Commoners encouraged to help shape New Forest’s future

The New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) is inviting all residents – including the commoning community – to share their views in its latest residents’ survey.

It represents an important opportunity for Commoners, landowners and everyone who lives and works in the Forest to have a direct say in how the National Park is managed in the years ahead.

The last residents’ survey in 2021 received more than 2,700 responses and 10,000 comments. That feedback helped shape the National Park Partnership Plan, guiding how local organisations care for the Forest.

Since then, a number of positive initiatives have been introduced in response to residents’ priorities:

• Sustainability and climate action: The £1.4million YouCAN Youth for Climate and Nature project was launched, alongside the Green Groups Network, New Forest Awakening Festival, and a Sustainable Living Pledge to support communities taking environmental action
• Protecting wildlife and livestock: Two Public Spaces Protection Orders were introduced to help prevent wildfires and to discourage feeding or petting of Commoners’ animals.
• Supporting land managers and Commoners: Through Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme, over £1million in grants will be awarded by 2026 to farmers, Commoners and landowners to support nature recovery and sustainable land management.
• Enhancing nature: A £1.3million Species Survival Fund was secured to improve 250 hectares of land for wildlife across 25 sites – the equivalent of 350 football pitches.

Hilary Makin, NPA communications manager, said: ‘Our communities and local organisations are best placed to understand issues on the ground and how to solve them to enable people and nature to thrive in the National Park.

‘New Forest partners have been acting on previous feedback. We’re now encouraging people of all ages to tell us their thoughts and ideas for the future of the National Park.’

The deadline to complete the survey is Sunday, 30 November.

Take the survey here