Consultation on Public Space Protection Orders in the National Park – have your say
New Forest District Council (NFDC) is inviting residents, visitors, and local organisations to take part in a public survey on whether two existing Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) should be extended for a further three years.
The orders, introduced in 2023, aim to protect the special environment of the New Forest and ensure the safety of both people and animals.
Conditions within the first PSPO prohibit the lighting of fires and barbecues, as well as the dropping or placing of items that could cause a fire, such as used disposable BBQs or smouldering litter, within defined areas of the Forest. The second PSPO prohibits the feeding or petting of free-roaming New Forest ponies, horses, donkeys, and mules, to safeguard animal welfare and reduce risks to the public.
The PSPOs have been supported through partnership working between New Forest District Council, Forestry England, the New Forest National Park Authority, and the Verderers of the New Forest, and forms part of a wider strategy of interventions. The primary approach of the partnership focuses on educational opportunities, aiming to enhance the public’s understanding of the unique landscape and habitat of the New Forest.
The survey is open until midnight on Sunday 10 August 2025 and can be completed at