and statutory undertakers to further our purposes. National Park Authorities were given the General Power of Competence (GPC) in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (amending the Localism Act 2011) which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. Previously only applying to local authorities, GPC came into effect on 29 June 2026. This is a further tool to help us act as anchor organisations and play our full part in the resilient future of our areas. The power is wide ranging and allows National Parks to do anything that individuals may do generally, including things that are unlike anything other public bodies may do; the GPC allows National Parks to act anywhere in the UK or elsewhere and power to act for commercial purpose with or without charge. There are limitations that apply and the GPC cannot override any pre-existing restrictions set out in statute, and similarly and the GPC will be limited by any post-commencement statutory restrictions as and when any are introduced.

Nevertheless, these new powers will enable us to work proactively and innovatively at this time of change and explore further ways to support the New Forest National Park and our communities. We look forward to exploring the opportunities with Members and partners in the months ahead.

DELIVERY OF NATIONAL PARK PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS

The report has been formatted to accord with the statutory purposes and duty, which we often refer to as Protect, Enjoy and Prosper. These are delivered through our Re:New ‘Climate, Nature, People, Place, Partnership, Organisation’ objectives from the agreed Business Plan, a summary of which is set out on the first page.

Our Business Plan is delivered through annual Work Programmes, progress on which is set out in these reports alongside the formal quarterly reporting under the six themes to the Resources, Audit and Performance Committee; at the end of each year we produce an Annual Review document.

The final section of this report lists the Members’, our Chair’s and the Chief Executive’s activities and events.

1 First Purpose: Protect

Nature Recovery

Wildfire

A UK National Parks Wildfire Management Position Statement has been developed and was agreed by National Parks UK Chairs and Chief Executives on 1 July. The statement recognises the growing wildfire risk arising from climate change, changing land management practices, and increasing visitor use of protected landscapes.

It commits all National Park Authorities to incorporate wildfire management into their National Park Management Plans/Partnership Plans as and when they are reviewed, strengthening wildfire preparedness, prevention and driving action across partner organisations.

Alongside this, the UK National Parks Wildfire Group is developing a coordinated national approach, facilitating knowledge exchange and promoting best practice across all the National Parks.

This complements the Authority’s current work to strengthen wildfire preparedness with partners across the National Park, identify additional prevention methods, and increase landscape resilience. It provides a useful framework for shaping the Authority’s approach as part of the upcoming Partnership Plan review.

Wildlife Rich Habitat Fund

We have been given funding of around £184,000 to deliver increases in the extent of ‘wildlife rich habitat’ across the National Park. There are specific criteria around the eligibility of projects that can qualify, such as the land being outside of Protected Sites (SSSIs). We are working with partners now to develop projects which will need to be delivered in this financial year.

Protected Site Strategy for Deer Management

We have been commissioned by Natural England to develop a long-term strategy for deer management across an area covering the National Park and beyond. While we have been putting in place the project management structures to begin this work, the budget is not yet confirmed. As soon as it is, which we expect shortly, we will begin the process of engagement, commissioning additional insight and strategy development.

Development Management

The development management team continues to carry a wide-ranging caseload, ranging from householder applications in communities across the National Park to major proposals that trigger consideration under the ‘major development tests’ in the National Planning Policy Framework. Our planning performance statistics are monitored and reported on to Government and through the hard work of the planning team these statistics have continued to improve.

Application Numbers

149 planning applications were received in the period 1 March to 26 June 2026. In the same period, 144 planning applications were determined with an approval rate of 87%. This approval rate is broadly consistent with previous figures and highlights the hard work we put into working with applicants to negotiate positive schemes.

In this period, 108 other applications were received as well as 263 pre-application enquiries. The level of pre-application enquiries illustrates the development pressures on the National Park and the importance of the Authority’s statutory planning functions.

Appeals

Also in this period, 19 appeal decisions were received. Twelve were dismissed (with one including a partial award of costs to the Authority). Six were allowed (with one award of costs against the Authority) and there was one split decision. We report appeal decisions to our monthly Planning Committee meetings to understand if there are any patterns of lessons to be learnt from the decisions of the Planning Inspectorate.

Larger Applications

A major application for the redevelopment of the Ashurst Hospital site allocation in the adopted New Forest National Park Local Plan (2019) was granted permission subject to legal agreement on 2 March 2026. A further application for the site has recently been submitted and is now valid.

An application for the installation of a large-scale, ground-mounted photovoltaic farm on farmland off Fletchwood Lane was refused on 17 March at the Authority’s Planning Committee due to concerns over landscape impacts; and a major application and listed building consent for Brockenhurst Park granted on 18 March.

The team continues to be actively engaged in emerging proposals in the Waterside, including those relating to the redevelopment of the former Fawley Power Station site for an employment-led scheme on this important brownfield site which is surrounded by National Park.

A new community play area has officially opened at the Whartons Lane Recreation Ground in Ashurst, providing an inclusive space funded by developer contributions from the 62-home Whartons Lane site, located immediately adjacent to the play area.

Other

The team has undertaken a consultation on local validation requirements for applications and is reviewing responses received.

There are upcoming changes to the land registry process which are anticipated to be resource intensive and significant. Two officers have undertaken initial training.

Training undertaken by the team has included caravans and enforcement; great crested newt licensing; changes to appeal procedures; and changes to the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) process. Officers are represented on a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Government/Planning Advisory Service (PAS) BNG Working Group and also actively participate in the PAS group for local planning authorities.

Members of the team held a Discovery Day on a planning appeal hearing including site visit to raise awareness of the appeal work of the team.

Planning Enforcement

Over the past three months the Planning Enforcement Team has continued to apply a proportionate and effective approach to resolving breaches of planning control. Since the last report, the team has undertaken initial assessments on 40 new enforcement matters and concluded 41 cases, leaving 161 live enforcement cases at the end of June.

Three formal notices were issued in relation to unauthorised development at a single site in Hamptworth, comprising a Temporary Stop Notice at first followed by an Enforcement Notice and a Stop Notice and the site remains subject to ongoing monitoring.

The team is also currently managing three enforcement notice appeals and, during the reporting period, successfully defended five enforcement appeals. In addition, the Authority successfully defended two applications for costs. These outcomes reflect the team's continued focus on ensuring that enforcement decisions are robust, proportionate and supported by clear evidence.

A significant enforcement outcome was also achieved during the period through the successful prosecution of individuals for failing to comply with a previously issued Enforcement Notice. This followed extensive efforts to secure compliance and demonstrated the Authority's willingness to pursue formal action where serious and persistent breaches of planning control remain unresolved.

Voluntary compliance and negotiated solutions continue to play an important role in the team's work. A substantial proportion of cases concluded during the period were resolved through compliance being secured, planning permission being obtained, breaches ceasing, or investigations confirming that no breach of planning control had occurred.

The nature of enforcement work remains diverse, with new investigations covering unauthorised operational development, changes of use, breaches of planning conditions, residential occupation issues, short-term visitor accommodation, access tracks, hard surfacing and other forms of development requiring assessment against planning policy and the Authority's adopted enforcement priorities.

Policy

The main focus of the planning policy team’s work since the last full Authority meeting has been preparing the proposed Regulation 19 Submission draft New Forest National Park Local Plan. The draft Plan has been informed by the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA), Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) and Whole Plan Viability Assessment. The team also hosted an advisory visit from the Planning Inspectorate in May 2026 which provided useful feedback on several aspects of the draft Plan.

The Government has set local planning authorities a date of December 2026 as the deadline for the submission of draft local plans to be examined under the current plan-making system. The draft Plan is the subject of a separate agenda item at this meeting.

The final Inspectors’ Report into the draft Hampshire Minerals & Waste Local Plan was received in Apri 2026 – see www.hants.gov.uk/landplanningandenvironment/minerals-waste-planning/hampshire-minerals-waste-plan/minerals-waste-plan-partial-update-consultation/hmwp-reg25. The proposed adoption of the updated Plan is the subject of a separate item on this meeting agenda.

Archaeology

At the end of March, we said goodbye to Hilde van der Heul, Assistant Community Archaeologist, as she moved on to an exciting new role in consultancy. We thank Hilde for her valuable contribution to the Authority and wish her every success for the future.

To help bridge the resulting gap, Megan Donovan, Building Design and Conservation Officer, has been lending her expertise to the archaeology team one morning each week, focusing on NFDC planning work. We are also pleased to report that two new team members, one full-time and one part-time on 6-month contracts, joined us in early July, Rebecca Hayward and Penny Rogers strengthening our capacity moving forward.

Despite the temporary staffing pressures, the team has maintained strong momentum. Over this period, we consulted on and progressed 26 planning applications (five within the National Park Authority and 21 with NFDC). While opportunities for large-scale archaeological excavation within the New Forest National Park remain limited, our continued engagement with NFDC applications plays a vital role. This work not only deepens our understanding of the archaeological landscape surrounding the Park but suggests what may yet survive within it.

An excavation on the outskirts of Calmore discovered Iron Age occupation and work north-west of Fordingbridge discovered Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman occupation all on the same site.

Through our Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Forestry England, the team responded to 24 requests, progressed work on 25 sites, and carried out site visits across the Southern District. For the Higher-Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme, we received 10 requests, advanced work on five sites, and completed several site visits.

Delivering these services continues to provide valuable opportunities to identify, record, and safeguard a wide range of heritage assets across the National Park. This work is particularly important given the potential risks posed by heavy machinery used in forestry operations and habitat restoration. It also supports our ongoing, detailed analysis of LiDAR data from the New Forest and surrounding areas, an approach that has repeatedly led to exciting new archaeological discoveries.

We have continued to enhance the publicly accessible Historic Environment Record (HER). Data from five sites has been added, contributing around 400 new and updated records. Making this information openly available is central to delivering public benefit: it transforms archaeology from a largely academic pursuit into a shared resource that can be explored and built upon by all. In doing so, it enables further research, both by our team and others, and helps deepen our collective understanding of the New Forest’s rich and complex cultural heritage.

The LoCATE equipment is still being used by local groups. Some good examples of the results obtained using the project equipment can be found on the Avon Valley Archaeological Society website: https://avonvalleyarchsoc.wordpress.com/reports.

Building Design and Conservation

Since March 2026, the Building Design and Conservation Team has strengthened its outreach and heritage advocacy, delivering a presentation to around 150 members of the Ringwood Society and engaging with the public at the National Park Open Day in Lyndhurst. The team has also supported major heritage-led planning outcomes — including securing the restoration of two Grade II listed buildings at Brockenhurst Park — while maintaining strong collaboration across Development Management and the wider teams, with our officers supporting the work of the Archaeology team.

Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) and Environmental Land Management (ELM)

Quarter 1 (Apr- June) has seen interest in the FiPL programme with a pipeline of projects being assessed by the FiPL team. A Panel meeting in May provided comments on two applications that were proposing schedules of work over the three years of the programme, with submission of the revised applications anticipated in the coming weeks.

The NFNPA has partnered with the Verderers and the CDA to support the recruitment of a Project Facilitator, to be employed by the Foundation for Common Land, who will provide dedicated support to the New Forest commoners. A primary focus will be to develop best practice governance structures for the commoners in preparation for a future application to the Landscape Recovery strand of the Environmental Land Management programme. The Farming Roadmap 2050, published in June, signalled the government’s continued commitment to Landscape Recovery although no new funding rounds are anticipated this year.

2 Second Purpose: Enjoy

Education and Youth

Thanks to the AJ Bell Futures Foundation Travel Fund, through National Parks Partnerships, we will be able to offer a restricted number of completely funded visits with the New Forest National Park team to eligible schools from April 2026 to March 2028. The criteria focus on low-income schools in the local areas. The coach costs are covered by the fund - which have risen to £500 for even short journeys in the last year. Thanks to the ongoing HLS funding toward educational visits, our team has managed to continue to offer free day visits to school groups - meaning with transport and visits covered, the overall all cost of the visit to children and parents is free.

Feedback from schools is that parents - including those whose children are just outside the threshold for free school meals - can’t offer to contribute even as little as £3 toward learning outside the classroom, so asking £15-£40 a head for day visits is untenable. This is going to make a big difference.

Our long-standing New Forest Schools and Groups Travel Grant continues alongside this, offering a £200 subsidy to coach costs for visits to both ourselves and partners in the New Forest Educator’s Forum, recognising that regardless of a school’s location, enrichment of learning opportunities needs continued support.

Summer term is incredibly popular – especially for our highly sought after ‘River Experience with fieldwork skills’ day, from April - June the team has worked with 371 pupils on curriculum led visits at the forest and coast. This has been complimented by great work from the ranger team leading in school talks on the New Forest Code and Green Careers (see more info below).

We also sent out our newsletter to publicly available school emails in the New Forest and surrounds as well as people who have chosen to subscribe. These often go out three to four times a year providing information about different green opportunities. Our last newsletter had 33% opening rate.

In May and the last month of June (with one more group to join us in July) we hosted work experience students from local secondary schools. We are really pleased to be able to offer this in-depth experience, revealing a range of roles across the National Park to young people interested in a green career, with thanks to support from the ranger, PEDALL, planning and environment teams for their contributions.

Work experience feedback May 2026:

’Thank you very much for organising an interactive and super interesting week for us! I found it really useful to see the different types of jobs within the National Park which I had no idea about before such as the number/variety of environmental jobs. My favourite part was PEDALL because it was amazing to learn about such a beneficial organisation and talking to volunteers with different life progressions. Thank you, Amy, for taking us and looking after us and giving so many helpful pointers and conversations.’

’Thank you to the Planning team (Josh). The session was really fun and has made me consider planning as a job in the future. The activities we did this morning opened my eyes to a whole career path that I didn't know was out there and I have found I am very fascinated in and may want to pursue in the future. Thank you.’

We have sent out invitations to local school to trial work experiences ‘a day in the life’ this autumn for groups of young people from local schools as we want more young people to be able to gain the benefits.

Youth for Climate and Nature (YouCAN)

As we enter the final few months of the YouCAN project, requests from off curriculum groups continue to flood in. This term we have been working with students from Totton College, Noadswood School and Longspee Academy to offer a more relaxed and in-depth understanding and value of the National Park at a range of venues including Lepe Beach, Wilverley Enclosure, and practical conservation tasks with partner organisations in Hale and Woodgreen and Brockenhurst.

Several of our longstanding Junior Rangers are working toward their ‘gold awards’, our youth volunteering programme has picked up in popularity, and the youth board has several working groups working on projects including outreach via a newsletter to young audiences, and events working group.

Staff and Youth board members together attended the National Park Anniversary event in April and Urban Wild 2026 hosted by partner organisation Southampton National Park City. While overall numbers of interactions were lower than expected, from a Youth Board perspective it was a really worthwhile event. The event brought in lots of local young people, many of whom were interested in the Youth Board and wider youth engagement in the National Park. Youth Board members had several extended and meaningful conversations with local young people and received two new newsletter signups as well as an expression of interest for joining the Board.

‘I spoke to someone at the Urban Wild on the Common event and was impressed by the enthusiasm and clarity by which they spoke of the New Forest and the youth board. I was wondering whether I could hear more about it? It sounds like something I’d like to potentially get involved in.’ - Email to Youth Board from a young person who attended Urban Wild 2026. This person has now joined up and the Youth Board is now at full capacity.

Alongside our busy diary, team leaders have been consulting young people, community representatives and colleagues to put together a funding application to continue our work through a bid to the ‘reaching communities’ fund. (See more in funding update)

Public and community events / rangers / recreation management

Ranger patrols have had a ground nesting bird and New Forest Code focus and included patrols on both May Bank Holidays. While engaged in a car park ‘pop-up’ event at National Trust’s Rockford Common, Jim Day, People and Wildlife Ranger identified and reported an active sand martin colony in a location they have not been seen nesting for decades. The story was picked up and filmed by BBC's Countryfile and the sand martins and Jim aired on 21 June discussing the return of the colony and the importance of ranger engagement work in the New Forest.

With the rhododendron being so much more obvious whilst flowering during routine patrols rangers have notified Forestry England of several new, unidentified plants of various sizes to help inform the HLS funded eradication programme.

It's been a busy period for the popular and successful NFNPA, ranger and New Forest code workshops delivering a presentation and activity sessions across the New Forest area to schools, including Hordle Primary, Milford on Sea Primary, Ringwood Infant, Poulner Junior and Priestlands Secondary (Lymington).

Rangers attended nine community events, including Bransgore Fun Day, Ringwood Eco Fair, Pondhead Open Day, Gang Warily Emergency Services Day, Milford Coastal Celebration, Tiptoe Fayre, and Ballard Nature Reserve National Meadows Day.

Rangers have continued to work closely with other New Forest partner organisations supporting joint operations including Operation Koeman and Bike Marking with FE and Hampshire Police, Operation Wolf to prevent and raise awareness of fly tipping with FE, Police and NFDC, Operation Mountie promoting safe driving and speed awareness.

Car park surgeries have taken place jointly with FE, New Forest Dog Owners Group and Hampshire Police: at Moonhills, Hatchet Pond and Marchwood Inclosure. The Hants Police 'Walking in partnership' guided walks initiative takes place with FE and NPA presence, to provide opportunities for individuals to walk in the New Forest in a safe environment and provide feedback on associated issues.

Rangers attended the New Forest Agricultural Show Society's, Food, Farming & Forest Discovery Day which welcomed 325 children from 11 Primary and Junior Schools from in and around the National Park. Groups joined us at our New Forest Explorer unit to discover what makes the New Forest so special and how to keep themselves and the animals and habitats safe by following the New Forest Code.

We attended the successful New Forest Business Show, which featured over 120 exhibitors and attracted around 1,000 business visitors. The event provided a valuable opportunity for the NPA to connect with local organisations and suppliers. We promoted the animal accident awareness campaign, encouraging businesses with staff who drive across the National Park to sign up to the Drive Safe Scheme and distributed animal accident cards. We highlighted our corporate volunteering opportunities, offering local businesses meaningful ways to support staff wellbeing through time in the National Park and contributing to the protection and care of the local area.

Rangers supported two Junior Ranger sessions, one at a new hydroponics centre in Brockenhurst, learning about hydroponics, making compost and crushing metal for recycling, and one with Nik Gruber from the NPA tree team.

Naomi continues to have an eagle eye whilst out on patrols, submitting records for five Rare and seven Nationally Scarce species, including the nationally extremely rare and endangered Xysticus luctator spider! These have helped engagement at the time on site, or in future conversations to help explain the importance of the New Forest for biodiversity, as well as being shared on social media.

Communications

We rounded up a year of celebrations marking our 20th anniversary with a National Park Open Day at Lyndhurst Community Centre on 21 March. Over 330 people attended with many families staying much of the day to take part in activities bringing to life the different aspects of the National Park and our work.

The BBC Countryfile programme featuring Jim Day, also featured one of our partner wildlife photographers Steve Laycock, as well as Wild New Forest and the Amphibian and Reptile Trust who repeated the message that the Forest is the best place for biodiversity in the UK.

Our new National Park website is now live with a renewed focus on visual appeal, accessibility and sustainability. Communications staff worked with the web company to look at audiences’ requirements and with each Authority team to look at their processes and find ways to make efficiencies through the website.

New features include a postcode checker for planning applicants to confirm whether their property is in the National Park; a ‘volunteer finder’ to filter and search for volunteering opportunities; an interactive map to explore the New Forest; a new climate section explaining climate risks and opportunities in the National Park; new reporting for the current Partnership Plan and alerts featuring New Forest Code and seasonal messaging. Through the YouCAN scheme a youth portal has been created where young people can discover and get involved in everything from bird watching to architecture in the National Park: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/get-involved/children-young-people/youth-portal/.

The website has been enhanced with new photography and videos including nature recovery projects completed through the Species Survival Fund captured by local wildlife filmmaker Matt Roseveare.

Documents in pdf format are not accessible for people using screen-reader software. As a result, we worked with the website company on a new feature using AI to automatically provide summaries of reports on the website and to provide versions which are accessible to assistive technology.

The new website was audited by the Government Digital Service to ensure it is compliant with legal accessibility regulations and was confirmed to have passed.

A key aspect of the project was to ensure our digital footprint is more sustainable through website design and hosting, helping to meet our target of being a net zero organisation by 2030. Our sustainability statement is available here: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/sustainability-digital-responsibility/.

Microsites for the Green Health Hub of social prescribing opportunities and the Higher Level Stewardship scheme have also been created with partners.

The next phase is to improve how people find our website through search engine optimisation, particularly in light of the new AI summaries, as well as providing a further microsite for the Green Halo Partnership.

Our WhatsApp channel launched last year now has over 1,000 subscribers, allowing us to broadcast direct messages about caring for the Forest, how to enjoy it and connect with nature.

We attended an emergency planning tabletop exercise with the emergency services, councils, health and voluntary sectors at Hampshire Fire HQ in Eastleigh, much of which was focused on a scenario of responding to wild fires in the New Forest as part of a media cell. Forestry England also attended and discussions on our preparedness both on the ground and regarding communications, as well as training, will continue.

The latest issue of Park Life has been published and distributed within the Lymington Times and by our rangers at events and in community outlets (also available online www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/document/park-life-ss2026). A woodland birds leaflet is in production with partners and the annual review is being printed.

A significant amount of time has been spent on handling the introduction of car park charges by Forestry England, answering media enquiries and, as much of the debate about the new scheme has been played out on our social media channels, clarifying that the National Park is not responsible for the charges and receives no income from them, as well as clarifying public misconceptions about the scheme.

We have helped to promote updates, public drop-in sessions and the consultation on the Hurst Spit to Lymington coastal strategy led by the Environment Agency and New Forest District Council.

As the £1.4m youth for climate and nature YouCAN scheme is in its final phase with the lottery funding ending in August, we have been bringing together the final communications outputs, wrapping up the scheme and promoting the learnings and impact through animation, reports and web pages. We promoted the two successful festivals - Urban Wild in Southampton and New Forest Thrive in Ringwood.

The team has supported our PEDALL inclusive cycling charity with new videos, including showing the benefits of team building for corporate partners: www.pedall.org.uk/pedall-corporate-experience as well as promoting the Pass the PEDALL fundraising initiative.

Preparations are well under way for the New Forest Show, including our stand which is introducing the next Partnership Plan with family-friendly activities around what ‘New Forest 2050’ might look like. A reception for partners to begin discussions about the next Plan is being organised and the New Forest Awards with the CLA have also been judged and will be presented in the main ring.

The team provides communications support for the New Forest Marque and this period has included preparing the Local Produce Guide and a successful first New Forest Breakfast event which saw four venues sell 200 breakfasts to highlight local Marque produce.

We are now preparing to support the Local Plan consultation in September and Partnership Plan stakeholder engagement over the autumn/winter.

Health and Wellbeing and Inclusive Projects

The Green Health Hub micro site is now live and we are busy populating the site with more groups and stories. Following the first Connect and Learn network session, we are planning another for October as well as a training day for NHS staff. Our NHS placement Phil Godfrey has completed his work with us and will be returning to help run the Connect and Learn session and the training. We will also be joined by our new Health Fellowship placement, Dr Alice Glaysher, in September. We are working on ideas for future partnership on the natural health service, to be anchored in the upcoming Partnership Plan and our work with the Green Halo Partnership and the GreenPrint framework.

We have organised five events that support refugee groups to access and learn about the special qualities, and health and restorative benefits of the Forest.

PEDALL New Forest Inclusive Cycling

We have delivered 206 inclusive group riding sessions (6% growth compared to same period last year), 2001 individual riding slots and four community events in this period. A highlight was our participation in Active Dorset’s ‘Primary Wheels festival.’ This event was aimed at children that experience difficulties accessing sport. We worked with six schools who happily engaged on our go-kart cycle track and had fun pedalling with volunteers on sociable side by side tandems. The aim was to demonstrate to the primary school groups that cycling is available to all.

We are delighted to welcome Tom Russell, our new PEDALL Ride Leader who will be working with us across both our Burley and Ashurst sites. Tom’s passion for cycling and positive nature, has enabled him to make a great impact on our cycling community.

Pass the PEDALL, 10,000km for £10K challenge

PEDALL kicked off it’s summer of fundraising challenges, with the New Forest inclusive cycling community aiming to ride 10,000km and raise £10,000. The summer fundraising series began on 17 June with a passionate team of PEDALL’s female volunteers leading a 100 mile – or 160km – ride around the New Forest, cycling through the heart of the National Park, joined by other PEDALL volunteers and supporters. The challenge set off from PEDALL’s base at Burley Yard circumnavigating the Forest celebrating accessible cycling for all and making stops to connect with PEDALL riders and community including Minstead Trust, Cedars Care Home, and Sway Cycles.

Gareth Jones, PEDALL Operational Lead, and Darren Hutchins, Friends of PEDALL trustee, then rode 200 miles – or around 320km – on the year’s longest day with PEDALL supporters and endurance challenge leaders ‘Chase the Sun’. Gareth continued cycling south the following week, aiming for a total ride of 1,000 kilometres for the Pass the PEDALL challenge. As a community we have cycled 2,734 to date and our current fundraising total is £4.9K.

26 September 2026 – Pass the PEDALL community event

Pass the PEDALL will return for its third year at New Park near Brockenhurst inviting PEDALL’s riding community to help reach the challenge targets.

The event has established itself as an annual highlight in the New Forest cycling calendar and builds on successes in 2024 and 2025.

Talbot Village Trust granted funding to Friends of PEDALL to deliver inclusive cycling sessions at Slades Park in Bournemouth throughout this summer. This funding helps drive awareness for PEDALL and inclusive, accessible cycling in the New Forest National Park.

To create an additional funding stream for PEDALL, we are delighted to offer local businesses a ‘corporate wellbeing’ experience. www.pedall.org.uk/pedall-corporate-experience

Volunteering

Our conservation and access volunteers, youth volunteers and New Forest ambassadors have provided 162 volunteer days on tasks across the National Park. Across eight sessions, Flourish In Nature additionally provided 19 places on our tasks for adults requiring additional support.

Based on the feedback we received from the Volunteer Fair about the valuable networking opportunities the event provides, we partnered with Community First to deliver an event on that basis. The Volunteering Collective brought together two dozen volunteer-including organisations to share ideas and experience on better supporting the volunteering community in the New Forest. Topics explored on the day included recruitment, particularly of younger and working age volunteers, micro-volunteering, conflict management, and celebrating volunteer achievements.

In March we introduced our volunteers to Link Cottage at the NFNPA's new site south of Lyndhurst. Volunteers removed invasive species, cleared the fenceline in preparation for the (now completed!) new fencing and removed debris and litter. We followed this up in June with a staff volunteering day, allowing staff members from different departments a chance to meet the site and get stuck in cutting back vegetation.

Ten new volunteers have been trained on our electric brushcutters and hedgetrimmers, allowing us to continue our heavy focus on clearing and improving Rights of Way over the summer volunteering season. Recently we've rebuilt a stretch of heavily degraded public footpath at Tatchbury Mount and reinforced the floating boardwalk at Stuckton.

In conjunction with PEDALL, we are developing our corporate volunteering offer. This includes the creation of a promotional video and other materials showcasing opportunities to get involved and support the New Forest. We've also carried out our first two corporate volunteering days of the summer season, clearing back footpaths at Breamore and Tatchbury Mount. One volunteer discovered a Victorian soft drink bottle from the bottom of a Breamore Railway culvert!

Access and Rights of Way

We are working towards the establishment of sections 2 and 5 of the Highcliffe to Calshot section of the England Coast Path by early 2027. We are visiting landowners, meeting with contractors and setting up logistical systems to enable us to monitor and maintain 26 miles of National Trail.

The scoping works for the Breamore Railway line project have been completed, and we are looking forward to path improvement works starting this July and continuing through until October this year. Work is due to be completed by the end of 2027.

3 Duty: Prosper

Re:New Forest Partnership Plan

The New Forest National Park Partnership Plan Annual Tour was held on Thursday 18 June. The focus of the tour this year was on the water environment of the New Forest and the tour included visits led by Southern Water (to the Pennington wastewater treatment works) and the Freshwater Habitats Trust (to the Wootton Bridge area of the New Forest, on the Avon Water). The tour highlighted the importance of the water environment of the New Forest and the water quality in the headwaters of the watercourses that have their sources within the National Park.

The Panel discussed the updating of the New Forest National Park Partnership Plan for the 2027 – 2032 period (subject of a separate agenda item at this meeting). It was noted that the national Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework does not include a specific target on water quality and that there is therefore an opportunity for the National Park Authority and partners to agree local priorities for the water environment through the review of the Partnership Plan.

Fundraising

We are continuing to progress a bid to The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Landscape Connections programme, following approval of the expression of interest in December 2025 and invitation to submit a development phase application. Work is focused on shaping a collaborative, multi-partner approach bringing together landowners, farmers, commoners, communities and organisations through the Re:New Nature Partnership to co-design integrated projects that deliver long-term environmental, social and economic benefits. A guiding coalition group is being established to refine priorities, develop a work programme, and explore governance and funding approaches, alongside early partner and public engagement. Submission of the development phase bid is anticipated in autumn 2026, with a potential start in 2027 if approved, working alongside the next National Park Partnership Plan and laying the foundations for long-term delivery from as ‘Team New Forest’.

A bid to The National Lottery Community Fund’s Reaching Communities programme for up to £1 million over five years is also being developed to sustain and grow nature and climate-based education and youth engagement beyond the current Climate Action Fund grant, which ends in August 2026. The proposed programme would build on the success of Youth for Climate and Nature by continuing youth volunteering, green careers activity, junior ranger opportunities and Youth Board development, enabling young people to engage with the National Park, take practical action, and help shape future decisions.

Separately, a UK-wide National Lottery Community Fund opportunity with UK National Parks is also being pursued, focused on strengthening youth voice and representation across National Park governance, with a full application anticipated in summer 2026.

Greenprint

The Greenprint study surveying business views on why Hampshire (and its protected areas) provide a ‘great place to live and work’ is ongoing and will complete with a written report in August. In May we also held a second network workshop on green skills and jobs (and fourth network meeting overall), where business, academic and local authority partners met to prioritise actions emanating from the 2025 study into the region’s green skills opportunities. Particularly relevant to the New Forest is the action to scope a ‘green skills hub’ in the National Park, which we will be progressing with the support of the University of Southampton.

New Forest Tour

Confirmation on our application for future New Forest Tour funding from Hampshire County Council’s LEP Legacy Fund is pending, needing HCC final cabinet approval and due diligence to complete. If given the go ahead a future paper to full Authority will set out the relevant details for approval. In the meantime, the New Forest Tour continues to be a popular attraction and commenced its 23rd year on 4 July with three routes operational over a 10-week period.

Public Transport

We liaised with and advised the local bus operator on the branding aspect of the expansion of their ‘Breezer’ bus range between Bournemouth, Southampton and the New Forest. The fleet contains interior interpretative panels and Forest-themed exterior liveries.

Sustainable Transport and Active Travel

We have started the second phase of our Active Travel England National Parks Capability Funded work, consulting key stakeholders and developing a press release. The work will develop to feasibility and ‘preliminary’ status three interventions on the A337, as well as investigating how quieter roads in the Forest can be made safer for walking, wheeling and cycling and for wildlife and, where relevant, Forest stock. As a follow-up to the New Forest Transport Summit (November 2025), we have engaged with local tourism businesses about their existing and potential sustainable transport options, infrastructure and incentives to customers, with a view to designing a bespoke ‘Sustainable Transport Toolkit’. We have also been working on the Active Travel aspects of the A326 planning application.

Affordable Housing

Work is progressing well on the adopted New Forest National Park Local Plan (2019) allocations at the site of the former Lyndhurst Park Hotel, land at Whartons Lane in Ashurst and land at Church Lane in Sway. In total over 90 affordable dwellings are due to be delivered on these sites, which will make a meaningful contribution to addressing identified local housing needs arising within the National Park. Through the review of our local planning policies we are also looking into options to deliver further affordable housing to help sustain our local communities.

Sustainable Communities Fund

Funds have been awarded to Tilefield Nature CIC in Brockenhurst to pilot a practical land management forum and knowledge exchange for equestrians, Commoners and other land managers in and around the New Forest. The project will create opportunities for peer learning, discussion, expert input, site visits and training around shared issues such as soil health, grazing, biodiversity and climate change, with the aim of strengthening local relationships and supporting practical changes that benefit individual holdings and the wider landscape.

Brockenhurst Parish Council has been awarded funds to improve cycle parking in Brookley Road following feedback from residents and visitors about the lack of convenient facilities near the village centre. The proposal, developed in liaison with Hampshire County Council, would provide new cycle stands near The Terrace café and improve the existing racks at the end of Fibbards Road so they are easier to use. Ongoing monitoring will help assess future use and accessibility.

For the last three years we have supported Greener Brockenhurst with funds to deliver its Repair Café, which helps residents repair and reuse household items that might otherwise be thrown away, reducing waste while providing a valued social opportunity for the community. Since launching in 2022, the group has run 12 Repair Cafés, now holding four each year, with an average of 25 items brought to each session and around 75% successfully repaired, keeping approximately 230 items out of landfill. The project is now established in the village calendar and continues to develop links with wider reuse initiatives, including emerging work to repair and reuse camping gear.

4 Organisation: Achieving Excellence

Human Resources

As of 13 July 2026, the total staff headcount was 81 or 67.07 full-time equivalents (FTEs).

*Of the core funded roles, one staff member (1 FTE) is working in shared services and 25 are part-time.

In the last few months we recruited to the following roles:

We said goodbye to:

IT & Cyber Security Services

Security/Infrastructure

• Delivered routine security and system updates (including print drivers and remote support tools)
• Started a review of both the disaster recovery and business continuity plans, supporting audit requirements and organisational resilience
• Following reports of a couple of potential security incidents we have reviewed and improved how we these are recorded.

Microsoft 365

• Successfully relaunched the IT Champions network to support Microsoft 365 adoption and improve engagement across teams
• Introduced a new AI Champions programme to build internal capability and promote safe, practical use of AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot

Other

• Progressed multi-function device (MFD) renewal planning to ensure continuity of service
• Procured and deployed new laptops to replace ageing devices, improving performance, reliability, and user experience.

Information management

Information requests

We received 72 requests for information between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, one fewer than the previous year.

We met the statutory response timeframe of 20 working days (or up to three calendar months for subject access requests depending on the complexity) on all but two occasions. The average response time being 15.3 working days.

Of the 72 requests, six were subject access requests made under the UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) i.e. requests for the requester’s own data. Twenty-six (36%) were considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and related to matters such as our IT arrangements, staff structure, finance and other governance, HR and work-practice matters. The remaining 40 requests (56%) were requests for environmental information, many related to our planning function and therefore considered under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (the EIR). Half (20) of these EIR requests were requesting information about a specific planning application, enforcement case or pre-app, where the applicant was seeking additional information which was not already publicly available on the planning register on our website, this included internal communications, pre-application enquiries or the source and details of enforcement complaints. The remainder were about a wide variety of topics, including agricultural occupancy conditions, appeal costs, camping, wildfire preparedness, solar farms, rights of way. We received four requests about the introduction of charges in Forestry England (FE) car parks, two of which were redirected to FE because the information requested was not held and fell within FE’s remit, however the other two were focused on planning requirements for any proposed structures associated with the new charges and we released the information that we held.

Information requests are applicant and motive blind, and a requester is not obliged to give reasons why they are seeking the information, although many do voluntarily provide some background to their request. We are seeing an increasing number from either pressure groups, media outlets or researchers/consultants, including those who have a commercial interest. These typically ask about topics such as our staffing structure, insurance arrangements, utility costs, procurement and contract renewals or GIS files.

Four were received via the ‘What do they know? website which helps people to make requests.

In accordance with the presumption in favour of disclosure under the EIRs and the strong public interest in transparency, we endeavour to release as much information as possible, at the earliest opportunity, in response to requests received. Where we held the requested information, it was released in 56% of cases, either in full or only subject to minimal personal data redactions (such as names and contact details of members of the public) and a further 18% were partially released. Only seven requests (11%) were withheld in their entirety, generally because they were related to sensitive planning enforcement cases or other potential or ongoing legal matters. In 18 requests (25%) we did not hold the information requested and where appropriate, the requesters were redirected to the relevant public authority that we believe may hold the information. Only two were not responded to and classified as ‘lapsed/withdrawn/invalid’. This happens where a request is ambiguous and the requester does not respond to our request for clarification, or they decide not to pursue the request.

In only five cases, the requester asked for an internal review of our initial response, and four of those reviews upheld the original decision. In the other case, the internal review identified some information that had not been found in the initial search and this was subsequently released. One request has been referred to the Information Commissioner and we are waiting to hear from their investigator.

There are also two related cases from 2024/25 which were referred to the Information Commissioner in early 2025. We have recently contacted the Information Commissioner’s Officer for an update as these have been in the pipeline for significantly longer than would normally be expected, however we have yet to receive a response to our enquiry.

Formal complaints

We investigated 11 formal complaints, which is eight fewer than the previous year. They all related to specific planning cases. As can be seen from the table below the number of formal complaints received does vary year by year but remain relatively low considering the number of planning applications that we consider annually.

Our average response time was 16.6 working days, and all were responded to within the 20-working day policy deadline. Three were partially upheld because there were delays in the handling of the applications and we refunded the fee as a gesture of goodwill, in each case and the complainants were satisfied with this remedy. The remainder were not upheld.

In three cases, on receiving the initial response the complainant requested a review of their complaint by the Chief Executive under Stage 3 of our process. The original decision was upheld on two occasions, and the third was substantially upheld although an apology was offered for the delay in issuing the initial planning decision.

One of these three has subsequently been referred to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. As was reported in the last Chief Executive’s report it was closed after initial inquiries because ‘There is insufficient evidence that fault by the Authority has caused the complainant a significant personal injustice.’ See https://www.lgo.org.uk/decisions/planning/planning-applications/25-001-944

Data Protection

Under the UK GDPR individuals have several rights in respect to the processing of their personal data. This is an area of work that has been increasing in recent years, perhaps the public are becoming more aware of their rights and are increasingly interested in privacy and the use of their data. We received 12 such requests in 2025/26, which is double the previous record of six in 2023/24. We have also already received eight in the first quarter of 2026/27.

Most of these types of requests are received from objectors to planning applications where they ask for their name and address not to be published online. A couple were from planning applicants asking for the name to be withheld from the website. Such requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and the individual must provide reasons based on their ‘particular situation’ as to why they consider their rights should override the strong public interest in dealing with planning matters transparently.

5 Members

5.1 Some Members were involved in some or all of the following meetings and events

• 15 April – Local Plan Review Informal Members Session
• 21 April – Planning Committee
• 12 May – Standards Committee
• 19 May – Planning Committee
• 1 June – Resources, Audit and Performance Committee
• 4 June – Consultative Panel
• 8 June – New Forest Access Forum
• 11 June – Local Plan Review Informal Members Session
• 16 June – Planning Committee
• 24 June – Members Day – Capital Expenditure & Major Projects Update
• 21 July – Planning Committee

5.2 Forthcoming Members activities include:

• 28 – 30 July – New Forest Show
• 18 August – Planning Committee
• 3 September – Consultative Panel
• 7 September – Resources, Audit and Performance Committee
• 14 September – New Forest Access Forum
• 15 September – Planning Committee
• 30 September – Members Day – Foxlease Visit
• 15 October – Full Authority Meeting

5.3 Chief Executive’s external engagements

• 26 March – Waterside Steering Group
• 27 March – Regular meeting with New Forest District Council (NFDC), Chief Executive
• 27 March – Meeting with Re:New Partnership consultant
• 30 March – Meeting with Forestry England (FE), Chief Operating Officer
• 30 March – English National Park Officers Group meeting (ENPOG)
• 31 March – Annual review meeting with Defra
• 31 March – Meeting with Lake District NPA Director of Sustainable Development
• 31 March – Meeting with Business South Board member
• 1 April – Meeting with Defra
• 1 April – Meeting with John Scot, Slow Ways walking challenge
• 1 April – Greenprint Steering Group
• 2 April – Meeting with Natural England and National Park Nature Recovery Leads
• 7 April – Meeting with Forestry England
• 8 April – Meeting with North York Moors NPA Chief Executive
• 14 April – National Park City International Committee meeting
• 14 April – Meeting with National Highways
• 14 April – Meeting with Youth Hostel Association, Chief Executive
• 15 April – Southern Water Independent Climate & Environment Group (ICEG)
• 17 April – Meeting with World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)
• 27 April – Meeting with National Parks England (NPE) Executive Director
• 27 April – English NP Officers Group (CXs)
• 28 April – Regular meeting with Hampshire County Council (HCC), Deputy Director Universal Services
• 28 April – Meeting with Founder, Slow Ways
• 28 April – Meeting with University of Southampton (UoS)
• 28 April – Preparatory meeting with FE with regards VIP visit
• 29 April – Business South Champions dinner
• 30 April – Green Leadership Alumni annual gathering
• 30 April – Regular meeting with NFDC, Chief Executive
• 30 April – Meeting with UoS
• 1 May – Extra Ordinary Authority meeting
• 1 May – SpuD Artist in Residence opening
• 5 May – Regular catch up with South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) Chief Executive
• 6 May – Women in Protected Landscapes (WiPL) event meeting
• 6 May – Regular meeting with National Parks Partnerships (NPP) Chief Executive
• 7 May – UoS Charity event
• 11 May – Meeting with Southern National Parks
• 12 May – National Park City International Committee
• 12 May – Regular catch up with Natural England, Director Resilient Landscapes & Seas
• 12 May – Meeting with Cairngorms National Park Authority re UK Conference
• 13 May – Hampshire and the Solent – Success through Collaboration event
• 14 May – Visit by Baroness Young, Chair Forestry Commission
• 14 May – Arup’s South Coast: A New Chapter event
• 15 May – Greenprint Network meeting
• 18 May – Meeting with North York Moors NPA
• 19 May – National Park Cities World Open Day
• 20 May – Regular catch up with NFDC Chief Executive
• 20 May – Meeting with Friends of Brockenhurst
• 26 May – Site visit with Natural England
• 28 May – Natural England South Hampshire Regional Park - visioning workshop
• 28 May – Meeting with Eastleigh Borough Council, Chief Executive
• 2 June – Future Countryside event
• 4 June – Business South Board meeting
• 4 June – Meeting with Southern National Parks
• 4 June – Meeting with WCPA
• 5 June – HIOW Public Sectors Leaders meeting
• 9 June – Youth Climate and Nature Leadership Programme
• 15 June – Nature Recovery Leaders meeting
• 16 June – Regular meeting with HCC, Deputy Director Universal Services
• 16 June – Regular meeting with Natural England, Director Resilient Landscapes & Seas
• 16 June – Meeting with NFDC
• 16 June – Meeting with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT), Chief Executive
• 18 June – Partnership Plan Leaders Panel summer tour
• 19 June – Meeting with WCPA
• 19 June – WiPL event meeting
• 19 June – Partnership for South Hampshire (PfSH) Chief Executive’s meeting
• 22 June – Regular catch up with NPP, Chief Executive
• 23 June – Regular catch up with Deputy Surveyor, Forestry England
• 23 June – Meeting with NFDC
• 23 June – Meeting with Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC), Chief Executive
• 23 June – Meeting with National Parks and North York Moors NPA
• 23 June – Youth Climate and Nature Leadership Programme
• 24 June – Regenerate Central South Annual Conference
• 25 June – Meeting with North York Moors NPA, Director of Conservation & Climate Change
• 25 June – Meeting with National Trust and North York Moors NPA
• 26 June – Meeting with Natural England
• 29 June – 10 July event pre-meet H&IOWWT
• 29 June – 1 July – NPUK Chief Executive’s and Chairs Forum
• 1 July – Sustainable South Action Group Meeting
• 2 July – New member induction
• 2 July – Meeting with NFDC
• 3 July – Meeting with WCPA
• 3 July – Re:New Nature Partnership workshop
• 4 July – New Forest Thrive Festival
• 8 July – The Reynolds Lecture, Cambridge University
• 10 July – Co-hosting Future-proofing Hampshire and Solent's economy
• 13 July – King Charles III England Coast Path Parliamentary Reception
• 14 July – National Park City International Committee
• 14 July – Youth Climate and Nature Leadership Programme
• 15 July – Regular meeting with HCC Deputy Director Universal Services
• 15 July – Regular meeting with NFDC Chief Executive
• 16 July – NPE Board Meeting
• 16 July – Business South 20th Anniversary afternoon tea celebration
• 18 July – Youth Board Leadership Day
• 20 July – Regular meeting with Natural England, Director Resilient Landscapes & Seas
• 20 July – Meeting with WCPA
• 21 July – WiPL event meeting
• 21 July – PfSH Joint Committee
• 22 July – HLS Board
• 22 July – St George’s, Windsor Castle Leadership Fellows Dinner

5.4 Chair’s external engagements

• 22 April – Meeting with NFDC, Leader
• 1 May – Extra Ordinary Authority meeting
• 11 May – Meeting with Southern National Parks
• 11 May – NPE Directors meeting
• 12 May – Meeting with SDNPA, Chair
• 14 May – Visit by Baroness Young, Chair Forestry Commission
• 4 June – Meeting with Southern National Parks
• 9 June – NPE Board meeting
• 15 June – Meeting with NFDC
• 18 June – Partnership Plan Leaders Panel Summer Tour
• 29 June – 10 July conference pre-meet
• 13 July – King Charles III England Coast Path Parliamentary Reception
• 15 July – 75th Anniversary of the UK’s First National Parks - Report Launch
• 16 July – NPE Board meeting
• 17 July – Meeting with Tusk