New Forest Safety Tips
Emergency contacts
Police/Ambulance/Fire (24hr) Tel: 999 – to report a traffic accident involving a pony, cow, donkey, pig, sheep, dog or deer.
Forestry Commission (24hr) Tel: 023 8028 3141 – for a sick, Injured or distressed pony, cow, donkey, pig, sheep or deer.
Verderers Office (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) Tel: 023 8028 2052 – for a sick, Injured or distressed pony, cow, donkey, pig or sheep.
Safety advice, tips, do’s & don’ts
The New Forest National Park is a stunning haven of wildlife and tranquil surroundings for all to enjoy, however, there are some important do’s & don’ts to follow so that the natural beauty of the place is left as undisturbed as possible.
Speed limits within the New Forest
During your drive through the New Forest you are sure to encounter some type of four legged friend grazing by the side of the road. Please be sure to slow down, be patient and give a wide berth when passing these gentle animals.
40 mph maximum speed limits are set within the New Forest National Park.
30 mph speed limits are set within villages please keep an eye out for signs.
Remember – the ponies, cattle, donkeys, pigs and deer that are all inhabitants of the New Forest National Park have no traffic sense whatsoever and have not been taught the green cross code! They are prone to not only walking in the middle of the road and stopping for a rest but also stopping to sleep and even bask in the sun.
Please be considerate and remember this is their home and we are just passing through.
Please do not park on the grass verges, there are plenty of car parks which are free of charge and all have stunning picturesque surroundings.
Do not feed the ponies
Feeding the ponies may seem like a kind and thoughtful gesture as it would to any pony in a field.
To a New Forest pony, this can be a fatal mistake.
Many ponies like to take titbits from charitable visitors and many of the ponies have developed an ‘art’ to sniffing out a packed lunch box or nuzzling through a kind ladies handbag. Ponies can become aggressive if they get into the habit of taking handouts from generous givers and can become very demanding. This can be a frightening experience when a pony wants to share your lunch!
Also, many animals are killed by cars and vans each year on the roads as they are attracted to human life, built up areas etc. in search of food. This can be fatal not only to the poor animal but also the unfortunate travellers inside of the vehicle.
The New Forest ponies have survived for centuries on the land alone and it seems the fairer way to help support the breed is to leave well alone. The ponies are all owned by someone and do get help when needed but generally they survive well by living off the land.
If you must have some type of contact with a New Forest pony, then take some photo’s for the album as many ponies love to ‘pose’ for the camera!
Please take your rubbish away
"Resemble not the little snail who with slime records it’s trail. Let it be said where you have been you leave the face of nature clean."
For obvious reasons, leaving rubbish in the New Forest National Park can not only look unsightly but can be very damaging to wildlife. The New Forest is a beautiful place, lets keep it that way for years to come.
Stick to the pathways during nesting
The New Forest is lucky enough to have a variety of nesting birds which include the Curlew, the Lapwing, the Redshank and the Snipe.
During the nesting months of March & July (inclusive) it is best to stay on the main tracks and keep clear of the wetland to avoid disturbance of the birds.
The birds nest on the ground making it very easy to accidentally damage a nest.
Useful contacts
New Forest Verderers
Here you will find details about the New Forest Verderers and their role in the New Forest National Park. You can also see details of accidents involving the animals and also find out about Forest right, policies & byelaws.
Website: www.verderers.org.uk
The Forestry Commission
Here you will find details about the Forestry Commission and what they do. You can also see find out about the cultural history of the New Forest National Park.
Website: www.forestry.gov.uk
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