Consultation on proposals to extend Public Spaces Protection Orders
PUBLISHED ON: 14 JULY 2025[Press release from New Forest District Council]
New Forest District Council (NFDC) is inviting residents, visitors, and local organisations to take part in a public survey on whether two existing Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) should be extended for a further three years.
The orders, introduced in 2023, aim to protect the special environment of the New Forest and ensure the safety of both people and animals.
Conditions within the first PSPO prohibit the lighting of fires and barbecues, as well as the dropping or placing of items that could cause a fire, such as used disposable BBQs or smouldering litter, within defined areas of the Forest. The second PSPO prohibits the feeding or petting of free-roaming New Forest ponies, horses, donkeys, and mules, to safeguard animal welfare and reduce risks to the public.
The PSPOs have been supported through partnership working between New Forest District Council, Forestry England, the New Forest National Park Authority, and the Verderers of the New Forest, and forms part of a wider strategy of interventions. The primary approach of the partnership focuses on educational opportunities, aiming to enhance the public’s understanding of the unique landscape and habitat of the New Forest.
Cllr Dan Poole, Portfolio Holder for Community, Safety and Wellbeing, said: ‘The PSPOs introduced in 2023 have played a vital role in protecting the New Forest and its wildlife. Our approach has been about educating people and protecting our environment and I’m proud of how many residents and visitors have responded positively.
‘Almost all issues have been resolved through conversation and guidance, and we want to continue building on that success. I encourage everyone who cares about the Forest to take part in the survey and have their say on whether these protections should continue.’
Since enforcement of the PSPOs began on 1 July 2023 through to 31 March 2025, there have been 399 recorded incidents, with 2,099 people spoken to about their activities and advised of the orders. These conversations have also been used to highlight the New Forest Code and promote responsible behaviour.
This focus on education and engagement has meant that, in the vast majority of cases, there has been no need for enforcement action. The council is grateful to the many residents and visitors who have supported these efforts and followed the rules, helping to protect this nationally important landscape.
The survey is open until midnight on Sunday 10 August 2025 and can be completed at https://newforest.govocal.com/en-GB/projects/new-forest-district-council-public-space-protection-order-s-extension-consultation
Contact Information
Communications Team
communications@nfdc.gov.uk
Notes to editors
More information about the PSPOs is available on the council’s website: https://newforest.gov.uk/PSPO
Breaching either Public Spaces Protection Order is a criminal offence and could result in a fixed penalty notice being issued with a maximum penalty of £100 or prosecution which could result in a fine of up to £1000. Breaches can be reported on NFDC’s website.
Authorised individuals employed by the New Forest National Park Authority, Forestry England and the Verderers are in place as Authorised Officers for the purposes of enforcing the Public Spaces Protection Orders and, where appropriate, issuing fixed penalty notices.
These teams patrol and engage with the public to explain more about the rules. Their focus is on educating and informing the public to make people aware of the risks and how they can help to protect the New Forest when spending time here. Each Authorised Officer carries an identify badge, which can be used to verify their identity with their employer.
The New Forest Code can be viewed on the New Forest National Park Authority’s website: https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/visiting/help-care-for-the-forest/new-forest-code/
