A RESIDENT of New Forest has launched a petition opposing new parking charges set to be introduced saying "they pose a significant financial burden on families".
Lucy Thomas, 34, who has lived in the New Forest for a decade, started the petition called Stop the Forestry Commission from charging for parking in the New Forest, two weeks ago.
It has already attracted more than 300 signatures.
The petition comes after Forestry England announced in October 2025 that it would begin charging for parking at its car parks in the New Forest.
Currently, parking around 130 sites is free, but fees starting from £1.50 per hour are due to come into force from late April 2026.
Lucy, a mother, said the move risks limiting access to nature, particularly for families with children who loves spending time in nature.
She said: “The New Forest is the reason I live where I do, access to nature and opportunities for the kind of childhood I want to give my children."
Her children attend school in Burley, and she said families regularly use nearby car parks to spend time outdoors together after school.
Lucy added: "At the weekend these forest car parks have been gateways to our adventures."
She said that introducing charges could make those experiences less accessible.
“Such charges pose a significant financial burden on families, which not only discourages time in nature, but in fact makes it inaccessible for those on lower incomes.
“This goes against the spirit of inclusivity, which is vital for fostering a healthy, happy community", Lucy added.
Lucy also raised concerns about the potential impact on independent businesses, particularly in Burley, which rely heavily on visitors to the forest.
She said: “These businesses, whether cafes, souvenir shops or family-run restaurants, prosper from the influx of nature lovers.
“Implementing parking fees could deter visitors, resulting in a devastating economic impact on businesses already struggling to recover from recent hardships.”
She is urging officials to consider alternative ways of funding maintenance of the forest, including voluntary donations, community fundraising and sponsorship from businesses that benefit from tourism.
Another resident, Henry Szwinto, has been living in the area for more than four decades with his wife and two children.
Henry said: "We have walked and cycled through many parts of the forest and enjoy photographing much of the wildlife and landscapes we’ve got to know over the years.
"To continue to enjoy the beautiful nature we must have access to the New Forest and if we can’t have the access then why should we care about the New Forest anymore?"
Forestry England has previously said the decision is to support ongoing conservation and visitor management, and comes in response to rising costs and increasing visitor numbers.
A dedicated team will monitor the scheme and respond to issues such as unofficial or dangerous parking.
