Although with the Covid-19 restrictions people aren’t at present encouraged to visit the New Forest, when 2021 brings better times, the New Forest Heritage Centre will welcome visitors.

The museum, gallery and reference library in Lyndhurst – which is free to enter – has just received £2,500 from the Love the Forest scheme.

The Centre also houses the Christopher Tower Reference Library which boasts one of the most comprehensive collections of material about the New Forest open to the public, including sections dedicated to individual towns and villages.

Giles Gould, manager of the New Forest Heritage Centre, said, “Once again we are indebted to Love the Forest for their on-going support. In a year in which everyone has faced on-going challenges, we are delighted to be open, preserving the heritage and telling the story of the New Forest. Without support like this we simply couldn’t do what we do.”

The Love the Forest scheme works with businesses across the New Forest to raise funds for conservation and education projects, as well as providing grants to local organisations.

Businesses in the New Forest provide opportunities for their customers to help look after this precious landscape by adding a donation on a room stay, meal or product. Some businesses donate directly or run fundraising events and the scheme has raised £265,000 for New Forest groups and organisations.

If you are a New Forest business and would like to help protect this special place, please get in touch: https://www.newforesttrust.org.uk/love-the-forest

Alternatively, you can donate to Love the Forest online: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/finalCharityHomepage.action?charityId=1008157.