Outrage and Upset in the New Forest over Parking Fee
Forestry England is Upsetting Everyone by imposing Parking charges!
There has been widespread concern at the introduction of parking charges by Forestry England which owns 129 car parks in the New Forest. Aggravating this concern is Forestry England’s refusal to hold a public consultation about ending centuries of free access to this glorious environment.
As of 20th April 2026, those wishing to park and enjoy the beauty of the ancient woodlands will have to pay, after a fifteen-minute grace period:
£1.50 for 1 hour
£3 for 2 hours
£5 for 4 hours
£8 for more than four hours.
To be fair, these tickets are transferrable between Forestry England car parks enabling visitors to make multiple stops within their time allowance following payment on the Ringo app. Indeed, payment via the app may be made up to midnight on the day of parking.
For £94 per annum, visiting woodland-lovers can purchase an annual Forestry England membership giving unlimited parking in all Forestry England car parks in the country, including the 129 in the New Forest.
Beaulieu Parish Council has prepared and submitted a 35-page document outlining its concerns about the imposition of parking charges. These range from contrasting the discounts given for disabled drivers to park at other National Parks (there are no concessions in the New Forest car parks), to concern that older woodlanders will struggle to navigate payment on the Ringo app or online.
Another issue worrying locals is the likelihood that people will park on verges and gateways to avoid paying for parking. Not only is this damaging to the environment, where animals roam free to graze at will, but it is also dangerous and illegal.
To prevent the parking issues above, Hampshire District Council has banned parking on 116 roads to prevent displacement parking.
While the uproar is loud, Forestry England justifies its charges by pointing out that car parking in villages and coastal sites run by the New Forest District Council is already pay-and-display. Furthermore, it states that caring for the New Forest is increasingly expensive. From the cost of materials to repair and maintain the car parks, which has gone up by 50% over the last three years, to the cost of the ten or so members of staff whose NI contributions have increased under new legislation, they need £500,000 just to break even, let alone make improvements.
In addition, prolonged terrible weather has led to increased damage to car parks and the trails from them, aggravated by ever-increasing usage.
Forestry England receives only 20% of its core funding and has to make up the deficit from timber sales and, you’ve guessed it, parking charges. The imposition of charges will fund improvements and numbers of rangers to ensure parking restrictions are adhered to.
The New Forest National Planning Authority (NFNPA) does not own any car parks in the New Forest and has no jurisdiction over Forestry England to change the decision. It has, however, distilled the comments from its own surveys about the parking charges and is pressing for the following:
- All income raised in the Forest to be reinvested in the Forest
- Robust measures to counteract displacement parking
- A local concession scheme
- Minimal infrastructure that would impact the character of the Forest.
Forestry England car parks are open between 4am and 11pm, 365 days a year, and it claims that “Everyone paying to park is helping to fund vital work to look after this very special landscape.”