Letters: Off-road cycling is ruining the New Forest

SIR — May I, through the medium of your letters page, remind your readers that off-road cycling in the New Forest is not permitted.

As a commoner, pony rider and walker I often see cyclists heading into parts of the Forest where they should not be. Contrary to popular belief the Forest is not an open cycle track where you can go where you please.

The New Forest National Park Authority tell us in their spring/summer edition of Park Life the importance of the New Forest due to its amazing diversity of flora and fauna. Indeed, it is a nationally and internationally important area, so please can we treat it with great care.

Cycling is permitted on the designated cycle routes, Maps for these can be found at newforestnpa.gov.uk/things-to-do/cycling/cycling-routes

Many of the Forestry England car parks do now have signs that say No Cycling permitted from this car park – please do not ignore these.

Please, please – in the name of conservation – can all cyclists adhere to these simple rules and stop the habit of taking off across the Forest wherever they want to go?

If you and future generations want to enjoy the unique qualities of this very special national park then it is time you start respecting the rules and the Forest itself and ride responsibly.

Sometimes life is NOT all about what you want to do – the bigger picture is what is best for the place you like to be, and if you don’t start taking more care of the precious jewel that is The New Forest it will soon be ruined for everyone.

Lucie Rowe,

Dibden Purlieu