Skip to main content
close x

Come behind the scenes of the New Forest National Park

Come behind the scenes of the New Forest National Park

PUBLISHED ON: 30 JULY 2024

The New Forest National Park Authority and partners are taking you ‘Behind the Scenes’ in a campaign to reveal the Forest’s secrets launched today (Tuesday 29 July) at the New Forest and Hampshire County Show, Brockenhurst.

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. The campaign over the next six months will help celebrate the 75th anniversary of UK National Parks.

Behind the scenes and views, you’ll be taken on a deep dive into the mysteries of the rare habitats and wildlife that live in the New Forest and will get to meet the experts or volunteers working in the background to ensure it survives for future generations. Hear why the Forest is special to them and the extraordinary lengths they go to when looking after it.

The campaign kicked off at the New Forest Show with a ‘Team New Forest’ reception for people working for nature in the National Park. The New Forest National Park stand invites you to immerse yourself in a tunnel of giant plants and animals with the sounds and smells of the Forest. Visitors can find out about how communities and experts are working together to help nature recover in an exhibition of photographs by renowned photographer Steve Poole (www.steve-poole.com/the-new-forest) and a map of nature projects already under way.

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 website (www.newforestnpa.gov.uk), events and social media channels and join in by sharing your photos, videos and comments with #BehindTheScenes, tagging @newforestnpa.

Visit the NPA stand at the New Forest and Hampshire County Show, New Park, Brockenhurst, until this Thursday (1 August).

Newsletter Image

Email

Newsletter

6

Free

Six free walking routes when you sign up for New Forest Newsletter


Subscribe to New Forest National Park Authority

By entering your email below you are consenting to us sending you newsletters. To unsubscribe, email communications@newforestnpa.gov.uk. More info: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/privacy-cookies


I think you mistyped your email
Your interests (tick at least one)










Please select one

By signing up to this form you are consenting to receive emails from us. Each email will contain a link to your personal reference settings where you can opt-out or change which emails you receive from us. Please read our Privacy Policy for more information about how we use data.

Subscribe to New Forest National Park Authority

Thanks, your subscription has been confirmed. You've been added to our list and your New Forest walking pack is on its way to you, including a link to download our free app.