Access Forum members

Lucy is an experienced heathland restoration officer, now working for Forestry England. She has many years of working in the New Forest developing good relationships and leading on consultations with landowners, commoners (CDA), Verderers, NFA representatives and Natural England.

David Bennett has lived in Brockenhurst since 1998, and was bought up on the edge of the New Forest. He had a varied career starting as a journalist (including as News Editor of BBC Radio Solent and reporting for South Today). He then worked in local government, was an officer in the RAF reserves and ran his own media company. He retired six years ago.

His working life and upbringing have given him a strong belief in public service, and the needs and benefits of volunteering. Keeping busy, doing enjoyable tasks in the company of others, and contributing to our communities is essential, and David hopes his experience with many local and national organisations, some of which continues, will contribute to this.

Gordon Bird has been a resident of Brockenhurst since 2003. He has a special interest in transport and works as a transport consultant with almost 40 years’ experience in the sector. He specialises in advising both the public and private sectors on transport policies and strategies and has particular expertise in rail.
Gordon is passionate about the New Forest and enjoys soaking up its natural beauty, whether out walking, cycling or participating in volunteering activities, such as wildlife surveys.

Ruth Croker has been a resident of Fordingbridge since 1978. Ruth’s career was in nursing and nurse education having been employed by the N.H.S. and the Universities of Bournemouth and Winchester since moving to the area until retirement.

Ruth has a keen interest in walking and countryside matters. She is Chairman of the Ringwood and Fordingbridge Footpath Society, a member of the New Forest Ramblers and a member of the Hampshire Ramblers Association Area Council.

Bob is a life-long cyclist of more than 60 years standing; Life Member of Cycling UK (trading name of Cyclists’ Touring Club, CTC); Member (since retirement) of Sotonia Cycling Club; Chair of Southampton CTC for 18 years and Committee member for 38 years. He is also a Trustee of the Cycling History and Education Trust.

Bob is currently chair of the South Downs Local Access Forum having been on the Forum since the inception of the South Downs National Park in 2010 and for some years before that (from 2005) when the South Downs Joint Committee was preparing for National Park status.

Paul is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs. He was the past Chair of New Forest Business Partnership and New Forest branch of Federation of Small Business. He currently works as a management consultant, an enterprise coach, a photographer and a videographer.

As a dog owner and volunteer for Guide dogs UK Sarah walks at least one dog every day, often accessing areas of the Forest . She has lived in the area for 40 years and uses the Forest on average at least twice a week. Despite being a Southampton resident, Sarah worked in the forest, and therefore with students and schools of the Forest, all her working life. As a rider and animal lover she has a particular perspective on giving access to its unique environment for visitors, while at the same time preserving that very environment they wish to enjoy. She understands that this is not an easy balance.

Pippa has been a carriage driver for nearly 30 years, competing at all levels in private driving, including regular attendance at the New Forest Show. She has been a key holder for carriage access to The New Forest, and currently serves as a groom for a turnout that drives daily, mostly using Ashley Walk.

Pippa has served on several committees, the most substantial being Vice-Chair of the European Sponsorship Association, but also on a Parochial Church Council, a primary school Board of Governors, and currently as the carriage driving representative on the New Forest Equestrian Association.

Paola graduated at Southampton University, and has worked in the heritage sector for more than 25 years. After her Masters degree, she became a maritime archaeologist and researcher at the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth and she was responsible for National and European projects focusing on the degradation of shipwrecks due to environmental factors and piloting projects to study their in situ protection. Environmental challenges impacting on the degradation and preservation of the Underwater and Coastal Cultural Heritage, is one of the topics that Paola consolidated during her career in academia. Another research topic close to her heart is making heritage accessible to all, ensuring its long-term protection and appreciation.

Paola’s current research development focuses on the resilience of coastal communities, on the environmental challenges impacting on heritage and communities, and coastal heritage at risk.

Caroline Rackham has lived and worked around the New Forest area for most of her life and grew up paddling in New Forest streams and looking for the wonderful varied wildlife that the area has to offer.

She has a deep-rooted interest in the countryside and how best that can be both shared and preserved for the future.

Caroline has spent much of her career using the arts in a community setting working on projects as diverse as using photography to improve areas of inner city deprivation, lantern processions and street art festivals to unite a community.

Ann Sevier is a farmer in the parish of Hyde near Fordingbridge. She has cattle on the farm and turns out ponies on to the Forest. The Sevier family can trace back their roots to the 1650’s when they settled in Blissford having emigrated as Flemish weavers from the continent.

Ann has been a Parish Councillor for 30 years and she is also a New Forest Verderer.

Richard is the Interim Estate Manager for the Hinton Admiral Estate and has a three-year history of working in this industry. Prior to this role he worked for the National Trust in Cornwall. Both Estates are approximately 15,000 acres in size and through his work he has dealt with a multitude of issues from influencing the National Trust’s tenants to engage in more nature-friendly farming practices through to countryside stewardship grant schemes and on to conservation management.

Brian Tarnoff first came to the New Forest in 1991, and has lived in Ashurst since 1998. He has a keen interest in all its workings, particularly the management of its habitat, and protection of its heritage. He enjoys the Forest walking with springer spaniels and horseriding. He has been severally an IT Consultant / Project Manager, a Theatresports improviser, a film essayist, undergardener and poet. He is a mobile projectionist for the rural cinema charity Moviola.

He is a council member / trustee of the New Forest Association (since 2008); and chaired their Habitat and Landscape Committee for a decade. Through the NFA he has campaigned for: strengthened protection of Fungi on the New Forest SSSI, less development / better mitigation in Local Plans, and reduction of damaging recreational infrastructure on sensitive habitats. In March 2024 he was elected Chair of the New Forest Consultative Panel.