New Forest Northern Commons

New Forest ponies drink at Dockens Water in the New Forest, Hampshire

Important notice -

All our car parks are now closed to further restrict the spread of coronavirus. Please help to protect the New Forest landscape by not parking on the verges, which can cause irreversible damage to the habitat.

A colourful mosaic of blooming heather and gorse, braided wetlands and ancient woodland pasture

More about this place

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Coronavirus update 

From end of Tuesday 24 March, we closed all our car parks to further restrict the spread of coronavirus. This followed the decision to close our parks and gardens in addition to our houses, shops and cafes. We urge people to stay local and observe social distancing. Please do not travel.

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New Forest Northern Commons

Things to see and do

Heather at Hale Purlieu Common, New Forest, Hampshire

Spring walks in the New Forest 

Please note that all of our New Forest car parks are now closed to help prevent the further spread of coronavirus. We urge people not to travel here, but local people are still welcome to enjoy our online walking trails as part of their daily exercise, while observing social distancing.

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New Forest Northern Commons

Wildlife

Hawthorn blossom in the light of a sunset
Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata) on yellow gorse with Heath moth in its beak at Ibsley Common, New Forest, Hampshire
A Silver Studded Blue male, in June at Great Orme, Clwyd
Nightjar on a log in Durham Dales, County Durham

While you might not be able to get out to the New Forest now, you can enjoy these seasonal wildlife highlights from home.

Dartford warblers are distinctive little birds, with a scratchy call and a feisty nature. They can be found darting across the gorse in search of insects to eat.

Silver studded blue butterflies are found across New Forest heathland. They're busy turning from egg to caterpillar, emerging as adults in early summer.

Shy nightjars are making their yearly flight from South Africa to the New Forest. They make their nests on the ground, so it's essential that we keep to the tracks at this time of year so that they can establish a brood.

A Dartford warbler

Spring in the New Forest 

The New Forest is a great place for wildlife during spring. The little Dartford warbler flits between clumps of yellow gorse, reptiles bask in fresh sunlight and wildflowers carpet the open heathland.

Belted Galloway cattle grazing at Foxbury in the New Forest, Hampshire

Lowland heathland in the New Forest 

Lowland heathland is an internationally rare habitat, for which the New Forest is one of the main strongholds in Britain. This varied landscape provides habitat for a vast array of rare and diverse wildlife, including an array of birds, reptiles, insects and plants.

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New Forest Northern Commons

Our work

Horses grazing on the heathland in the New Forest

Why we cut down some trees in the New Forest 

The cutting of trees by the team at this time of the year can appear very destructive, but these extremely important management practices are undertaken to protect the rare heathland for years to come.

A ranger carrying out vital conservation work in the New Forest, Hampshire

See what we've been getting up to 

Learn about the all important but often unnoticed day to day work we do throughout the year that maintains this land for everyone to enjoy.

Ranger walking in the forest, Hampshire

Who's who  

Our team have an important role caring for our varied New Forest habitats.

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New Forest Northern Commons

History

Horses galloping across Foxbury in the New Forest, Hampshire

The history of the New Forest 

The New Forest has a history stretching back over a thousand years, and has traditions which are still going strong to this day.

Gorse and cattle in Foxbury in the New Forest, Hampshire

The tradition of commoning in the New Forest 

Find out about the tradition of commoning in the New Forest

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New Forest Northern Commons

Join or give

Family on a walk at Furzley Common, New Forest, Hampshire

Dedicate a donation to the New Forest Northern Commons 

You can continue to support the New Forest Northern Commons by dedicating a donation to someone special and adding your precious memories to our interactive map. A perfect way to celebrate a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary, your donation will help us continue to care for the New Forest.

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