New Forest NPA

Insta / Facebook: NewForestNPA - The UK's New Forest National Park is famous for its stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, coastline and picturesque villages

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

Join the New Forest Youth Board on a free litter pick this weekend!

Meet members of the Youth Board, get active, enjoy the outdoors and give back to the community on this relaxed walk and litter pick at Calshot Beach.

All are welcome and under-18s must be accompanied by an adult. Equipment will be supplied, as well as refreshments. Please make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes for stony beaches and appropriate clothing for the weather.

Find out more about the event and the Youth Board, and book here: https://t.co/yX6U6BNWcw

#NewForestYouthBoard #LitterPick #NewForest

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

Our Local Plan review is open for public comment until 30 September 2026.

This is the final opportunity for you to have your say on the draft Local Plan before it’s submitted to the Government for independent examination.

The Local Plan sets out the draft local planning policies that will guide future development across the National Park, helping to protect its internationally important landscape, wildlife and heritage while supporting the needs of local communities and businesses.

To ensure your thoughts go to the independent inspector, please add them to the formal consultation. Comments on social media won’t be taken into account.

Find out more: https://t.co/psmTLs7bsJ

#NewForest #NationalPark #Planning #LocalPlan #Heritage

Pony photo: Amanda Norfolk Acornsandscapes Photography

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

Join riders and supporters at Pass the PEDALL this weekend!!!

PEDALL - New Forest Inclusive Cycling’s hugely popular community event returns to New Park Showground, Brockenhurst from 7am until 7pm (26 September), celebrating inclusive cycling in the New Forest.

Help riders reach the 10,000km distance and £10,000 fundraising targets by riding laps of a one-kilometre circuit, taking part in a family relay challenge with Chase the Sun, and enjoying a festival atmosphere surrounded by local businesses and food and drink vendors.

We’re expecting a warm and sunny day so remember to dress appropriately, bring a hat, a bottle of water, sunscreen, and anything else you may need to enjoy the day.

🔗 Discover the Pass the PEDALL event and find out more:

https://t.co/VjdNQ908m2

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

🌳 Interested in the New Forest?

🐴 Stay up to date with local news, features and stories wherever you are with our regular e-newsletter.

Sign up for free: https://t.co/IcpFqwGAHE

Thank you to Peter LeCointe for the beautiful photo.

#NewForestPonies #Autumn #NationalPark #PassWideAndSlow

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

Volunteers are vital part of Team New Forest, helping care for the National Park’s important nature, communities, and heritage.

They support the New Forest NPA and partners – including Hampshire County Council, Forestry England, the Countryside Education Trust, Flourish in Nature, and many many more – working together so the Forest thrives for wildlife and people.

From restoring heathland and SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) to improving access in green spaces by repairing footpaths and managing vegetation, planting trees and hedges to supporting events like the Awakening festival, there’s an array of ways to get involved.

🔗 Follow the link below to discover volunteering in the New Forest:

https://t.co/LlfmYtID4H

New Routes to Nature – the initiative supporting volunteering in the New Forest – has been made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

#BigVolunteerWeekend

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

Pass the PEDALL is just a week away!!!

Join riders of all ages and abilities at the flagship community event celebrating inclusive cycling in the New Forest and help PEDALL - New Forest Inclusive Cycling reach its 10,000km for £10,000 fundraising target.

📍 New Park Showground, Brockenhurst
🗓️ Saturday 26 September
⏰ Time 7am-7pm

Expect:

🚴 A fun-filled day riding around a one kilometre track
👪 A family relay challenge with Chase the Sun
🎉 An exciting atmosphere with supporters cheering you on
🚲 A fleet of specialised cycles to try, or bring your own bike to get involved
🥪 A range of local food and drink options to keep you energised
👋 Local groups and cycling businesses
🛞 Bike safety checks with the PEDALL team and security marking with New Forest Police

🔗 Follow the link below to find out more:

https://t.co/GLnxVXawAY

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

Have fun, feel energised, and reconnect with nature as a volunteer in the New Forest – and all while benefiting your health and wellbeing.

Whether improving access on footpaths for walkers, cyclists, and families or restoring heathland and internationally rare and special habitats, volunteering in the New Forest is a great way for teams and individuals to feel a sense of achievement and connection to nearby green spaces.

📺 Watch our video for a glimpse of a day volunteering with the New Forest NPA.

🔗 Follow the link below to discover voluntary opportunities and corporate experiences in the National Park:

https://t.co/87aTRHQSvZ

New Routes to Nature – the initiative supporting volunteering in the New Forest – has been made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

#BigVolunteerWeekend

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

41 people volunteered their time with the New Forest NPA in August, spending more than 310 hours – or 56 volunteer days – benefiting nature, communities, and heritage in the National Park and improving their own health and wellbeing.

Volunteers worked alongside Hampshire County Council to improve footpath access for people enjoying time in nature, supported an archaeological excavation led by Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust and Maritime Archaeology Trust, and attended various family fun events.

August highlights included:

🔨 Building new bridge crossings for footpaths in the Forest and improving local access on the King Charles III England Coast Path so people can enjoy time connecting with nature

🍃 Cutting back vegetation to open up overgrown sections of path and rights of way so more people have easy access to green spaces

⛏️ Supporting partners at the Buckler’s Hard archaeological slipway dig, recording key moments in the New Forest’s history

🪴 Learning green skills and taking part in outdoor first aid training, leading to new opportunities

🔗 Follow the link below to get involved for yourself.

https://t.co/87aTRHQSvZ

New Routes to Nature – the initiative supporting volunteering in the New Forest – has been made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

#BigVolunteerWeekend

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

Come with your questions!
Our final Local Plan drop-in session is taking place on Weds 16 September at Redlynch Village Hall, Vicarage Road, Redlynch. 2pm-7pm.
We’re inviting residents, businesses and community groups to meet our Planning team and find out more about the next stage of the Local Plan review.
2pm-5pm:
Drop in to view the display boards and chat informally with National Park Authority officers about the revised draft Local Plan.
5.30pm:
Join a presentation explaining the key changes since the 2025 consultation and the next steps for the Local Plan, followed by a managed Q&A session.

When you're ready to have your say on the draft Local Plan, please share your feedback here: https://t.co/psmTLs7bsJ

#NewForest #NationalParks #Planning #Redlynch #LocalPlan

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

Pannage season has started in the New Forest - the annual tradition whereby pigs are turned out by Commoners for a select period to eat acorns, nuts and other fallen food.

As last year was a 'mast year' which meant there were huge amounts of acorns about, this year there will be a lot less on the Forest floor.

Pigs will still be out and about, though, and as acorns can prove toxic to other Forest livestock like ponies and cattle, please give them the time and space they need to carry out their important job.

As always, we ask that you follow the New Forest Code when visiting the New Forest to help keep everyone and Commoners' animals safe.

This year's pannage season runs until Sunday, 29 November.

#NewForest #Pannage #NewForestPannage #NewForestPonies #NewForestCommoners #Commoning #NewForestNationalPark #NewForestCode #PassWideAndSlow #ExpectTheUnexpected

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

🏆 Who’s a sustainable business making a difference in the New Forest? Get your nominations in!

We’re proud to sponsor the Sustainable Business category in the 2026 Brilliance in Business Awards, celebrating those who’re creating a more sustainable future.

👏🏼 Previous winners in this category include MeadowSweet Posies, New Forest Escapes, Vida Promotions, and the Cottage Lodge Hotel.

Do you know a local business that’s reducing waste, cutting carbon, protecting nature, supporting their community, or finding innovative ways to work more sustainably?

Open to businesses within the New Forest District Council boundary or members of the New Forest Business Partnership.

Nominate yourself or others: https://t.co/vQXID2RSc2

#NewForestBiz #Sustainability #NewForest #NationalPark #NFbizAwards #NewForestBusiness #NewForestBusinessPartnership #NFBP

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

Starting 4pm today (10 September).

Join an online session (via MS Teams) to meet our Planning team and find out more about the next stage of the Local Plan review.

Joining link here: https://t.co/x3ePowEkMc

#NewForest #NationalPark #LocalPlan

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

Pass the PEDALL is back! Come and celebrate inclusive cycling in the New Forest and help PEDALL reach its fundraising goal!

Riders of all ages and abilities are invited to New Park Showground, Brockenhurst, on Saturday 26 September to take part in the event – now in its third year. PEDALL aims to reach its 10,000km for £10,000 summer fundraising target and raise awareness of how the charity provides opportunities for all to benefit from cycling in the New Forest.

Bring your bike or borrow one on the day to help reach the collective distance goal by riding around a one-kilometre track.

There will also be a range of stalls and food and drink options available on-site so everybody can enjoy the day while showing their support for the charity and its community of riders, volunteers, and partners.

Find out more, book a riding slot and donate at: https://t.co/VjdNQ908m2

#PassThePedall2026 #PassThePedall #InclusiveCycling #NewForest #CyclingChallenge #PEDALL
@pedALLnewforest @chasethesun_org

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

⏰ Tune in to our streamed Resources, Audit and Performance Committee (RAPC) meeting held this morning (7 September) from 10am.

Find the agenda and joining link below:

https://t.co/CaHoe8jj7B

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

Our rangers visited 145 locations across the National Park in August sharing with more than 4,000 people how they can help care for the Forest.

From Bolton’s Bench to East Boldre, the team highlighted the importance of following the #NewForestCode and adhering to Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) which ban people from petting and feeding Commoners’ ponies, as well as using bbqs and flames in the open countryside to reduce the threat of wildfires.

August highlights included:

🚒 Supporting Forestry England and emergency services’ response to a heathland wildfire, appearing in media interviews sharing safety messages and highlighting the impact of the incident

🐦 Co-ordinating patrols to support rare ground nesting birds and fire safety, protecting the habitats and wildlife that call the National Park home

🏪 Visiting businesses following the fire to offer guidance and support, with many traders and campsites encouraging safer driving in the Forest and backing efforts to ban open flames during the heightened wildfire alert status

👪 Attending family-friendly events including Lepe Wildlife Wonders and Burley Fair, sharing enthusiasm and knowledge about the Forest’s special nature with the next generation

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

Who’s making a difference in the New Forest?

The New Forest Brilliance in Business Awards – now in their 21st year – are OPEN for nominations for 2026.

🌱 We’re proud to once again sponsor Sustainable Business of the Year, celebrating the local businesses turning sustainability into action and finding innovative ways to make a positive impact.

Know a business that deserves recognition? Or could it be yours?

Nominate yourself or someone else, and enter as many categories as you like! Open to businesses within the New Forest District Council boundary or members of the New Forest Business Partnership.

Get your nomination in! https://t.co/vQXID2RSc2

#NewForestBiz #Sustainability #NewForest #NationalPark #NFbizAwards #NewForestBusiness #NewForestBusinessPartnership #NFBP

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

Please note: Our 15 September Planning Committee meeting has been cancelled as there are no applications to determine.

The next Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 13 October. Everyone is welcome to tune in to the live stream. Look out for a joining link nearer the time.

#NewForest #NationalPark

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

‘Personal contact with our suppliers is very important to us – a name, a face, a story…it creates communities within business.’

‘We are always looking to connect with like-minded smaller businesses throughout the New Forest and the local areas beyond.’. 

Congratulations to The Farmers Butcher - Best Supporter of Local Produce #NewForest #NationalPark #AwardWinner2026

https://t.co/SL2U3Hd1fg

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

31 people volunteered their time with the New Forest NPA in July spending 41 volunteer days – or nearly 190 volunteer hours – benefiting the National Park’s special habitats, wildlife, and communities, as well as their own health and wellbeing.

Volunteers worked alongside Hampshire County Council, the New Forest NPA’s Education team, Youth Board, and Junior Rangers at New Forest Thrive festival, and supported a Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust and Maritime Archaeology Trust excavation.

July highlights included:

🎪 Helping young people discover the nature on their doorsteps at New Forest Thrive festival in Ringwood

🚶 Improving access for walkers and people using various footpaths and public rights of way, including cutting back vegetation on a section of the King Charles III England Coast Path

🌱 Learning new green skills by taking part in brushcutter and hedgetrimmer training for 18- to 30-year-olds, leading to new opportunities

⛏️ Supporting partners at the Buckler’s Hard archaeological slipway dig, recording key moments in the New Forest’s history

🔗 Follow the link in the comments to discover volunteering opportunities in the New Forest.

New Routes to Nature – the initiative supporting volunteering in the New Forest – has been made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

[New Forest NPA @NewForestNPA]

A countywide House Martin project, supported by our Sustainable Communities Fund, is setting out to identify nesting sites and help reverse the decline of one of Britain’s most endangered birds.

Read more and find out how to get involved 👇

https://t.co/fePEWgxApA