Families are flocking to the New Forest to enjoy one of the most spectacular displays of autumn colour seen in the area in the last 80 years, brought on by ideal weather conditions.

“It’s really pretty,” said one five year old visitor, “It’s like the trees are on fire!”

According to New Forest Authority Member, Roger Heape, tree colours in Hampshire are even more stunning than during the famous North American fall.

“I have just spent three weeks in Canada ‘leaf peeping’ its word-famous autumn colour but I have to say I was left disappointed. The colours in the New Forest this year are unprecedented,” he said.

There are other signs of autumn in the New Forest too.  Many visitors are surprised to see pigs wandering free by the roadside, foraging for beechnuts and acorns. For about sixty days each autumn, residents can exercise their ancient right of ‘panage’, which both allows their pigs to feed and clears up many of the acorns which are poisonous to other species, such as New Forest ponies.

Lucky visitors may also see red deer rutting at this time of year. This is when the males round up groups of female deer and warn off other stags with loud bellows and sometimes by locking antlers.

While visitors are encouraged to come and enjoy the autumn sights, they are also warned to be careful.

“Both the pigs and deer are best viewed from a distance as they are large animals that can be dangerous” warned one wildlife expert.

New Forest Communications Officer, Karen Evans, recommends starting a visit by going to the centre in Lyndhurst to learn about the history and animals of the forest, and to see first hand a ‘family-fun tree.’

More information is available at www.newforestcentre.org.uk.