New Forest National Park Authority

Amazing scenes today at Hatchet Pond this lunchtime.
The ground nesting birds were not expecting this interruption of snow whilst making their nests!
#keeptothetracks from March until August (if you can see them 😮!)
... For more information visit: https://bit.ly/2HXDHcP
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Can you help?

Please support this fantastic charity!

Tuesday 16 April: Wild Play Day at Hurst Spit.
Looking for new ways to discover the outdoors and keep your little ones entertained? Then come on down to our Wild Play Day at Hurst Spit.
Activities include crabbing, beach art, seashore scavenging and much more!
... No booking needed, just pop in anytime between 10am and 3pm. Parking charges apply.
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National Parks are perfect places for families to get outdoors, away from screens and have fun together. We’ve teamed up with our partner Columbia Sportswear for #SwitchOffAndReConnect featuring @GabbyLogan and her twins exploring the @peakdistrictnationalpark. Please watch and share! To plan your National Park family adventure over the school holidays go to nationalparks.uk/families

Find out how to stay safe on the roads at this event in Lyndhurst organised by Hampshire Constabulary, the British Horse Society and Cycling UK #sharetheroad #thinkhorsethink15

Happy Mother's Day ❤️

Do you have some free time this weekend?
Why not come and lend a hand at the New Forest Spring Clean and help spruce up the Forest? There are five litter picks organised, just turn up and borrow your grabber and a bag! See what you can find 😀 Last week at Boltons Bench we found a tennis racket, badminton racket and a £10!
... Saturday 10am - Midday at Roundhill Campsite, Beaulieu Road, Brockenhurst. 10am - 1pm Hightown Common, Hightown Hill, Ringwood. BH24 3HH 10am - 1pm National Trust car park at Hale Purlieu, SP6 2QZ 10am - 1pm Rockford Common Car Park, Ringwood
Sunday 10am - Midday at Wilverley Inclosure car park, Brockenhurst
For more information go to www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/newforestspringcl ean
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Who are the New Forest Commoners?
Why not find out at the fascinating Commoning Voices exhibition and discover more about the community's culture and practices?
You can catch it at Spudworks in Sway until Tuesday 23 April.

Today we presented our annual building design awards - celebrating some of the best new buildings that the National Park has to offer.
Congratulations to Lepe Country Park and a farmhouse near Exbury who came away with the top prizes!
You can find out more about the winners right here: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/…/design-awards -herald-forests-bes…/

Amazing work by Pedall - New Forest Inclusive Cycling! To find out more about the fantastic work they do, visit https://www.pedall.org.uk/

National Park ranger takes on epic journey across the UK’s most treasured landscapes.
Lorna Fisher will next month embark on an almost unbelievable challenge - to cycle between all 15 #NationalParks in the UK, in just two weeks! 👏 🚴‍♀️ She's been inspired by the Year of Green Action and is urging people to say #iWill to new challenges that help contribute to sustainable lifestyles.
Did you know - that's the same distance as John O' Groats to Land's End, twice over! 😲
... Find out when she will be passing through the New Forest at http://ow.ly/mgFV30obYyP
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Some more New Forest litter heroes in action ✨👌

In recent weeks many of you may have seen the tragic incidents which have happened in the north of the Forest in regards to dog attacks on sheep.
Dawn Rayment our People and Wildlife Ranger respectfully asks: ‘Most dog owners who walk in the New Forest are mindful of the cattle and ponies out on the Forest and take measures to control their dogs around them, but at this time of year it is especially important to remind people that there are areas of the Forest which are graze...d by sheep as well. Sheep are much more vulnerable to dogs which are not under effective control. Even the act of chasing a pregnant ewe can be devastating and lead to her aborting her unborn lamb. Dogs should always be kept on a lead around sheep. Ponies, cattle and donkeys are all due to have their young over the next few months and dog walkers should be particularly careful. Young animals look and behave quite differently and can attract the attention of dogs who usually ignore the adults. Ponies and cattle with youngsters on the Forest will naturally protect their offspring, so please give any grazing animals a wide berth. Release your dog if threatened or chased by cattle, ponies or other animals to get to safety separately.’
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*Exciting news*
The New Forest's wetland restoration scheme has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
The Forestry Commission has been working since 2010 to restore artificially straightened streams to their natural meandering state. This is part of a partnership between us, the Commission and the Verderers.
... Watch this space to see if we win the award in May...
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Who spent their weekend in the #newforest? What's your favourite spring adventure to take in the National Park?
Amazing photo by Martin Dolan, very atmospheric!