Parking charges are set to be introduced in the New Forest from 20 April 2026, Forestry England (FE) has announced.
FE said caring for the New Forest has become increasingly expensive. This includes the price of materials needed to repair and maintain its 129 car parks which has increased by more than 50% over the last three years.
At the same time, damage to trails and car parks has been caused by prolonged bad weather and increasing usage.
The agency said it currently receieved less than 20% of its core funding from the government with the rest having to be found from its own activities including timber sales and car parking charges.
FE said the money raised by parking charges would help continue its critical conservation and habitat management work and avoid closing car parks or trails. The scheme would also “significantly boost” the numbers of rangers on patrol to look after the forest, it said.
A dedicated team will monitor the scheme and help protect any locations being used for unofficial, damaging or dangerous parking including at entrances to car parks, at access points to forest properties and on verges.
Earlier this month, Hampshire County Council said it was banning parking on 116 roads to prevent such displacement parking following the introduction of the charges.
Village and coastal car parks managed by New Forest District Council are already pay-and-display.
Car park prices – from 20 April 2026
- Prices will start at £1.50 for one hour,
- £3 for 2 hours,
- £5 for 4 hours,
- £8 for over 4 hours.
- Tickets will be transferrable between all FE car parks in the New Forest – several locations can be used with one payment.
- An annual Forestry England membership will offer unlimited parking for £94 (current price) in all New Forest car parks as well as all Forestry England car parks across the country.
- Payment will be via the Ringo app, website or phoneline and will be permitted up to midnight on the day of parking.
Source: Forestry England – 2 October 2025
For ideas on visiting the New Forest without a car, our train-to-train walks and bus walks pages have details of walking routes accessible on public transport.
