New Forest Wildlife

The New Forest National Parks very important mix ofif they so wish.
habitats plays host to a number of fantastic varietiesAnother animal which is synonymous with the New
of British wildlife. The three main habitats that theForest is the deer, the animal responsible for the forest
wildlife can call home are open heathland, woodlandsbeing designated a Royal Hunting Ground back in 1079.
and wetlands all of which have been affected by manWith in the forest there are five different species of
over many centuries. Thankfully since 1079 the wildlifedeer, though of the five only two are British natives.
has been largely protected when it was designated aBritish deer found in the forest are the red deer and
royal hunting ground by King William I.the roe deer. The other three species are the fallow
Perhaps the most famous animal to inhabit the Newdeer, sika deer and muntjac deer. The sika and
Forest is the New Forest Pony who has played a bigmuntjac are very rarely seen in the forest and are
part in the Forests history. Strictly speaking though theonly located in a few small pockets making spotting
New Forest Ponies aren't wild, they are all privatelythem quite difficult.
owned yet are allowed to roam free across the openThe red deer of the forest are also quite allusive with
forest. The ponies we see today though arejust around 100 animals. The famous British deer are
descendants of wild ponies who used to roam rightthought to be the largest deer in the UK and are most
across the British countryside. Hundreds of years agocommonly found amongst the highlands of Scotland
these animals were domesticated and have beenand Southern England. Even id you don't manage to
interbred with other horse breeds. A local mythspot a red deer keep your ears open as you might be
believes that New Forest ponies are descended fromable to hear their distinctive loud bellow.
Spanish Horses that survived the numerousThe most common deer in the New Forest is the
shipwrecks during the time of the Spanish Armada.fallow deer which can be easily identified by its 'Bambi'
The owners of the ponies are known as commonersmarkings during the summer months. Although the
and all have the right to graze their animals on openfallow deer are shy there are enough of them
forest land, a right that has existed since William thethroughout the forest to make spotting them quite likely
Conqueror. The ponies are looked out for by theon a typical forest walk.
owners and the Agisters who are employees of theRoe deer are also quite common though the fact that
New Forest Verderes. Each year during late summerthey are smaller in size makes them more difficult to
all the ponies are rounded up and accounted for, theyspot amongst the undergrowth.
are then auctioned allowing commoners to buy and sell