Archive for category: News

New Forest residents are invited to give their views about the National Park in an online survey.

A previous survey by the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) in 2021 received more than 2,700 responses and 10,000 comments. It helped inform the National Park Partnership Plan of actions for organisations looking after the New Forest.

Many respondents in the last survey said they wanted to live a more sustainable lifestyle. The National Park Authority set up the £1.4m YouCAN youth for climate and nature scheme with partners to drive climate awareness and action through a Climate Action Fund grant from The National Lottery Community Fund. It established a Green Groups Network, a New Forest Awakening Festival, and sustainable living pledge to harness and increase this activity in New Forest communities.

People also said they wanted wildlife and nature prioritised, so partners introduced two Public Spaces Protection Orders enabling fines to be issued to reduce the threat of wildfires and feeding and petting Commoners’ animals. The NPA secured a £1.3m Species Survival Fund with partners to enhance 250 hectares of land for nature across 25 sites – the equivalent of 350 football pitches. By March 2026 it will have given out over £1 million in grants to farmers, commoners and landowners to support nature recovery and sustainable farming through Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme.

Read the full impacts of the 2021 survey.

NPA Communications Manager Hilary Makin 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.’

Have your say at https://nfnpasurvey2025.commonplace.is.

The survey closes on 30 November 2025.

Follow this link to information from NFDC on Local Government reorganisation:

 

“Along with 150+ councils across England, the government has told local authorities in Hampshire they must reorganise into a single tier of local government, meaning fewer, larger authorities in the county, each providing all council services for their area. This means that, with the exception of local town and parish councils, none of the existing councils in Hampshire will exist after April 2028.

Councils in Hampshire are therefore required by the government to submit proposals by the end of September that include the geographical areas new councils would serve. A number of options have been prepared for public and stakeholder engagement.  The options for our area are:

OPTION 1: A single new council serving residents and businesses of New Forest, Test Valley, Winchester and East Hampshire. At NFDC, we strongly support this option, as the only natural fit for our area, our residents and our businesses.

OPTION 2: A single new council serving residents of New Forest, Southampton and Eastleigh. As a council representing a rural area, this is not an option that we can support…

OPTION 3: One new council serving residents of Southampton and Eastleigh along with some New Forest areas including Marchwood, Hythe and Dibden and Fawley at the Waterside, as well as the communities of Totton and Eling. NFDC is strongly opposed to this option…”

This link takes you to the online survey which is now live. The deadline for submissions is 27th July.

Hampshire County Council has launched a public consultation to understand views on proposals to change and reduce some local services. The Future Services Consultation – Spring 2025 runs until 7th May 2025. Views can be provided via the consultation webpage: www.hants.gov.uk/future-services-consultation

copies of the information pack are also available to view, download and print