Issue No: 3 Autumn/Winter 2017 FOREST MATTERS In the news 1 Latest 150th Anniversary events; the Campaign for National Parks; conserving the Forest’s fringes. Opinion 7 Ian Thew expresses his fears for the Forest’s future. Writing Between Two Rivers 8 Aimee Durnell relates how she set out to write – and paint – her journey along two Forest waterways. Photographing the New Forest 10 An exclusive account from author and photographer Sally Fear on how the Keepers helped her find the Forest’s fauna. Forest bathing 12 Gale Gould explains a Japan- inspired practice for taking spiritual solace from time spent in the Forest. From London to the New Forest 13 Sophie Burgess describes her introduction to the beauty of the Forest. Welly-boot telly star 15 As Channel 4 screens a programme on the Forest, Commoner Ann Sevier shares her TV stardom experiences. Restoring Pondhead Inclosure 16 Derek Tippetts tells how a band of volunteers worked to re-establish the Inclosure as it used to be. Book reviews 19 Crown Keepers of the New Forest, by Sally Fear, and Natural Capital, by Dieter Helm. FOREST MATTERS is the magazine of the Friends of the New Forest. Issue 3: Autumn/Winter 2017 Letter from our Chairman Recreation management: what does it mean and how do we do it? These Views expressed in questions are never very far from our minds when considering how to Forest Matters are not cope with and ameliorate human impacts on the New Forest. necessarily those of the Taking a holiday in Italy this summer gave me the opportunity to visit some Friends of the New Forest. European national parks and observe how others set about managing recreation. Not a piece of structured research, just a few impressions. Editor: Robert Whiting First, I did not see lots of local day visits from people just falling out of bed Please contact the editor in the morning and straight into fragile protected landscapes. Whereas back here proposals for yet more housing development on the Forest’s at [email protected] doorstep are an indictment of our national and local governments’ ability with any contributions for to plan at a sub-regional level to provide much needed housing while also or comments concerning protecting nationally valuable and scarce habitats. this publication. The importance of recreational counter-attractions was well demonstrated at Gran Paradiso National Park near Turin. On the edge of the Park, a lake The deadline for the is a major destination for those coming from the city. Lots of car parking, Spring/Summer 2018 issue cafés, water sports and picnic opportunities seemed to keep vast numbers is: 31 December 2017. of people happily captured for a “day out in the countryside” without venturing further into the protected habitat. Cars and car parking were a key part of recreation management. My Unattributed photographs impression was that people expect to pay to bring their cars into the are understood to have Park. Mostly just through car park charges, but in the Dolomites we also been taken by the author encountered a national park toll-gate. The queue of cars and coaches on or submitted with the a Sunday morning suggested that it may not have been a great deterrent, photographer’s permission. but all the fees paid were going straight back into conservation within the designated area. Public transport alternatives were not just a tour bus add- on. On summer Sundays some roads were closed to cars, and buses were Cover image: laid on instead. Would closure of New Forest car parks on Sundays and a Frosty Heath boosted tour bus schedule even be considered? by Peter Roberts Traffic speed control is easy if roads are narrow, with blind bends and steep hills. But speed limits alone won’t do and if the roads are not Design and layout by “naturally slow” some physical measures are required. The most effective Philippa Firth mobile traffic calming we encountered were other tourists trundling along in camper vans while gawping at the scenery, or groups of cyclists. Maybe www.philippafirth- we should re-think our local attitude to both of these? graphicdesign.com I was impressed at the consistency and clarity of messages to visitors in all printed leaflets, with the importance of the habitat and its conservation Printed by being the primary consideration to be respected by all visitors. Dos and Document Despatch, don’ts were clearly repeated, from “No noises, shouting and music” to Basingstoke, Hampshire “Leave insects and flowers where they are”. Not necessarily all were www.documentdespatch. applicable to the New Forest, but perhaps our own version on all tourism com and recreation leaflets? Finally, back home. The National Park Authority have launched their review of the New Forest Recreation Management. As Friends of the New Forest Copyright © 2017 we will be actively engaged in this process. Your Council and Chairman The New Forest Association believe that now really is the time for some bold decisions on recreation Registered Charity management and the infrastructure that supports it within the New Forest. No. 260328 John Ward OUR 150TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS SINCE MAY Pondhead Inclosure Fine weather provided a perfect setting for our anniversary visit in May to the Pondhead Inclosure near Lyndhurst, where the very enthusiastic volunteers in the Pondhead Conservation Group have worked hard to care for this special part of the Forest. Instead of the usual Forest grazing line revealing eye-level views across the area, the Inclosure has no Commoners’ animals in it and so the shrubs and trees create mysterious corners and Our stand at Roydon Woods Woodfair thickets where wildlife thrives. A demonstration of the Group’s charcoal-making activity rounded off a most rewarding visit. (See Rockford and National Trust Commons Derek Tippetts’ article on page 16.) Another hot day saw a group of We then walked down to Rockford Secret Garden Friends meeting near Moyles Court Farm where William explained the for an excellent walk led by Jake project being funded by various Our planned Secret Garden picnic White, Community Ranger for the partners, including the Friends date in May had to be changed to National Trust, and William Ziegler of the New Forest, to replace old June and then sadly lack of interest wearing the hat of Chairman of farm buildings with two purpose- meant that it had to be cancelled. the New Forest Trust, with support built homes to be let to two young from Roly Errington. Jake showed Commoners, with access for their Needs Ore us round parts of the National animals to the Northern Commons. Graham Baker led a small group Trust Northern Commons and Roly of enthusiasts to enjoy the birdlife told us about the extensive WW2 at Needs Ore on a fine June activity that took place in the area. day. It was agreed that the visit, despite some birds failing to reveal themselves, was very enjoyable. Roydon Woods Woodfair A week later the Friends had a stand at the Roydon Woods Woodfair near Boldre, run by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. This family-oriented event enjoyed hot weather and – thanks to a small, dedicated group of Members – we were able to bring the Friends to the attention of many of those present. William Ziegler at Rockford Farm Autumn/Winter 2017 1 Frohawk Walk 1871, albeit with allusions to the current threats facing the Forest. Sadly, our planned Frohawk Walk Meanwhile Gale held up signs at in July had to be cancelled. Very appropriate points saying either shortly beforehand, we learned “Hurray” or “Boo” to encourage that a gypsy “drive” was planned audience participation. in the area near our planned walk, and the police had advised the Forestry Commission to close certain car parks to avoid the risk of accidents, as these “drives” involve fast and possibly reckless activity by horses and carts and by riders. We hope to include this walk in our 2018 calendar of events. NFA Anniversary Day 150th Anniversary at the Crown Hotel, Lyndhurst On 22 July we held a very special Descendants of the founders: L to R: Rupert Scott, the Hon Mary get-together at the Crown Hotel Montagu Scott, Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre, Lord Montagu, Lord Manners in Lyndhurst. Attended by Lord Montagu, the Hon. Mary Montagu New Forest Show New Forest Open Art Scott, Lord Manners and Mr Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre among others, The Friends were represented as Exhibition it celebrated the actual 150th usual by a small team of Trustees In August there was a good anniversary of the founding of in the “Heart of the Forest” area turnout of Members and invited the New Forest Association, now at the New Forest Show. Vice guests for a private view at the known as the Friends of the New Chairman Gale Gould introduced New Forest Centre of the New Forest. a new feature for our anniversary Forest National Park Open Art year in the “Heart of the Forest Our special guests were there Competition exhibition. Those arena”, a new activity space just in present also had the opportunity because their ancestors were front of our stand. in at the start. It was at a to view the Christopher Tower meeting on 22 July 1867, Several times on each of the three Library and the New Forest probably at the Crown Hotel, days she introduced Henry Fawcett Embroidery. The Embroidery, that seventeen people resolved: MP (played by Desmond Longfield which was commissioned by “That this meeting approves of of the Redlynch Players), whose the New Forest Association, an Association being formed commanding presence attracted was designed by our Patron for the preservation of the open attention.