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Explore The New Forest
(Average user rating: 4 unrated 4/5)

Latest News (13/06/2013 10:27)

Dog Deaths New Forest - For the latest updates please click here

Welcome to the New Forest.

Covering 145 square miles the New Forest is a place of ancient history, fascinating wildlife and stunning beauty. Originally a royal hunting preserve, the thriving working forest that you see today has survived for nearly 1000 years.

Whether you live locally and want to know more about the area you live in, or you are coming to visit us from further afield, this website will tell you all you need to know about the cultural history, fascinating wildlife and stunning beauty of the New Forest.

So read on, and make your visit to this beautiful area even more enjoyable!

Fire Rating

The fire rating is currently HIGH.

For more infomation please visit the Fire Rating page by clicking here.

Events & Guided Walks

We run a number of ranger led activities and events throughout the year. For further information on our events in the New Forest and at Alice Holt please click on the relevant link below;

New Forest Events We are running the following events in June

Deer Watch at Dusk - 18th, 20th 25th and 27th June

Alice Holt Events (transfers you to the Alice Holt webpages)  

Local News

In this weeks Forest Diary the topic is: "Be Tree Alert"

 Barbecues

There a 2 barbecue sites available to hire at Anderwood and Wilverley.

If you are planning on bringing your own barbecue to the New Forest or wish to hire one of our sites please view our barbecue pages.

Camping

There are 10 campsites in the New Forest run by Camping in the Forest and a number of private sites.

For information on Camping in the Forest campsites please call 0845 130 8224 or click here to visit their website. Details of private campsites can be found by clicking here. 

Please note that wild camping is not allowed in the New Forest. Please use the designated campsites. We also recommend that you book your pitch in advance as the campsites can become very busy in the holiday periods.

Coarse fishing

We are currently in closed season for coarse fishing. It will re-open on 16th June.

Cycling

 Exploring the forest by bike is the ideal way to discover the magnificent beauty and fascinating wildlife that can easily be missed by car.

For  information on cycling in the New Forest and the routes which start in Lyndhurst please visit our cycling in the New Forest pages where a copy of the Cycle Network map can be downloaded.

Horse Riding

The New Forest, Ringwood and Wareham Forests are wonderful places to go Horseriding. Please click here for further information on Forestry Commission riding permits.

For details of  local riding stables please click here

Waymarked Walks

If you are looking for a set route to walk we have provided a number of way-marked walks from our favourite spots. For information on these walks please visit our Waymarked Walks page.

Educational Enquiries  

 If you are planning an educational visit to the New Forest and would like advice from a member of the Ranger team please contact us on 023 8028 3141 or e-mail us at enquiries.southern@forestry.gsi.gov.uk .  Alternatively you will find lots of information about the New Forest throughout this site.

You may also wish to visit our Useful Information page, which has links to education providers and other organisations in the New Forest. 

What do other visitors say?

5 Stars 5 Stars

I was walking my dogs at Longhorn yesterday and spotted a notice about a dog get-together on 30th May but forgot to take the details. Could you let me know the venue please. (Something beginning with W !) Many thanks.

Glyn Ellens, 27/May/2013

Thank you for your comment. The poster you saw relates to the Doggie Fun Day at Wilverley Plain (Grid Ref: SU253010) on Thursday 30th May. The event will be running from 11am - 3.30pm. Full details of this event and our other events are on our dedicated events page on this site.

Forestry Commission Response
5 Stars 5 Stars

Hi, Was out walking over the Bank Holiday weekend in the New Forest (Wilverley Inclosure) and a couple of questions. 1) the marker post with 3 digits on, what do they relate to? 2) There were odd little patches fenced off with big fences but only had a tree or 2 in, which looked nothing special. What are the fenced areas for - wildlife?

Simon Taylor, 2/Apr/2013

The marker posts with the 3 numbers on, relate to the cycle route network in the New Forest. These posts mark the cycle route with the numbers corresponding to their position on the official cycle network map. A copy of the cycle network map is available free of charge at various outlets throughout the New Forest or you can download it from our Cycling in the New Forest page. There are numerous areas within Wilverley Inclosure, fenced with 6ft high stock fence to keep wildlife, especially deer from entering that area. There is a large fenced area to the North of the Inclosure by the Naked Man (approx 6 acres in size), part of which was clear felled during the last harvesting operations and has now been planted with young trees. We will leave good specimens of mature trees in these areas, to encourage some natural regeneration. There are approx 8 -10 smaller areas, which are part of a forest research project studying the natural regeneration of Douglas Fir trees.

Forestry Commission Response

Is it possible to find out where and when the controlled burns are? I am pro photographer and I think these would make an interesting shot..many thanks

tim nott, 20/Mar/2013
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Please tell us about your visit

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Advice for visitors

What's Here?

  • Forest drive
    • Travel along the Bolderwood Ornamental Drive and visit the deer viewing platform at Bolderwood to see if you can spot the Fallow deer. Or cross the A35 and travel down the Rhinefield Ornamental drive. Stop off at Blackwater car park to visit the Blackwater Arboretum or walk along the Tall Trees Trail.
  • Information
    • The Bolderwood information centre is open from Easter until October (during weekends and school holidays), staffed by knowledgable Forestry Commission Rangers and Volunteers.
  • Parking
    • The Forestry Commission provides 134 car parks across the New Forest. We kindly request that vehicles are parked in one of these. A copy of the New Forest Car Park can be downloaded by clicking on the link under 'Related Documents'
  • Toliets
    • There are public toilets in the following Forestry Commission car parks; Anderwood, Blackwater, Bolderwood, Hatchet Pond, New Forest Reptile Centre, Wilverley Plain and Whitefield Moor.
More about what's here

Location

OS Grid ref: SU297082

Get directions

Contact

General Enquiries

023 8028 3141
enquiries.southern@­forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Opening & Parking

Parking
The Forestry Commission provides 134 car parks across the New Forest. We kindly request that vehicles are parked in one of these. A copy of the New Forest Car Park can be downloaded by clicking on the link under 'Related Documents'

Related documents

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification certifiedForest Stewardship Council certified