Nature

The New Forest with its wonderfully rich collection of animals, plants, birds and insects is now a national nature reserve

Animals

Deer, ponies, cattle, donkeys, badgers, foxes, bats, mice, water rats, vipers, grass snakes, owls, warblers, curlews and many birds, spiders, butterflies and other insects. Ponies, cattle and donkeys graze throughout New Forest, these are owned by commoners, who pay a small fee for grazing rights. Each commoner has a unique brand. The New Forest Forest exists today with the aid of the ponies, cattle and donkeys which roam free, you will also find them all over the New Forest roads so PLEASE drive carefully. Adders are quite common in the New Forest and, if disturbed, may bite. If bitten, go at once to the nearest hospital.

New Forest Ponies

The New Forest pony is one of the recognised breeds of mountain ponies of the UK. They are noted for their strength, intelligence, versatility and their charming temperament.

The New Forest pony is an excellent choice for children or small adults, equally they make excellent driving ponies. 

There are approximately 3,000 free roaming ponies belonging to no-one but themselves. However, each animal, kept in only by grids and boundary fences, is owned by a person having what is known as a `commoners rights`. There are 6 ancient rights of common and this one is the 'right of pasture'.

If you visit The New Forest in Hampshire, UK you will find hundreds of the ponies still roaming the unenclosed land as they have for many centuries.

Trees

Common trees are Beech, and Oak with holly, crab apple, silver birch, blackthorn and hawthorn. Pine, sweet chestnut, horse chestnut, whitebeam, yew, viburnum, ash, sycamore and the alder tree.

Plants

heather, fern, orchids, sundew, bog aspodel, sphagnum moss, gentian, violets, spurge, butcher's broom, mushrooms and many varieties of fungi