The New Forest is a living and working place where ponies, donkeys and cattle freely graze the land and help to keep the patchwork of different habitats intact. Deeper in the forest, wild deer meander beneath canopies of mighty oak and beech - natural scenes unchanged by the modern world.
Take a walk through the Forest and it probably won’t be long until you come across some of our New Forest ponies - approximately 5,000 ponies roam freely within our National Park. You will often also come across donkeys (although these are in lesser number than the ponies at around 200) plus some of our cattle. The New Forest is also home to five different type of deer; red, roe, fallow, sika and muntjac, some of which can be spotted at Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary or at the New Forest Deer Safari, based near Burley. Who needs to go on an African safari when we have so much wildlife on our doorsteps!
During the autumn months, you may spot pigs roaming the Forest floor. All in all around 600 pigs are set to roam on a particular mission, pannage. This is an important process as the pigs will eat some of the fallen acorns and nuts that are poisonous to the New Forest ponies.
The New Forest is well known for the variety of reptiles you can find. The open heathland is an ideal basking ground for adder and grass snake, and the many pools dotted around the area make great conditions for frogs, toads, lizards, newts and other reptiles and amphibians. You can discover more about some of our native species on a visit to the New Forest Reptile Centre, near Lyndhurst. Here, specially designed enclosures showcase the British species that you may be lucky enough to spot.
Our birdlife is also worth mentioning. With rich habitats, The New Forest is home to some rare birds and is a breeding ground for 100 species of bird. With wetlands, woods and heathlands, there is quite a variety of birds to spot here and many rare birds come to the New Forest over the winter months, particularly to some of the area’s nature reserves.
Plants, flowers and trees of The New Forest
Our ancient woodlands come alive with beautiful flora and fauna in the spring months with the rich greens of the oak trees and beech trees and the brightness of our bluebells carpeting the woodland floor during the spring months. The fungi and mushrooms that can often be found in the autumn months offer a richness of colour and some strange shapes emerging from fallen trees and the forest floor. Each and every season here in The New Forest brings with it some fantastic opportunities to get close to nature.
How you can learn more about the New Forest’s wildlife and nature
One of the best ways of learning more about our gorgeous wildlife and nature in the New Forest is on a guided walk. Book a tour with Wild New Forest and learn about our free-roaming animals and flora and fauna through the seasons while enjoying a stroll in our ancient woodlands and across the healthand. The friendly expert tour guides will also tell you lots of interesting facts about the history, heritage, conservation and recreation of the New Forest. As well as guided walks, Wild New Forest also hold regular cycle tours too!
In addition to the places we have mentioned above, you can learn more about the area’s special wildlife and nature at the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust manages Blashford Lakes nature reserve, near Ringwood. This former gravel quarry is now a set of lakes that are a haven for many species of bird. Take a look at the reserves regular events including guided nature walks and wildlife spotting sessions.
At Bolderwood, the Forestry Commission have a variety of walking and cycling trails that weave their way through the forest from the car park. Along the routes look out for interpretation signs depicting more information about some of the flora and fauna that you can find here.
Lepe Country Park, which sits along the Solent coastline, runs regular nature events including bat walks and family events. During the school summer holidays the summer trail is a popular activity for families to get to learn more about the country park and what nature that can be found here.
Another fantastic way to discover more about our wildlife and nature is to book onto a guided walk with one of our local tour companies or experts. Whether you fancy going on a guided snake walk with an ecologist or a group amble through some of our trails and the chance to soak up the nature that surrounds you, there are a variety of options available.
The New Forest National Park
The New Forest has been a designated National Park since 2005, one of 15 National Parks in the UK.
By achieving National Park status it means that the area is protected and preserved for future generations.
Nearly half of the New Forest National Park is operated by the Forestry Commission and large areas of the New Forest are used by commoners, the people who have rights to graze their ponies, cattle and donkeys in the open forest.
With such a variety amongst the wildlife everyone who visits and enjoys the beautiful National Park has a duty to ensure the safety of all of the residents, from the big cattle that roam the heathland to the small squirrels that enjoy the beautiful ancient woodlands.
The New Forest National Park is a wonderful place to visit and you can help it stay that way by being a Forest friendly visitor. For example: Please leave fungi for other people to enjoy. Fungi are essential to the New Forest’s internationally protected ecosystem. Foragers must apply for permission for educational excursions from the Forestry Commission in advance. If you suspect or see commercial picking please call the Forestry Commission on 0300 067 4600 or the National Trust on 01425 650035.
Equally, as much as our New Forest ponies and other animals are beautiful to watch, please keep your distance and certainly do not touch them. They are wild animals and are liable to kick or bite.
Please also take extra care when driving the New Forest’s roads, particularly at night as animals can quite often be found in the middle of the carriageway.
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