Less than half the New Forest National Park is covered with trees! There is however a wide variety of important woodland including both ancient and ornamental. It is important to remember that the New Forest is a working forest and woodland management is a key part of this.
The National Park has 26 miles of coastline including shingle beaches, spits, mudflats, saltmarshes and lagoons. These are home to a rich variety of creatures such as shore crabs, small fish, and a host of different shells.
Freshwater habitats include the streams, rivers, ponds and important valley mires of the National Park. These habitats are home to a number of fish, plants and invertebrates. With a keen eye and a pond net it is amazing what you can find!
The New Forest is home to some of the UK's only remaining lowland heathland. This is a very special habitat but it only remains this way due to management. Grazing of livestock prevents trees from taking over as does the controlled burning of parts of the heath.
The National Park is home to a number of rare and endangered species of wildlife such as the New Forest cicada and the wild gladiolus. Other special species that are found in the New Forest include the Dartford warbler and the sand lizard.