The 52‑minute film now available to watch on BBC iPlayer opened its four‑part series with a sweeping look at one of England’s most distinctive protected landscapes, described as a mosaic of heath, ancient woodland, coastline and villages.
Once a royal hunting ground for William the Conqueror, the park is shown today as a living, working forest where ancient traditions still shape the land.
Viewers meet the commoners whose grazing rights allow donkeys, ponies and pigs to roam freely, helping to maintain the rare habitats that support deer, reptiles and uncommon bird species that draws visitors from across Dorset and beyond.
Promising rich aerial views and intimate wildlife moments, the opener sets the tone for a series exploring four of Britain’s 15 national parks and the people who live and work within them.
With the park less than an hour’s drive from much of BCP, the episode doubles as inspiration for getting out into nature as spring arrives.
Inside Britain’s National Parks: New Forest first aired on March 28 and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer for more than a year.