By Jonathan Low
A project to tackle invasive non-native plants across the New Forest has been shortlisted for a prestigious National Park Protector Award. The New Forest Non-Native Plants Project, led by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, has been working since 2009 with volunteers, landowners and land managers to control invasive species that threaten native habitats … Continued
By Jonathan Low
More than 100 nationally rare and scarce invertebrate species have been recorded in the New Forest, showing habitat restoration carried out through the Verderers of the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) Scheme is delivering significant benefits for wildlife. The findings come from surveys coordinated by Wild New Forest across four sites, including two where … Continued
By Jonathan Low
The Verderers of the New Forest have announced that the start of the 2026 Drift season has been postponed due to the ongoing outbreak of equine flu. As a precautionary measure, the Verderers have confirmed no Drifts will take place during August to help reduce the risk of further spreading the virus while efforts continue … Continued
By Jonathan Low
Welcome to the new Verderers of the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme website. Here you can learn all about the scheme, the key people involved and how the scheme benefits the New Forest. The new website is user-friendly, accessible and interactive, so everyone can easily navigate around and find information while hopefully learning … Continued
By HMakin
A high-tech approach which identified over 3,000 historical sites in the New Forest has been judged the UK’s number one archaeological innovation of the last half century. Laser mapping technique ‘Lidar’ has been named as Current Archaeology magazine’s Archaeological Innovation of the Last 50 Years, with the New Forest National Park Authority’s heritage mapping project … Continued
By HMakin
Drivers are being reminded about the importance of not parking on verges in the New Forest. The verges can look like muddy or grassy areas but are incredibly important habitats which support many different animals and rare plant species. They’re a separate designated feature of the New Forest’s Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSIs) so … Continued
By HMakin
Several thousand reflective collars have been put on New Forest ponies these past few months to help keep them safer at night going into the winter months. Collars are fitted onto the ponies during ‘drifts’ – the process whereby ponies are gathered up by agisters for a general health check. The aim of the collars … Continued
By HMakin
The New Forest Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme provides funding towards the work co-ordinated by Catherine Chatters in her role as project officer for the New Forest Non-Native Plants Project. Hosted by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, the project aims to stop the spread of invasive non-native plants through advice, practical control, research … Continued
By HMakin
New Forest stallions form an integral part of the area’s long and rich history. They are released out onto the Forest – for a certain period determined by the Verderers each year – to breed with free-roaming mares and improve the quality of the foals produced. In 2025 a total of 21 stallions were turned … Continued
By HMakin
A survey has revealed the highest ever numbers of woodlark in the New Forest. The woodlark, which is a protected species of ground nesting bird, is only typically found in southern and eastern parts of the UK. The Verderers of the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) Scheme-funded survey has shown an increase in the … Continued