Meet the New Forest Ambassadors
The New Forest is a wonderfully unique area that needs protecting for future generations. It takes a whole team of people to make sure this ancient landscape is properly maintained and safeguarded – and that includes our New Forest Ambassadors.
The New Forest Ambassador scheme was created in partnership with the New Forest National Park Authority, New Forest District Council and parish councils when more local people wanted to get involved in caring for the Forest as the first lockdown was lifted.
The Ambassadors help educate visitors with the New Forest Code, report problems, and join the hundreds of other people who spend their free time keeping the National Park free from litter. The scheme provides a fantastic opportunity to explore the New Forest, connect with like-minded people and bring a sense of achievement in making a real difference.
All NPA Ambassadors have their own reasons for joining, some for the mental health benefits, others just looking for exercise, to care for the Forest or get out into the fresh air.
Craig Esterhuizen from New Milton is a chaplain for a local veteran’s group who also works with the Men’s Activity Network in Hampshire. He highlighted how the Ambassador Scheme helped him in his line of work: ‘I work with chaps with post-traumatic stress and depression and I thought it would be really nice to arrange a clean-up so that we could get them out during lockdown.
‘We can do a big pick up, make them feel good about doing something purposeful plus we can have a nice chat along the way, in a lovely open environment.’
Mary Earle from Milford-on-Sea became an ambassador because of her 10-year-old son and now goes out with her whole family litter picking at the weekends. She explained how a school assembly was the inspiration for her family: ‘My son was at school where he learned about plogging, which is where you go jogging and you also go litter picking.
‘He and all his friends got very excited about that. We got our free litter pickers and now my son and I and my husband and all of his friends go out litter picking. Everyone comments on it, and my son loves it especially if you say thank you.’
You don’t need a big reason to get involved, sometimes it can be something as small as walking the dog.
This is exactly how Brockenhurst local Dave Darnell became an Ambassador. When walking his dog Flynn he noticed litter and wanted to help. He said: ‘Flynn is one of the reasons I started litter picking. My wife and I regularly walk through the Forest and one day saw all the litter. We noticed the Ambassador scheme advertised and thought we might as well do something useful while we take him out for a walk and we do that most days.’
Thank you to the more than 800 ambassadors who have already signed up, including 170 children – we are always looking for more people to help! l If you’d like to make a difference and get involved or simply find out more, visit: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/nfambassadors
