New Forest Northern Commons

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

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

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New Forest Northern Commons

Things to see and do

Our places

Cows graze across the establishing heathland at Foxbury, in the New Forest, Hampshire

Foxbury 

A blooming landscape of heathland restoration, open for special events which help people connect to nature. Foxbury is our groundbreaking heathland restoration project: a 150 hectare site of dry and wet heathland, ponds and woodland, already colonised by many rare heathland wildlife specialists.

Rockford Common in summer, gorse in foreground, Hampshire

Rockford and Ibsley Commons 

Fantastic examples of upland dry heathland, leading through gentle valley systems to rich mires and bogs. These Commons are steeped in history, with ornamental plantations and wartime structures still forming part of the landscape.

Turners Bottom at Bramshaw Common, New Forest Northern Commons, Hampshire

Bramshaw Common 

A national stronghold for the rare small fleabane flowering plant. Small woodlands dotted amongst open bogs and wetlands characterise this Common, best viewed from atop Stagbury Hill, a bronze age burial mound.

Heather at Hale Purlieu Common, New Forest, Hampshire

Hale Purlieu 

A site of lowland heathland, great for butterflies and ground-nesting bird populations, leading to one of the best examples of a heathland valley mire system in Britain.

A pony grazes on Hightown Common in the New Forest, Hampshire

Hightown 

A small pocket of lowland heathland on the edge of the New Forest boasting stunning views to the south.

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New Forest Northern Commons

What's on

Path cutting through heathland in the New Forest

Summer walks in the New Forest 

Discover a wealth of wildlife and picture-perfect views with a summer walk in our New Forest Commons. We've got three very different downloadable trails for you to try, drawing you into some of the Forest's fascinating history, and magnificent ancient landscapes.

A young family take a close look at wildlife at Foxbury in the New Forest, Hampshire

What's on at Foxbury 

Visit our Foxbury page to find out about our events, from Forest School to guided walks. With miles of wide, all-weather gravel tracks, Foxbury is a great way to experience the outdoors and connect with nature. Open for events only.

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New Forest Northern Commons

Wildlife

A pair of nightjars at the New Forest Northern Commons

Summer wildlife in the New Forest 

Head to the open heaths of our New Forest commons on a summer evening for a wildlife fiesta. You'll find flittering bats, delicate moths and a magnificent dusk chorus. Listen out for the churring of the rare nightjar.

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

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

Get involved

Volunteers burning gorse in the forest, Hampshire

Join our conservation team 

Fancy joining in with our work? Our volunteer program caters for all interests and abilities, whether it's practical conservation, wildlife surveys or community and event work.

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New Forest Northern Commons

Learning

Two children hunting for bugs at Foxbury, Hampshire

Education and learning 

Foxbury is a fascinating landscape of heathland, woodland, wetland, ponds and scrub, benefitting a myriad of specialised wildlife. It's a great location for learning and field study for all ages, and a great place to complete some 50 things to do before you're 11¾.

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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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