Concerns have been raised over an impression that the New Forest is being pushed as a tourism destination at the possible expense of the environment, locals and ponies. H&H speaks to those who live and work there, and the authorities
THE priority for the New Forest should be protecting the animals, environment and people over tourism, it has been suggested, by those who believe the opposite is true.
New Forest resident and parish councillor Brice Stratford told H&H issues that have been “simmering” for years have come to a head as a result of lockdown.
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PHA+4oCcV2hpbGUgdGhlIG1ham9yaXR5IHJlc3BlY3QgdGhlIG5hdGlvbmFsIHBhcmssIHdlIGhhdmUgZXhwZXJpZW5jZWQgc29tZSBhbnRpLXNvY2lhbCBiZWhhdmlvdXJzLOKAnSBoZSBzYWlkLiDigJxBcyBhIHJlc3VsdCwgd2Ugbm93IGhhdmUgYSBqb2ludCBhY3Rpb24gcGxhbiB3aXRoIG90aGVyIE5ldyBGb3Jlc3Qgb3JnYW5pc2F0aW9ucyB0byBlbnN1cmUgcGVvcGxlIGRvbuKAmXQgaW5hZHZlcnRlbnRseSBoYXJtIHRoZSBwbGFjZSB0aGV5IGhhdmUgY29tZSB0byBlbmpveS48L3A+CjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9ImluamVjdGlvbiI+PC9kaXY+CjxwPuKAnFRoZSBOZXcgRm9yZXN0IE5QQSBpcyBub3QsIGFuZCBuZXZlciBoYXMgYmVlbiwgdGhlIG9mZmljaWFsIHRvdXJpc20gYm9keSBvZiB0aGUgbmF0aW9uYWwgcGFyay4gV2UgYXJlIHdvcmtpbmcgd2l0aCB0b3VyaXNtIHByb21vdGVyIEdvIE5ldyBGb3Jlc3QgdG8gZW5zdXJlIGtleSBpbmZvcm1hdGlvbiBpcyBnaXZlbiB0byB2aXNpdG9ycy48L3A+CjxwPuKAnENvcmUgdG8gdGhpcyBpcyB0aGUgTmV3IEZvcmVzdCBjb2RlIOKAkyBhIGNsZWFyIHNldCBvZiBuaW5lIGFjdGlvbnMgYW5kIGd1aWRhbmNlIG9uIGhvdyBldmVyeW9uZSBjYW4gY2FyZSBmb3IgdGhlIGZvcmVzdCwgaXRzIHByb3RlY3RlZCB3aWxkbGlmZSBhbmQgdGhlIGZyZWUtcm9hbWluZyBsaXZlc3RvY2su4oCdPC9wPgo8cD4K"}
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Lyndsey Stride on catching wily ponies, keeping up the breed’s quality and the joy of seeing the next generation emerge
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“I do get it; people haven’t got anything to do and they think it’s nice to feed the pony but
Semi-feral ponies grazing on the New Forest.
Credit: Jacqui Vanderhoek
“I’m worried this problem is going to erupt when lockdown is lifted if we don’t get the message across”
The mare pictured wearing a reflective collar for road safety in order to make her seen by drivers
Credit: Erika Dovey
“The public feeding horses has become a daily problem here; it’s not just carrots and apples, it’s grass cuttings and
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H&H news editor
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
