Andy Page and Tommy Saunders, New Forest Raptor Monitoring Group (NFRMG), April 2026 Despite a prolonged period of cold easterly winds, the current warm spell has enabled fieldwork to continue apace. Goshawks are the earliest of the New Forest raptors to begin breeding, and with over 60 sites to check and a minimum of two visits required to each to confirm breeding or occupation, we have been extremely busy. To date we have 40 sites where incubation has commenced and a furthe

Russell Wynn, 05 May 2026 The New Forest Volunteer Ecological Surveyor Programme (VESPA) reconvened after the Easter holidays, with four group surveys and a training session all delivered in the second half of April. The group surveys are already demonstrating the benefits of having multiple pairs of eyes (and ears!) in the field, and have generated some fantastic records of priority species. It's been great to see the survey participants sharing experience and benefitting fr

Russell Wynn, 05 April 2026 The first three activities of this year's New Forest Volunteer Ecological Surveyor Programme (VESPA) were successfully delivered in March 2026, and a brief summary is provided below. Further details about VESPA, including registration information, are available here. VESPA Group Survey on 20 March 2026 Nine participants enjoyed a wonderful sunny day to kick off the 2026 VESPA Group Surveys, with a focus on restored heathland and wetland habitats in

Prof Russell Wynn, 02 March 2026 Introduction Biological recording in the UK is heavily reliant upon volunteers, both for data collection and for the running of county and national recording schemes. These data underpin reginal and national assessments, research, and policy, e.g. Local Nature Recovery Strategies (see here ) and State of Nature assessments (see here ). The New Forest is a popular location for wildlife enthusiasts, but recording effort tends to be heavily bia

This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in Nov-Dec 2025. To contribute to future editions, please contact the New Forest Biodiversity Forum Chair ( russ@wildnewforest.org.uk ). Notable wildlife sightings The weather in November was typical for late autumn, with lots of day-to-day variability but monthly rainfall and sunshine hours being average, and temperatures slightly above average. Decemb

2026 call for speakers The 2026 New Forest Biodiversity Conference will take place on 03-04 March 2026 at Careys Manor Hotel in Brockenhurst, hosted by the New Forest Biodiversity Forum (NFBF). We have three excellent keynote speakers lined up, each representing an important conservation sector: Dr Andrew Stringer, Head of Environment and Nature Recovery at Forestry England. Andrew is the strategic lead for nature recovery at Forestry England, who are the largest land manager

This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in October 2025. To contribute to future editions, please contact the New Forest Biodiversity Forum Chair ( russ@wildnewforest.org.uk ). Notable wildlife sightings October saw a continuation of typical autumn conditions, with a dominance of relatively mild and dull weather - Met Office data for the UK indicate it was the dullest October in almost 60 yea

This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in August and September 2025. To contribute to future editions, please contact the New Forest Biodiversity Forum Chair ( russ@wildnewforest.org.uk ). Notable wildlife sightings August 2025 was again warmer, sunnier, and drier than average, with rain restricted to the final few days of the month. Provisional Met office statistics here indicate it was of

In 2023-24 a series of ecological surveys were conducted across three heathland restoration sites in the New Forest National Park to...

New Forest Raptor Monitoring Group (NFRMG) 21 August 2025 With June and July now behind us the raptor monitoring season fast draws to a...

This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in June-July...

The New Forest Volunteer Ecological Surveyor Programme (VESPA) launched in mid-May, and here we provide an update on the scheme. Further...

New Forest Raptor Monitoring Group (NFRMG) 04 June 2025 Spring 2025 has been predominantly warm and dry and has enabled fieldwork to...

This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in May 2025....

This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in April 2025....

1. Introduction The New Forest Biodiversity Forum has launched a New Forest Volunteer Ecological Surveyor Programme (VESPA), which aims to increase the quantity and quality of biological data collected from the New Forest National Park, and to increase the capacity and capability of the local community to help collect these data. 2. Why do we need VESPA? Although the New Forest has long been recognised as a ‘jewel in the crown’ for biodiversity, species recording is patchy

This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in March 2025....

This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in February...

This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in January 2025.

This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in December...