Presentment to the May 2026 Verderers Court on Tarmacking of Forest Car Parks

Official Verderer, Verderers and the members of public attending court today, I am Sarah Nield, Chair of the New Forest Association (NFA). 

Just a short question today. The entrance to several of the Forest’s most popular car parks have been tarmacked. Many drivers will be very relieved that they no longer need to negotiate the lumps and bumps that can form at these entrances and indeed the entrances may not become as wide as a result. 

Given the potential impact on the Forest, we understand that in the past the Verderers have given consent to similar work and thus we ask whether consent has been given to the recent work at other Forest car parks for instance at Whitefield Moor and Puttles Bridge. Is Natural England too satisfied as to the work and materials used?