Park life spring/summer 2016 by New Forest National Park Authority

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Spring/Summer 2016

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ParkLife News from the New Forest National Park Authority

Appeal to motorists to watch out for foals Forest organisations are appealing to motorists to take care on the roads especially as new-born foals appear in the National Park. Nearly 10,000 motorists were caught speeding in the New Forest when a police safety camera van was used to stop animals being killed on the roads. Last year was a record low for animal accidents in the New Forest with 55 Forest animals killed and 21 injured by motorists. Pigs, cattle, donkeys and sheep were involved in accidents as well as ponies. But campaigners say just one animal hurt is too many. Thanks to further funding by the Verderers, the mobile speed camera will continue policing New Forest roads for at least another year as part of a number of measures to reduce accidents. In 2015, 9,765 motorists were caught exceeding speed limits in and around the Forest. Despite the risks, half those caught were on unfenced roads with free-roaming animals owned by commoners. Head Agister Jonathan Gerrelli, who is also a commoner owning animals out on the Forest, said: ‘Animals do not have any road sense. When drivers see an animal on the road or on the verge they need to slow right down and give the animal plenty of space. Drivers should be especially careful at night.’ The New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA) developed the mobile speed camera project in partnership with the New Forest Verderers, and Hampshire Constabulary. CDA Chairman Graham Ferris said:

Discover the hidden Forest Save the date for the New Forest National Park Authority’s popular Walking Festival which makes a return from 15 to 30 October. Last year around 1,000 people took part in 80 walks guided by experts revealing the history, culture and wildlife of the New Forest. Details will be announced soon. Visit: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/ walkingfestival

Two adventure playgrounds!

New foals in the Forest

Foals are even more unpredictable than the more mature animals. So we’re appealing to drivers to slow down, help save animals from being killed or injured, and to help protect the New Forest National Park. ‘The number of drivers caught driving at well over the speed limit on Forest roads is totally unacceptable. Motorists are putting the animals, themselves and their passengers in danger and risk seriously damaging their vehicles. Many are now facing fines and points on their licence. ‘The animals are owned by commoners and it’s extremely distressing to see your pony dead on the roadside or having to be

dispatched by an Agister because it’s too seriously injured to survive.’ Nigel Matthews, the New Forest National Park Authority’s Head of Recreation Management and Learning, convenes the New Forest Animal Accident Reduction Group of organisations working to protect the animals. He said most speeding drivers are locals who become complacent as they go about their daily travels. He said:

‘The New Forest is a world capital for wildlife with its habitats protected under international designations. This exceptional area for nature conservation is created by the grazing of animals which are allowed to roam free across the landscape. ‘Foals are even more unpredictable than the more mature animals. So we’re appealing to drivers to slow down, help save animals from being killed or injured, and to help protect the New Forest National Park.’ For details about where the high risk routes for animal accidents are and how Forest organisations are working to reduce collisions, visit: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/ animalaccidents.

The New Forest remembers A website recording personal stories, documents and photographs of the Forest’s fascinating role in the First and Second World Wars has received over 100,000 visits. You can upload details or browse the stories at:

www.newforestheritage.org Wounded WWI Indian troops at the Forest Park Hotel Brockenhurst. Credit Topfoto

Visit the WWI exhibition at the New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst, until 1 May. Entry is free.

Tropica l Butterfly House open Ea ster to September

One acre of adventure playground fun! Open all year round Café and Gift Shop Nature Trail • 4 species of Otter • 12 species of Owls • Deer • Lynx • European Wolves • Bison • Wild Boar • Wallaby • Foxes • Polecats • Scottish wildcat

ur Visit oite webs

023 8029 2408

Deerleap Lane, Near Ashurst, Southampton, SO40 4UH

www.newforestwildlifepark.co.uk

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION

For all the latest news, events and information about the New Forest National Park, sign up for our email newsletters at:

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For amazing photos, videos and insider information, follow newforestnpa on:

Get in touch Lymington Town Hall, Avenue Road, Lymington, SO41 9ZG. t Switchboard: 01590 646600 e Email: enquiries@ newforestnpa.gov.uk

Spring/Summer 2016

Welcome to a new era of partnership

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ParkLife

Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre New Forest National Park Authority Chairman

elcome to a new era of partnership in the New Forest National Park. For the first time all the key organisations working to care for the Forest have put their names to a list of actions they have committed to undertake by 2020 in a Partnership Plan launched last year. This is backed up by a new Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) scheme ‘Our Past Our Future’ (see page 9). Worth £4.5m over four years, 11 organisations will deliver 20 projects ranging from restoring habitats; to courses and apprenticeships in traditional Forest skills like thatching and coppicing; to charting the Forest’s unique culture and heritage and encouraging new generations

to care for the National Park. The Our Past Our Future scheme focuses on the edges of the National Park – primarily in private ownership by landowners and charities such as the National Trust and Wildlife Trust. Meanwhile we have reached the halfway point of another scheme worth £19m over 10 years. This Verderers of the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship scheme (see pages 4 and 5) concentrates on the more central Crown Lands mainly open to the public and managed by the Forestry Commission. The largest of these schemes in Europe, it aims to support commoning, restore precious wetland habitats and work with schools and young people to bring the Forest

to life inside and outside the classroom. Both these schemes, and joining up with those over our boundaries, means together we are working on a ‘landscape scale’ rather than focusing on pockets of areas to improve. By coordinating our efforts we can provide ‘wildlife corridors’ so species can move between different areas; look at the health of whole river catchments rather than different sections of waterway; and be more effective at facing pressures together such as housing development, climate change and pests and diseases. I invite you to join us and get involved in your National Park by taking a look at the many volunteering opportunities, courses, talks and events on offer.

Help us make the Forest fit for the future

visit: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk for details

Please take your litter home! It is fantastic that so many people turned out to help clean up the Forest in time for the visitor season and in turn help protect wildlife and New Forest ponies.

Clean for the Queen volunteers at Bolton’s Bench, Lyndhurst

Litter spoils the countryside and is extremely harmful to New Forest animals and wildlife. In the first weekend in March hundreds people in the National Park joined a nationwide mass litter pick to Clean for the Queen in advance of her 90th birthday. Over 700 bags of rubbish were collected. New Forest National Park

Authority Chairman Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre, pictured third from left with Forestry Commission and New Forest District Council colleagues at Bolton’s Bench, Lyndhurst, said: ‘It is fantastic that so many people turned out to help clean up the Forest in time for the visitor season and in turn help protect wildlife and New Forest ponies.

‘We know that many communities and individuals regularly pick up litter all year round and would like to thank them for their help and for the excellent example they set. ‘However it still costs the authorities over £250,000 each year to deal with this issue and the real message has to be ‘‘do not drop litter – please take it home’’.’

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Rare ‘living fossils’ choose New Forest pond as their home They’re older than dinosaurs, breathe through their feet and can lie dormant for decades. The New Forest National Park is of vital importance to the survival of triops – a rare species of small crustaceans also known as tadpole shrimps. Living in only two places in the UK (the other being Caerlaverock Wetland Centre in Dumfries, Scotland), these bizarre creatures can be found in just one of the New Forest’s estimated 1,000 ponds. The Forest’s wet and warm autumns provide the perfect hatching conditions in temporary ponds which disappear and reappear with changes in weather. Pre-dating the dinosaurs by millions of years, these prehistoric crustaceans are one of the oldest species in the world, having been around for 360 million years. The eggs are resistant to drying out and dying, and are sometimes called living fossils as they can survive incredibly high temperatures and can still be viable after 27 years. The Forest’s ponds form a significant part of

Habitats Trust to protect these essential freshwater habitats. It is part of a Heritage Lottery funded Landscape Partnership Scheme, ‘Our Past, Our Future’. It will: ■ Improve water quality by decreasing the nutrient level and engage over 50 volunteers in monitoring water quality ■ Create a minimum of two new ponds achieving ‘Priority Pond status’. Priority Ponds meet certain criteria such as being of high conservation importance or having exceptional populations or numbers of key species ■ Work with landowners to create new ponds and manage existing ponds more effectively for priority species.

Find out more at

A rare tadpole shrimp. Photo: John Cuthbert

its freshwater habitats, which host nationally rare freshwater plants and invertebrates, making the Forest one of the most important freshwater areas in Europe.

But with factors such as non-native species, pollution and climate change threatening species of UK importance found within the Forest’s ponds, it is essential to

Ground-breaking project to provide homes for New Forest families Work has started on an innovative scheme to help make more affordable homes available to local people. Land at the Old Vicarage, Ringwood Road, Bransgore, was generously gifted to the National Park Authority by member Richard Frampton on a 999 year lease. Now two homes are being built which the Authority will let out to local people. The rent will be set at an affordable level, according to national criteria, and the money raised will be used to help fund similar schemes elsewhere in the New Forest National Park. It’s the first time a National Park Authority has become a landlord in this way to help with the issue of affordable housing and one which the Authority hopes to expand on. New Forest National Park Authority’s Executive Director of Strategy and Planning Steve Avery said: ‘Part of a National Park’s remit is to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of our local communities. ‘New Forest District Council has some 80 people currently listed on its Homesearch waiting list in the Bransgore area alone - so there is a pressing need for these type of affordable homes. ‘Although this is a small contribution, we hope to find more sites where we could implement other small schemes as we review our Local Development Plan this year.’ The three-bed semi-detached homes are built to high eco-standards, including

Part of a National Park’s remit is to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of our local communities. energy-saving measures such as photo-voltaic roof tiles and groundsource heat pumps which will help to keep running costs down as well as reducing the impact on the environment. They have been carefully designed to take account of the surrounding area. The construction has been paid for by financial contributions from developers over a number of

years. In line with the majority of planning authorities, the National Park Authority allows developers to make contributions in lieu of building on-site affordable housing themselves when they build open market housing in the area. Work started on the Bransgore homes in January and the Authority expects to advertise them for rent through the District Council’s Homesearch website in May.

raise awareness of how vital these freshwater habitats are. The New Forest National Park Authority has set up the ‘Living Waters’ project with the Freshwater

www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/ landscapepartnership

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Transforming the Forest’s crown lands The New Forest Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme focuses on environmental improvements and is the largest of its type in Europe. Commoner’s foal at Pilley. Credit Luke Parkinson

Supporting commoners The New Forest’s free-roaming animals shape the area’s unique landscape through their grazing. These ponies, cattle, donkeys, sheep and pigs are owned by people called commoners, who have rights to turn animals out onto the Forest. The HLS scheme provides crucial support to commoners through grants and specialist land management advice. It has also funded improvements to Beaulieu Road pony sales yard, including mains water, electricity and toilets, which have helped to bring the yard up to modern standards.

Ultimate Day Out

FALCONRY EXPERIENCE DAYS

It is a rare opportunity to protect the New Forest’s historical sites, commoning tradition and fragile habitats for future generations. The £19m scheme began in 2010 and has now reached its halfway point. Here are some of the scheme’s many achievements so far. Find out more at www.hlsnewforest.org.uk 10 years

2005 2015 In the past five years 11,000 children have learnt about the New Forest as part of the scheme

Inspiring young people More than 11,000 children have been inspired to care about the New Forest through school visits over the last five years.

GIFT VOUCHERS available Volunteers recording archaeological sites

AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE HANDLING AND FLYING EAGLES, HAWKS, FALCONS AND OWLS

www.forestfalconry.com

01794 323310

They cover topics including land management and the often-conflicting needs of people and the environment. Local school teachers attend an annual conference to help them understand how to embed learning about the New Forest into their school's curriculum.

Preserving our history

Managing precious habitats

Volunteers have spent over 600 hours in the last year alone surveying sites on the Open Forest. Since 2010 they have recorded thousands of historical sites across an area the size of 17,000 football pitches to stop them being lost forever. Nearly 20,000 people visited a temporary exhibition in Lyndhurst explaining the high tech laser mapping process that has helped uncover forgotten archaeological sites in the Forest.

Over the last two years, work has begun to clear overgrown areas of the New Forest, which would traditionally have been heathland or grassland. These habitats and ‘lost lawns’ are important for rare ground nesting birds, such as lapwing. So far more than 326 hectares has been cleared of scrub and bracken, equivalent to 456 football pitches, and over six hectares of ‘lost lawns’ have been returned to their former glory.

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The invasive parrot’s feather plant at Hinchelsea Bog before treatment

Tackling invasive non-native plants The HLS scheme funds work to remove invasive non-native species from the New Forest. Plants such as Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and parrot’s feather can cause great harm by crowding out native species. The scheme recently appealed to gardeners to help combat parrot’s feather, which is threatening to dominate some local wetlands. The plant originates from Central and South America and was first found in the wild in 1960. Work is already underway through the HLS scheme to remove this invasive non-native plant from the New Forest to benefit wetlands and the native species that rely on them. Now homeowners are being asked to help by ensuring they do not dispose of parrot’s feather and other aquatic garden plants in the wild.

Protecting verges Many grass verges in the New Forest are Sites of Special Scientific Interest – giving them national importance for nature conservation. This is why the HLS scheme is working to protect road verges from the damaging impacts of vehicles driving and parking along them. Preventative measures include adding gutters and ‘dragon’s teeth’ to prevent vehicle access, helping these important roadside habitats to flourish.

Restoring wetlands Some Forest streams were first straightened by the Victorians to form deep drainage channels for intensive agriculture and forestry, with harmful results for the Forest’s environment. So far, nine miles of drainage channels have been restored to natural streams, based on evidence of old meanders, protecting the New Forest’s internationally-important wetlands for future generations.

Dartford warbler – credit Luke Parkinson

Surveying birdlife Surveys of Dartford warbler, nightjar, woodlark and nesting waders have shown that the populations of these rare birds, for which the New Forest is a stronghold, have fallen or stayed the same. This illustrates how important it is that the HLS scheme is continuing its work to improve habitats for these birds.

WALKING ROUTES

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YOUR PULL OUT A March

May

Discovery Day: New Forest Wildlife: Birds

Exhibition: Curiouser & Curiouser

■ Tue 29 Mar, 10am-4pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

■ Sat 7 May – Sun 10 Jul, 10am-5pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

Explore your crafty side whilst learning more about the New Forest in our Discovery Day drop-in sessions. No booking required. Small charge for materials. Parking charges apply (free for blue badge holders). Enquiries: 023 8028 3444

Learn about Alice in Wonderland’s Lyndhurst connection in this historical exhibition by local historian Angela Trend. This event is part of the New Forest Arts Festival. Free event. Parking charges apply (free for blue badge holders). • Enquiries: 023 8028 3444

Wild Wednesday

Discover Your National Park Day

■ Wed 30 Mar, 10.30am-4pm ■ The Reptile Centre, Lyndhurst, SU271071

■ Sun 29 May, 10am-4pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

Enjoy a date with nature at the Reptile Centre, with fun activities for the whole family. Quiz trail and ‘making’ activities for children. Come and see the ‘live’ bird on the nest and the reptiles and amphibians. Free event. Suitable for all. Dogs welcome if kept on a lead. No booking required. Enquiries: 0300 067 4601 Wild Play Day at the Beach ■ Thu 31 March, drop-in between 10am-3pm ■ Hurst Spit, Milford on Sea SZ293 913

Join us to discover fun ways to explore, play and get creative in the outdoors. Come and try crabbing, beach art, seashore scavenging and much more. Swap some screen time for wild time. Wear old, warm clothes and wellies. No booking required. Free event. Parking charges apply. Suitable for all (children must be accompanied by an adult). Enquiries: 01590 646600

Discovery Day: Royalty and the New Forest ■ Tue 31 May, 10am-4pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

See Tue 29 March for full details.

June Wild Wednesdays

Discovery Day: New Forest Wildlife: Bats ■ Thu 31 Mar, 10am-4pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

See Wed 30 Mar for event details. Lepe into Action

See 29 March for full details.

■ Wed 1 June, 10am-4pm ■ Lepe Country Park SZ457 986

April

The event is open to all and includes cycling, cricket, boules, orienteering and more. Joint event with Hampshire County Council. No booking required. Free event. Suitable for all. Parking charges apply (free for blue badge holders). Enquiries: 023 8089 9108

■ Tues 5 Apr, 10am-4pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

See Tues 29 March for full details. Wild Wednesday ■ Wed 6 Apr, 10.30am-4pm ■ The Reptile Centre, Lyndhurst SU271071

See Wed 30 Mar for event details. Discovery Day: New Forest Wildlife: Insects ■ Thu 7 Apr, 10am-4pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

See Tue 29 March for full details. Doggy Fun Day ■ Sat 9 April, 10am-3pm ■ Lepe Country Park SZ457 986

Bring your canine friends along for a day that’s all about them! Try the agility course, test your dog in distraction alley, or just show off your best friend in our fun dog show. Bring a lead, plenty of water and poo bags! No booking required. £1 per show entry. Suitable for all. Parking charges apply (free for blue badge holders). Enquiries: 023 8089 9108

Activities a

A day of activities in and around the New Forest Centre and the historic Queen’s House for the whole family. Find out all about young May 7th: A the New Forest ponies and make your own e Liddell lic A hobby pony! n the inspiratio No booking required. £2 donation for craft in e lic A r fo activity. Wonderland Parking charges apply (free for blue badge holders). Enquiries: 023 8028 3444

■ Wed 1 Jun, 10.30am-4pm ■ The Reptile Centre, Lyndhurst SU271071

Discovery Day: New Forest Wildlife: Mammals

New Forest

Discovery Day: Royalty and the New Forest ■ Thu 2 June, 10am-4pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

See Tue 29 March for full details. Doggy Fun in the Forest ■ Fri 3 June, 1pm-3pm ■ Wilverley Plain Car Park SU254 010

Bring your canine friends along for a day that’s all about them! Try the agility course, test your dog in distraction alley or just show off your best friend in our fun dog show. Bring a lead, plenty of water and poo bags! No booking required. £1 per show entry. Suitable for all. Enquiries: 023 8089 9108 New Forest Arts Festival Events ■ Sat 11 - Sun 26 June

Join us in celebrating the New Forest’s landscape, culture and arts community. For the full programme of events across the New Forest and to find out more, visit www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/artsfestival

rest Centre,

The New Fo Lyndhurst

Workshop: Postcards from the New Forest ■ Sat 11 June, drop-in any time: adult session 10am-12.30pm; family session 1.30pm-4pm

Brockenhurst Village Hall Craft Room SO42 7RY SU299 017 Create your own postcard of the New Forest. Take your inspiration from any aspect of the National Park – a landscape, the wildlife, or even a poem! Materials provided, or bring your own preferred media. No booking required. Free event. Suitable for all. Enquiries: 01590 646600

A Celebration of Frank Whittington: New Forest Toymaker ■ Sat 18 June, 2pm-5pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

A celebration of the New Forest’s own toymaker, with talks, film and displays. Why not bring along your own Frank Whittington toys and information? Booking required. £6 non-members, £4 members. Parking charges apply (free for blue badge holders). Enquiries: 023 8028 3444

Walk & Talk to St Michael & All Angels Church ■ Tue 14 June, 2pm-4pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

Home Front Heritage Weekend

Join local historian Angela Trend in a walk from the New Forest Centre to the nearby Victorian Treasure House – St Michael and All Angels Church. Discover stories of Topsy, Ned and Alice and many others who created the art and architecture in this Grade 1 Listed building. Booking required. £6 non-members, £4 members. Parking charges apply (free for blue badge holders). Enquiries: 023 8028 3444

Celebrating the heritage of Lepe in partnership with the Parish of Fawley. See www.hants.gov.uk/lepe for full list of events. No booking required. Free Event. Parking charges apply (free for blue badge holders). Enquiries: 023 8089 9108

■ Sat 25 to Sun 26 June ■ Lepe Country Park SZ457 986

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News from the New Forest National Park Authority 7

AND KEEP GUIDE Fun in the Forest

and events Join in our fun

■ Thu 4 Aug, drop-in between 10am-3pm ■ Wilverley Inclosure Car Park, Brockenhurst (signed to Scout Camp) SU253 006

Catch up with the New Forest Rangers for a host of FREE activities such as bug hunts, scavenger hunts, colouring and crafts. Wear old clothes and wellies. No booking required. Free event. Suitable for all (children must be accompanied by an adult). Enquiries: 01590 646600 Discovery Day: New Forest Wildlife: Nocturnal Animals ■ Tue 9 Aug, 10am-4pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

See Tue 29 March for full details. Marine Wonders ■ Tue 9 & Wed 10 Aug, 10am-4pm ■ Lepe Country Park SZ457986

Come to Lepe for two days of marine themed fun: seashore safaris, arts and crafts, storytelling and much more. Free event, donations for craft activities welcomed. No booking required. Parking charges apply (free for blue badge holders). Suitable for all. Enquiries: 023 8089 9108 Wild Wednesday ■ Wed 10 Aug, 10.30am-4pm ■ The Reptile Centre, Lyndhurst SU271071

Discovery Day: New Forest Trees and Flowers ■ Tue 23 & Thu 25 Aug, 10am-4pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

See Tue 29 March for full details. Wild Wednesday ■ Wed 24 Aug, 10.30am-4pm ■ The Reptile Centre, Lyndhurt SU271071

See Wed 30 Mar for event details. Fun in the Forest ■ Thu 25 Aug, drop-in between 10.30am-3pm ■ Linford Bottom Car Park, near Ringwood SU181 072

Catch up with the New Forest Rangers for a host of FREE activities such as bug hunts, colouring and crafts. Wear old clothes and wellies. No booking required. Free event. Suitable for all (children must be accompanied by an adult). Enquiries: 01590 646600 Discovery Day: My New Forest ■ Tue 30 Aug, 10am-4pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

See Tue 29 March for full details. Wild Wednesday • Wed 31 Aug, 10.30am-4pm • The Reptile Centre, Lyndhurst SU271071

See Wed 30 Mar for event details.

September

Discovery Day: New Forest Animals

Discovery Day: My New Forest

■ Thu 1 Sep, 10am-4pm ■ Thu 11 Aug, 10am-4pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081 ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

See Tue 29 March for full details.

Fun in the Forest

Exhibition: Our Past, Our Future

■ Thu 11 Aug, drop-in between 10.30am-3pm ■ Sat 10 Sep – Sun 13 Nov, 10am-5pm, ■ Puttles Bridge Car Park, Brockenhurst SU271 029 ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

July Children’s Event: Alice’s Tea Party ■ Sat 2 Jul, 2pm-4pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081

An afternoon of fun celebrating Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland with a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Why not come dressed as your favourite Alice character? See newforestcentre.org.uk for details and prices. Parking charges apply (free for blue badge holders). Enquiries: 023 8028 3444 Exhibition: New Forest Open Art Exhibition

Evening Talk: Romsey Remount

Discovery Day: New Forest Artists ■ Tue 26 & Thu 28 Jul, 10am-4pm ■ Wed 14 Sep – Refreshments from 7pm, Talk ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081 ■ Tue 16 & Thu 18 Aug, 10am-4pm 7.30pm-8.30pm, Q&A 8.30pm-9pm ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081 ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081 See Tue 29 March for full details. See Tue 29 March for full details.

Wild Wednesday ■ Wed 27 Jul, 10.30am-4pm ■ The Reptile Centre, Lyndhurst SU271071

Wild Wednesday

See Wed 30 Mar for event details.

August

Summer Wild Play Day

Wild Wednesday

■ Wed 3 Aug, 10.30am-4pm ■ Sat 16 Jul – Sat 3 Sep, 10am-5pm, ■ The Reptile Centre, Lyndhurst SU271071 ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081 See Wed 30 Mar for event details.

Don’t miss our fourth Open Art Exhibition showcasing the best art from the New Forest. Sponsored by ExxonMobil at the Fawley Refinery. Free event. Parking charges apply (free for blue badge holders). Enquiries: 023 8028 3444

Explore how the Forest has changed over the centuries and the challenges the historic working landscape of the New Forest faces in the future. Free event. Parking charges apply (free for blue badge holders). Enquiries: 023 8028 3444

■ Wed 17 Aug, 10.30am-4pm ■ The Reptile Centre, Lyndhurst SU271071

Learn about the real life WWI war horses in this illustrated talk on the Remount training centre at Romsey. Booking required. £6 non-members, £4 members. Parking charges apply (free for blue badge holders). Enquiries: 023 8028 3444

Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve Open Day ■ Thu 18 Aug, drop-in between 10am-3pm ■ Whitefield Moor Car Park, Brockenhurst SU275 027 ■ Sun 18 Sept, 10.30am-4pm Lymington-Pennington Nature Reserve, Normandy Discover fun ways to explore, play and get Lane SZ330 943

creative in the outdoors, from your back garden to the New Forest woods, streams and heaths. Come and create some forest art, sail leaf boats, explore with scavenger hunts and much more. Swap some screen time for wild Discovery Day: New Forest Tradition: time. Wear old clothes and wellies! Commoning No booking required. Free event. ■ Tue 2 & Thu 4 Aug, 10am-4pm Suitable for all (children must be accompanied ■ New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY SU300 081 by an adult). Enquiries: 01590 646600 See Tue 29 March for full details.

Come to Hampshire’s premier coastal reserve and enjoy the spectacle of birds as they stop off on their annual migrations. Stalls, crafts, guided walks, family activities, wildlife viewing and more. Joint event with Hampshire County Council and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. No booking required. Free event. Suitable for all. Enquiries: 01590 646600

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ParkLife

Spring/Summer 2016

Routes to cycling success Cycling facilities and routes have been improved at 41 local businesses, charities and organisations thanks to grants from two Department for Transport funds. Both programmes encourage people to travel car-free to, and around, the National Park, to help people enjoy its special qualities and protect its fragile landscapes. The New Forest Family Cycling Experiences programme has implemented £1,165,000 of upgraded cycling infrastructure through 25 projects at 19 organisations. The Local Sustainable Transport Fund has awarded grants totalling over £92,000 to 16 projects at 15 organisations. Projects funded have ranged from extensions to cycle hire businesses; upgrades to existing off-road tracks; specially-adapted bikes for people with a range of abilities; cycle route guides; and bike racks across a large number of communities, schools and charities. As well as the grants, other aspects of the schemes to support cycling are: ■ A new off-road cycle route from Marchwood to Eling and upgrades to the Ashurst to Lyndhurst cycle route – both key gateways into the National Park ■ Repairs and resurfacing of a twoand-a-half mile path from Beaulieu towards Buckler’s Hard so it could be opened to cyclists ■ Construction of a new cycle centre under way at Brockenhurst railway station. Funding for both schemes was up to the end of March 2016.

Supporting cycle hire businesses such as Forest Leisure Cycle Hire, Burley

Celebrating the opening of the Marchwood to Eling cycle path

Specially-adapted bikes at UK Youth Charity, Avon Tyrrell, Bransgore

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Our Past, Our Future

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News from the New Forest National Park Authority 9

£4.5m Heritage Lottery Fund scheme The increasing pressures of modern life threaten the New Forest National Park’s landscape and traditional trades. Once gone, they can be lost forever. The New Forest National Park Authority has developed a Landscape Partnership Scheme – ‘Our Past Our Future’ - with 11 key partners to help protect, restore and enhance the Forest’s landscape and heritage. With £2.8m of Heritage Lottery Funding, the £4.5m scheme will see 21 different projects delivered over four years. They range from improving habitats, to educating children about the Forest, apprenticeships, training and recording the Forest’s unique culture. New Forest Land Advice Service Manager Julie Melin-Stubbs is managing one of the training programmes. She said: ‘By working with commoners, landowners and communities, we hope the courses in traditional skills will enrich the National Park’s natural surroundings and train a new generation in traditional Forest trades.’

Rural skills

Training farmers, commoners and other landowners and managers around the Forest to manage the land for wildlife. The first course was held in February, teaching volunteers traditional hedge-laying techniques.

Building skills

Training agents, builders and homeowners about the importance of traditional buildings, how they help to create the New Forest’s character and equip them with traditional skills in specialist repair techniques. The first wave of courses is fully booked.

Nature’s stepping stones

Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) in the New Forest vary from small ponds and woodland areas to open grassland and a number are currently in poor condition. Volunteers will help survey 30 of these sites, which provide important links between habitats for wildlife. The owners will be given support and advice to improve them, including clearing scrub and invasive species, fencing and harvesting seeds.

Learning traditional Forest skills on a hedge laying course

Working Woodlands

Around 40% of privately-owned woodland in the New Forest is currently unmanaged, making these areas poor for wildlife. The aim is to work with 30 landowners to increase their knowledge of woodland management, revive forestry skills

and train 150 people in woodland management skills. Through improved management 120 hectares of woodlands will be brought back into active management, with improved biodiversity and habitats that are more resilient to pests and diseases.

You are warmly invited to join our

Coffee Morning

Every Wednesday Morning From 11am Hartwood House are helping to reduce loneliness in the New Forest area and are proud to invite the community into their home for companionship and conversation at their weekly coffee mornings. These popular and friendly mornings alternate between The Sun Lounge in Hartwood House and one of the lovely Tea Rooms in Lyndhurst – to book a place and find out where the next session will be held contact Geraint: Geraint Williams Hartwood House, Bournemouth Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7DP T: 02380 284555 E: geraint.williams@hartfordcare.co.uk

For more details and to get involved visit: www.newforestnpa.gov. uk/landscapepartnership

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10 News from the New Forest National Park Authority

2005 2015

ParkLife

Spring/Summer 2016

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. John Muir 1838-1914

Join up for the John Muir Award Do you enjoy discovering and exploring wild places? Do you have a passion for the New Forest and love to discover new things? If so, learning about and caring for the National Park and its special qualities could help you gain a nationallyrecognised award. The John Muir Award is an environmental award scheme for people of all backgrounds. It encourages people to connect with, enjoy and care for wild places and you can take part as a group, family or individual. Four challenges lie at the heart of the Award: • Discover a wild place • Explore its wildness • Do something to conserve it • Share your experiences

Originally from Scotland, he dedicated his life to exploring and sharing his passion for wild places and worked tirelessly to protect wild places across the world for everyone to enjoy.

Get involved!

SEEDS home education group (Southampton area) exploring the woods at Ashurst with National Park Authority rangers as part of their John Muir Award The wild place can be close to home or further afield in areas such as school grounds, parks, beaches, woods and rivers. New Forest National Park Authority ranger Craig Daters said: ‘Through experiencing, enjoying and

increasing your awareness and understanding of New Forest’s wildlife and culture, you can help conserve and protect it. You can then share your experiences with others, helping them to enjoy and care for this special place as well.’

Who was John Muir? John Muir is considered to be the ‘founding father’ of National Parks, playing an instrumental role in the creation of the world’s first National Park, Yosemite in California in 1890.

Our Ranger team can guide and support you as you develop your ideas for your Award and share their local knowledge of the National Park, its special qualities, people and places. To start your journey of exploration and discovery, visit: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/ Johnmuiraward and come along to one of our ‘drop-in’ information sessions.

Planning for the New Forest’s future Over half the National Park is designated as being of international importance for nature conservation – the highest proportion of any National Park in the UK. Yet at the same time the New Forest is also home to 35,000 people and 2,300 local businesses, and welcomes over 13 million visitors a year. So how do we balance these considerations and ensure the Forest remains a living-working area valued

by millions of people? Following on from an initial public consultation last autumn, the New Forest National Park Authority is now in the process of reviewing the local planning policies that cover the National Park. The Local Plan forms the basis for determining planning applications within the New Forest and the first Local Plan for the area was adopted five years ago. New Forest National Park Authority Planning Chairman Pat Wyeth said:

‘Since then there have been a number of changes in national planning policy and our review will focus on those areas where an update is required. These include affordable housing; support for the local economy; and the conservation of the Forest’s protected landscape and habitats. ‘We have been encouraged by the feedback to date and hope as many people as possible will send us their views when we hold a further public consultation later this Autumn.’

Local Plan timetable ■ Autumn 2015 - initial public consultation on what people thought were

the main planning issues facing the New Forest

■ Spring 2016 - consider the responses received; meet a wide range of

local groups and organisations; draft a new Local Plan

■ October 2016 - publish a draft Local Plan in October 2016 for further

public consultation

■ Spring 2018 – adopt new Local Plan (this is when any new planning

policies begin to apply).

ParkLife

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2005 2015

6 Spring/Summer 2016

News from the New Forest National Park Authority 11

Backing the local economy Experience the histor and beautiful New Fo ic rest on horseback

Winter & Spring

Offers

Supporting local bus iness

Hurst Castle Family entry £10

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ParkLife

10 years

12 News from the New Forest National Park Authority

2005 2015

Spring/Summer 2016

Watch your step – rare birds under your feet! While all habitats in the forest are valuable to nature, it is the heathland habitat which is home to some of the UK’s rarest birds and one which is especially sensitive to damage. The New Forest is one of the largest remaining areas of lowland heath in Europe. It is particularly important for birds which have adapted to nest on the ground amongst the heather, gorse and open grazed lawns. Birds such as nightjar, woodlark and Dartford warbler, have evolved superb camouflage and distinctive behaviour to improve their chances of breeding success away from the relative safety of nesting in bushes and trees.

With less than 100 breeding pairs in the New Forest and classed as a RSPB globally threatened bird, the wood warbler is even rarer than the heathland birds. It lives in the woods but also nests on the ground and is vulnerable to jays, badgers, small mammals and dogs. Quiet areas of heathland are also ideal for nesting waders such as the curlew and lapwing, especially where pools and marshy ground are nearby. Nigel Matthews, the New Forest National Park Authority’s Head of Recreation Management and Learning, said: ‘Recent surveys of nightjar, Dartford warbler, woodlark and wading

birds show that the Forest continues to be a stronghold for these rare species. However, populations of the woodlark, curlew and lapwing are not as large as they were 10 years ago. ‘To help these ground nesting birds thrive please keep to the main tracks when walking, horse riding and dog walking between March and July so the birds don’t desert their nests and leave eggs or chicks vulnerable to crows or other predators.’

For more details visit www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/ ground-nesting-birds.

Ride the Beach Bus Hop on the Beach Bus to discover the hidden gems of the coast and countryside this summer. Make the most of the coast and head to Lepe Country Park, where there’s a beach more than a mile long, pine fringed cliffs and sweeping views of the Solent and Isle of Wight. The Beach Bus runs from Hythe Ferry to the seaside market town of Lymington, stopping at popular attractions such as Exbury Gardens, Beaulieu National Motor Museum and Buckler’s Hard. You can also enjoy great discounts with your ticket, including a free ice cream at Lepe.

Runs hourly, seven days a week from 23 July to 29 August.

www.thebeachbus.info

Wood Warbler feeding. Credit: Steve Davis

Meet the Travel Concierge Stuck for ideas about what to see and do in the National Park? Then ask the New Forest Travel Concierge. Based mainly at Brockenhurst rail station, the friendly Travel Concierge runs a pedal powered mobile unit full of information on car-free experiences and the best places to visit. Stop by and say hello from 25 June to 11 September.

www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/ travel_concierge.

Hop on board for a New Forest adventure The New Forest Tour is the perfect way for visitors to see more, explore more and enjoy more of the New Forest National Park with views of free roaming ponies, ancient forests and picturesque villages. Choose from three scenic routes – red, green and blue – and you can hop on and off where you like and switch routes, all on the same ticket. Take your bikes (carried free) and listen to audio commentary that brings the history and characters of the New Forest to life. You can also enjoy a half price ferry ride from Southampton to Hythe, as well as great discounts at attractions like Exbury Gardens, New Forest Wildlife Park and Beaulieu National Motor Museum.

Runs hourly, seven days a week from 25 June to 11 September.