Forest-wide

The New Forest is one of England’s most celebrated landscapes, full of history and home to New Forest Commoners, whose ancient rights of common pasture are still recognised, their ponies, donkeys and cattle grazing freely on the land.

From the heath to the beach, we are working across the New Forest, as well as in specific areas. Check this page for Forest-wide projects and events such as Acting Up Rural Touring and the New Forest Song Project. Here you will also find mention of happenings in villages in the middle of the Forest such as Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst or on the coast in Lymington.

In 2024, we commissioned Motionhouse dance troupe to perform their incredible piece ‘WILD’ at the New Forest Show, supported New Forest Heritage Centre with their ‘Red Pepper Black Pepper: The Indian Army in the New Forest (1914-1918)’ exhibition, and brought generations together with D-Day 80 celebrations, The Alice Project, and a Cycle Cinema.

Great things in the New Forest

Where to start? Most of the New Forest outside the major towns is the New Forest National Park, with its spectacular walking and cycling trails and famous free-roaming New Forest Ponies.

Within the National Park, Beaulieu is home to the National Motor Museum and regular classical music concerts. In Lymington, explore local history and art exhibitions at St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery. In Sway, Spudworks uses art and architecture in creative activities for the community. The New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst is dedicated to sharing the history and traditions of this diverse and beautiful area.

The New Forest Heritage Centre includes a library – and there are more fantastic libraries in Totton, Hythe, Lymington, Ringwood, Fordingbridge and New Milton. Each is a vital hub for creative activity in its community.

Folio is the New Forest’s collective of professional arts and cultural organisations and hosts networking events for artists and creative freelancers.