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A lone firefighter and vehichle stand on scorched earth surrounded by smoke responding to the wildfire in the New Forest

Call for New Forest campsites to ban open flames

12 August 2026

Update 1 September 2026

The outdoor cooking restrictions issued by Forestry England have been lifted on New Forest campsites.

Outdoor cooking equipment usually permitted on site may now be used, including barbecues – please still take extra caution due to wildfire risks.

Please note:

  • This applies to the campsites only; outdoor cooking is still permanently banned across the wider New Forest
  • BBQs can only be fuelled by charcoal or gas, must be sturdy and raised off the ground
  • Disposable BBQs are not permitted
  • Cooking equipment must be lit only when being used and extinguished immediately afterwards
  • Cooking equipment is to be used for eating, not heating, and fire pits are not permitted
  • Please learn the location of your nearest fire extinguisher and keep water nearby
  • Please report any incidents immediately to campsite staff

Please ask the campsite staff if you have any questions regarding this.

It is unsafe to bring outdoor cooking equipment inside, due to fire and carbon monoxide risks.

Although outdoor cooking in campsites is now permitted again, the risk is being continuously reviewed and may be prohibited at any time.

Original article:

The New Forest National Park Authority is backing Forestry England’s move to ban BBQs and outdoor cooking equipment on its New Forest campsites during the current major wildfire incident and red wildfire alert.

Forestry England has temporarily banned BBQs and outdoor cooking equipment at its 10 Camping in the New Forest campsites, with a call for independent camping businesses to ban campfires, BBQs and firepits on their sites.

Now with hot and dry conditions continuing as firefighters and partners tackle a heathland fire affecting roughly 1.6sqkm or 210 football pitches, the National Park Authority is contacting all 100+ campsites in the area asking them to sign up to do the same.

  • Do not use BBQs, campfires, firepits
  • Safely discard cigarettes
  • Take home litter which is a fire risk, especially glass
  • If you see a fire, get to a place of safety and call 999. If you can provide an exact location by using What3Words.

A Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) banning BBQs and fires in the open New Forest countryside, as well as petting and feeding free-roaming animals, are already in place in the National Park after being introduced in 2023 and extended in 2026. More than 50 retailers also backed the #BBQFreeNewForest campaign to ban the sale of disposable BBQs started in 2020. Now we’re asking campsites to follow suit in the hot weather.

While fighting the wildfire, FE and firefighters attended two small additional fires on the Forest caused by abandoned campfires. FE rangers also attended an incident where the use of a BBQ on the Forest had started a fire.

Although the current wildfire incident was caused by a vehicle fire on the A31, having naked flames in the outdoors is extremely dangerous, particularly at a time of drought and extremely high wildfire alert, and poses a risk to those tackling the fire, the New Forest’s ponies, cattle, and other livestock, and rare and internationally-important habitats and wildlife.

Those working hard to protect the New Forest are again calling on visitors and businesses to not bring naked flames into the National Park.

Please have picnics instead of hot food and support local food outlets.

To add your campsite to those supporting efforts to reduce the fire risk in the New Forest National Park, contact us at communications@newforestnpa.gov.uk

Businesses committed to banning the use of campfires, BBQs and firepits during the current major wildfire incident and red wildfire alert include: