New Forest Wildlife Park

The New Forest Wildlife Park is a dedicated conservation and education centre nestled in the New Forest National Park. It serves as a sanctuary for native British and past-native wildlife, alongside exotic endangered species.

Location & Access
Where it is: Located on Deerleap Lane, near Ashurst and Lyndhurst in Hampshire (Postcode: SO40 4UH).
Getting there:
Car: Situated off the A35 between Southampton and Lyndhurst. Free parking is available on-site.
Public Transport: Ashurst New Forest is the nearest train station (~2 miles away).
Summer Seasonal: The New Forest Tour Bus (Red Route) stops directly at the park from July to September and offers a 10% entry discount.

What You Can Do
Wildlife Viewing: Explore 25 acres of woodland to see over 260 animals from 40 species, including grey wolves, lynx, European bison, Scottish wildcats, and giant otters.
Interactive Enclosures: Stroll through Wallaby Wood or the Deer Encounter to get up close with free-roaming red and fallow deer.
Educational Talks: Join daily Keeper Talks and feeding sessions (included in the ticket) to learn about the animals’ stories and conservation.
Adventure Play: Younger visitors can use the Go Wild! adventure playgrounds, which include climbing frames, sandpits, and rope swings.

Who Should Go and When
Ideal Audience: Families, nature enthusiasts, and anyone interested in animal conservation. It is particularly praised as a “must-visit” for families with children due to the play areas and interactive encounters.
Best Time:
To avoid crowds: Visit on weekdays outside of school holidays.
Seasons: Spring and summer are best for seeing the Butterfly House and active wildlife.
Feeding Times: Plan your loop around the feeding schedule to see more elusive animals like the wolverine or lynx.

Unique Features
Specialised Sanctuary: Unlike standard zoos, this park is the UK’s leading institution for the rescue and rehabilitation of wild otters.
Woodland Immersion: The enclosures are designed to blend into the natural ancient woodland, offering an intimate, “un-zoo-like” experience.
Rare Species: It is one of the few places to see the critically endangered Scottish wildcat and the giant otter.

Benefits of Visiting
Conservation Support: Every ticket purchase directly funds local and global breeding and rehabilitation programmes.
Keeper Experiences: For an extra fee, you can book one-to-one Keeper Experiences (Bronze, Silver, or Gold) to hand-feed and care for animals behind the scenes.
Educational Value: The park offers nature-themed quizzes and workshops, especially during school holidays, helping children reconnect with the natural world.