Dumped apples spark fresh plea to stop feeding New Forest animals

HUNDREDS of apples dumped in the New Forest has prompted a warning that they could kill ponies who gobble them up.

The pile of more than 500 apples was discovered at Darkwater car park, near Blackfield, by a Forestry England ranger who collected them up and removed them.

The organisation highlighted the danger to livestock in a tweet later, saying: “These could cause fatal colic and endanger lives, luring animals to roads.

“There is plenty of natural nutrition for New Forest livestock so please protect ponies and keep your unwanted fruit for the compost heap.”

Residents and visitors are regularly advised by New Forest groups not to feed the animals, including ponies, donkeys and cattle.

Sue Westwood, clerk to the verderers, warned a pile of apples could also cause the animals to fight over them and injure each other.

She said: “It’s extremely frustrating. It’s flytipping, basically. I think people must know they should not do it.

“Colic can kill ponies. It’s effectively a bad stomach but ponies can’t be sick, so if they gorge themselves there’s only one way through – it can even rupture their stomach. It’s a very nasty death.”

The national park authority is leading a Keep Your Distance campaign which includes urging people not to distribute food, which it says is against local bylaws.

A spokesperson for the Forestry England said: “Despite everyone’s best efforts to do their bit, it’s upsetting to see there are still a few individuals out there who choose to dump their food waste on the Forest thinking they are helping to feed the ponies.

“Human food – even discarded fruit – can make them ill and could even kill ponies. Furthermore, feeding and petting ponies encourages them to behave badly – pestering picnickers and hanging around busy roads and car parks.”

She added: “Throughout the year our angers patrol the Forest, spreading the message about not feeding or petting the ponies. We understand that everyone loves New Forest ponies, as do we, but people need to act responsibly for the protection of the ponies and other grazing animals.”

As reported in the A&T, two cows died after eating grass and hedge cuttings dumped on a verge near Ogdens, Fordingbridge.

In April a year-old pony foal was orphaned after its mother was suspected to have died from colic or poisoning having eaten grass cuttings left at Shirley Holms, between Sway and Boldre.