Hello from the New Forest,UK

Hi Vanessa and welcome from Florida to our little home on the internet. I have to say that is one of the best introductions from a new member in quite awhile. It is so nice to meet you and I look forward to hearing more from you.

Hello Vanessa what a beautiful part of the world you come from..

Indeed we (OH and I) never forget how lucky we are to now live where we do. We both originate from London..

www.lonelyplanet.com/the-netherlands/friesland

Hi Vanessa, welcome in.

I am in Yorkshire, and my garden backs onto woodlands. I just open my back gate, and I am there.

I love that it changes as each month rolls round.

Do you see the ponies?

The ponies are about all the time.  They are free to roam all year round, apart from on busy main roads (too dangerous), so cattle grids are strategically placed to keep them off those types of roads.  The normal speed limits throughout the Forest are 30mph and 40mph.  However, the A35 which runs through the heart of the Forest has a maximum speed limit of 60mph.  The ponies are definitely kept off that one.

The ponies are actually owned by people called 'Commoners.'  These are people who live in property in the New Forest that has 'Communing Rights' assigned to it.  This also includes cattle and pigs (if they own them).  Pigs are normally released in Autumn (Fall) so they can eat up the fallen acorns.  Acorns are poisonous to the ponies.

There is now a strict law preventing people from 'petting' and feeding the ponies.  There is a maximum fine of £1,000 if anyone if caught.  Forest Rangers patrolling the Forest will enforce it whenever possible.

Tourists are usually the worst offenders for doing that.  I have seen them stop on the roadside and get out to take photos with them and pet them.  There have been a few occasions when I have been close enough to 'advise' the tourist not to touch them. Generally they appreciate the warning.

Hi Vanessa, welcome from Lincolnshire. I too live in a beautiful part of the country and am no more than a two minute walk to getting out into it. We have lots of wildlife but no free roaming horses though. That seems a more common idea down in the south in the quieter areas (Dartmoor too?). We just seem to have an explosion in the population of deer. There are quite a few horses but all stabled or fenced. I have come across the odd gated road across inhabited fields on my travels though on the Lincolnshire Wolds.

I look forward to your input from down there. I was only chatting with members of our art group yesterday. One of them is going back down to Hampshire for a visit next week and another who grew up there were discussing. The last time I was there I was passing through to get to the Isle of Wight, which I find lovely too, but have yet to really see your countryside.

Here you are Vanessa womenonlyforum.com/thread/884/posting-images-image-attachments-storage

Welcome Vanessa, glad you join us.  Do you do fancy manicure of your own creation?