A move to ban barbecues is gaining momentum with the disposable variety and fires now banned across vast swathes of the open countryside across Dorset and the New Forest.

The campaign started in May 2020 in Brockenhurst and subsequently gained support across the National Park.

Since then, the New Forest National Park Authority has called on other retailers across the Forest to remove them from sale and national retailers including Waitrose, Marks and Spencer, Tesco and Sainsburys have done so. Sadly, many stores such as Morrisons, Lidl and Aldi are still stocking them with front of store displays. This year Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council have also put in measures to control the use of disposable barbecues and have been asking local retailers to withdraw them from sale.

Last year Forest organisations including the National Park Authority, Forestry England, Hampshire County Council, New Forest District Council and the National Trust worked tirelessly with the emergency services to educate the public about the dangers of disposable barbecues and fires, and to protect the Forest and coast. Forestry England and National Trust have banned barbecues and fires on their land.

Steve Avery, executive director of strategy and planning at New Forest National Park Authority said: “We still need your help to make the whole of the National Park barbecue-free. Please ask your local store to stop selling disposable barbecues and to display a campaign poster available to download online.”

Retailers can be added to the list of those supporting the campaign by emailing communications@newforestnpa.gov.uk.