Although it’s only been christened a National Park for a few years, talk about the special beauty of the New Forest goes back to 1066. Excavations have discovered human habitation going back to the Bronze Age. It was preserved as a royal hunting ground since 1079. For centuries, it was the common grazing land for anyone’s cattle and pigs, and some still graze there today (so watch your step!). During the centuries, some sections of the New Forest were closed off to any animals to help saplings grow. Huge efforts on the parts of environmentalists and locals who loved the place made the British Government forever protect the New Forest by declaring it a National Park in 2005.
All this effort over the centuries has given this spot in the south central coast or Hampshire has creating a living sanctuary of what was once wild Britain, serving as a reminder of the magnificence of nature. The least you can do is go look at the results of their hard work.
The New Forest isn’t just forest – it’s also wetlands, heath and seashore. This means a lot of variety of activities and sights are on offer. There are many websites and travel agencies that would be happy to help you plan your trip. Tourism is a major industry in the New Forest area of Hampshire, so you are spoiled for choice on where to stay. There are many quaint villages that try to be as environmentally friendly as possible, as well as visually cute. You can easily get there by car or the improving public transport.
Wherever you go in the New Forest, you can’t get away from the ponies! They are not wild, but can bite. It is strongly encouraged not to feed them, as they get in the habit of wandering into the roads to beg from cars, and then get struck. They are of any color and varying sizes. There is a pony breed called the New Forest Pony which is beloved around the world for their beauty, versatility and strength. But most of the ponies left in the New Forest are a clever and mixed bunch. The ponies in the New Forest are taken care of by park rangers, called agisters, which also help take care of the special breed of cattle which has developed in the New Forest. Donkeys have been released in the New Forest, so don’t be surprised that a New Forest Mule breed doesn’t soon develop. There are many horseback riding tours you can take in the New Forest, and some do use New Forest Ponies, which are strong enough to carry a full grown man.
Not keen on horse riding? You can cycle, hike or take a tour bus. Efforts are increasing to eliminate any kind of car travel in the park itself, to better protect the wildlife and the habitat they live in. If you miss looking at cars, there is a Motor Museum in the area. To recover from all the sites, there are many pubs in the New Forest area.
There are many ever changing events in the New Forest National Park, so check out their website or chamber of commerce for an event calendar. There’s often model car racing and water sports available, depending on the weather. The weather can change rapidly, so pack both for heat and cold. It does rain often, so wear clothes you don’t mind getting muddy.