The New Forest National Park Authority is marking its 20th anniversary with fun-filled family activities this week at the New Forest and Hampshire County Show.
Visitors to the stand in the Heart of the Forest area at New Park, Brockenhurst, can find out about the rare nightjar bird by ‘talking’ to a model using an innovative AI technique to encourage people of all ages to connect with nature in a different way.
They can also discover its incredible migration journey from Africa in a collaboration with charity African Activities and Spud while making a model nightjar to take home.
New Forest Youth Board members will be on hand to tell people about the £1.4m YouCAN youth for climate and nature scheme, led by the NPA with partners stretching from Bournemouth to Poole. The scheme is funded through a Climate Action Fund grant from The National Lottery Community Fund.
Families can also learn about the Forest in Roman times and make a Roman pot; discover New Forest nature top facts in a giant infographic created with partners from the NPA’s Species Survival Fund scheme; and pledge to take climate and nature-friendly actions to help care for the New Forest.
Find out more about the YouCAN scheme here: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/YouCAN.
The New Forest and Hampshire County Show runs from Tuesday 29 July to Thursday 31 July.