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Ranger Erika explains why it is important to #KeepYourDistance from the animals.

Stallions are released on the Forest for up to a month from mid-May and their erratic behaviour can be dangerous.

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Research shows that spending time in forests can improve our health and wellbeing.

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Discover our top tips for Forest Listening, the simple act of listening to the sounds of the forest.

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Let nature inspire some creative writing with three simple 30 minute activities. These activities will help students to develop their writing skills and increase their vocabulary, whilst having fun. Aimed at KS2 and 3.

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9 simple ways residents and visitors can care for the New Forest.

Download this resource to introduce how to  be responsible in the New Forest.

Or visit our website to find a complete set of videos and resources on each of the issues.
New Forest code - New Forest National Park Authority (newforestnpa.gov.uk)

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A FREE environmental award scheme which encourages people to connect with, enjoy and care for wild places.

We can help you plan and work towards the John Muir Award and can even provide tailored sessions free of charge to get you started.

Click the link below for more info:

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John Muir Award - New Forest National Park Authority

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The John Muir Award is a national environmental award scheme. It encourages people to connect with, enjoy, and care for wild places and the New Forest National Park is the perfect place to do this. Who is it for? The John Muir Award is open to people of all backgrounds and you can take part [...]

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Go on an audio-guided walk through the woods. Listen to sounds of the forest and complete our complimentary activity sheet to help your pupils re-connect with nature. Ideal for KS2 but adaptable for all.

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Follow us on Twitter
@newforestlearn
@EngNewForest

Sign up to our Education and Youth mailing list: Our education service - New Forest National Park Authority (newforestnpa.gov.uk)

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Watch the video (4 mins 09) then brainstorm with your class.

Activity ideas
- What three words would you choose to describe the New Forest or your local greenspace? Majestic? Open? Threatened?
- Put those words together to create poetry.

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We have over 14 million day visitors a year, many from our local area and surrounding cities. Some love a walk, others want high adrenalin, some prefer a cream tea. But do these activities help or harm?

Activity idea
- Throw a bean bag around the group, taking turns to speak. How many different visitor activities can you think of in 2 minutes? Cycling, picnic, paddling..... keep going.
- Make a list and try to separate these into activities that harm or help the forest. (hint: there may be no right answer, it all depends HOW visitors act, WHEN and WHERE.... so it's important to know what we are protecting)

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This 12minute woodland adventure with Karen and Luna the dog will make you and your pupils come away feeling calm and relaxed. Aimed at KS2.

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Forest yoga: 12 minute guided class for kids in peaceful forest

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How does commoning benefit wildlife, people and landscapes? 

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How does commoning benefit wildlife, people and landscapes? 

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Commoners are local people whose properties have common rights allowing them to turn out ponies to graze on the Forest. Find out how this helps wildlife. 2.30 mins

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How does commoning benefit wildlife, people and landscapes?

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We know trees are great for the climate as they store carbon keeping it out of the atmosphere. But how much can they store?

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With our warming climate, our heathland, peat and woodland habitats are more vulnerable to fires which are often started accidentally.

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BBQ-free New Forest campaign - New Forest National Park Authority

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The New Forest National Park is a no BBQ and fire zone. BBQs, including disposible ones, camp fires, camping stoves or anything with a naked flame are no longer permitted in car parks or any areas of the Forest.

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Hear how just one BBQ destroyed an area of over 3km or 230 football pitches.

The Wareham Forest fire was one of Dorset's most devastating forest and heath fires in living memory destroying habitats and wildlife.

#BringAPicnicNotABBQ

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Available at 7 sites across the New Forest - subject to availability

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Litter picking - New Forest National Park Authority

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Can you spare some time to help litter pick in the New Forest? COVID-19 UPDATE: New Forest Ambassadors should always follow the latest Government Covid-19 restrictions and guidance. Please see the Covid-19 Response Spring 2021 summary to see the roadmap of lockdown restrictions lifting. We want to enable and encourage people to safely pick up ...

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A 2 minute video about why driving slower in the New Forest is important.

Our #add3minutes campaign encourages drivers to reduce their speed from 40mph to 30mph (particularly at night time)

Why not design a sign / poster to share with others about the importance of driving safe in the New Forest

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Driving safely across the New Forest National Park

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Just like us, trees are more likely to get ill and pick up diseases when they are stressed and run down and climate change is increasing the risk of new pests thriving in this country.

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We depend on trees, yet the threat to their health is increasing. This teachers resource will encourage students to become tree health scientists for the day.

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The New Forest has some of the cleanest water in the UK but camping, swimming, paddlesports and dog walking could change this.

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Wilder for Water - a project to raise awareness of the special qualities of the New Forest waterscape and to champion a best practice 'clean water standard' for camping and recreation.

Why is Wilder for Water so important

The New Forest is one of the most visited National Parks in England. With over 6000 camping pitch spaces per day, the New Forest is certainly a popular staycation offering an opportunity, not only for people to reconnect with their families and friends but also to have a 'close up' experience with the landscape which they choose to 'pitch up' in. Each year thousands of holiday makers choose to camp in the New Forest, giving the local economy a boost and providing some well-deserved down time from the busy lives people lead. But, are the campers and visitors aware of the special nature of the New Forest's wetlands, or possibly inadvertently damaging the very thing that attracts them here in the first place?

The New Forest is the second smallest National Park with the highest proportion of designated land for nature conservation than any other in England. This wetland landscape from source to sea is ancient, fragile, with areas boasting pristine streams, ponds and mires, bursting with rare species making the New Forest on of the best and most Important Freshwater Areas and coastal landscapes in the UK. These habitats and species are dependent on the ancient practice of traditional grazing and clean water free from pollution.

However, there are signs that these habitats are under increasing pressure from visitors. Through discussions with landowners, partner organisations and local businesses coupled with regular catchment walkovers (a type of freshwater survey), over the years a pattern has begun to emerge:

Landowners who came to us for advice on land management and water pollution issues, have begun to consider that their campsite business could be part of a package of works to reduce, reuse and recycle water (preventing runoff and reducing pressure on the local water environment).

Increasing numbers of visitors are unsure about why some types of water based recreational activities are bad news for fresh and coastal waters. As a result they may be causing unintended disturbance to wildlife, erosion and compaction, and nutrient enrichment impacting negatively on sensitive habitats.

Some motorhome owners (visiting during the day) may not know about the safe disposal of wastewater - e.g. tipping grey or black water (plus detergents and chemicals) into ditches and coastal saltmarshes causes nutrient enrichment intolerable by fresh and coastal water plants and wildlife causing irreparable damage.

This year, and over the coming years, Freshwater Habitats Trust are delivering a project - Wilder for Water - through the Catchment Partnership, seeking opportunities to raise awareness amongst visitors and promote clean water camping and recreation throughout the National Park - we aim too:

Raise awareness of the unique wetland landscape supporting critically endangered species.

Promote responsible access without negatively affecting fresh (and coastal) waters. Our New Forest Water Code outlines key visitor messages.

Provide free and impartial advice and guidance on water resource and water quality management to recreation and camping providers.

We have an ambition to go beyond the minimum requirements in the management of waste water here in the New Forest, and we aspire to develop an educational and voluntary 'clean water standard' achieving best practice ensuring camping and recreation seeks to reduce, reuse and recycle, helping to maintain the high quality landscape into the future.

Our Water Code sets out how visitors can play a major role in protecting the New Forest wetland landscape

Thank you for supporting a Wilder New Forest.
You can download a copy of the Water Code here:

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New Forest Wilder for Water Project - Freshwater Habitats Trust

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Why is Wilder for Water so important The New Forest is one of the most visited National Parks in England. With over 6000 camping pitch spaces per day, the New Forest is certainly a popular staycation offering an opportunity, not only for people to reconnect with their families and friends but also to have a 'close up' experience with the landscape which they choose to 'pitch up' in.