New Forest authorities slammed as 0 fines for feeding ponies

Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) were introduced by New Forest District Council in the region in July 2023, banning people from feeding and petting ponies or using barbecues or campfires.

This gives staff from Forestry England, the New Forest National Park Authority and the Verderers of the New Forest the delegated authority to enforce these rules – allowing them to issue a fixed penalty notice or even a £1,000 fine if the case goes to court.

The Echo submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to NFDC asking how many people had been fined for petting or feeding animals since the PSPO was introduced.

But statistics revealed that while 1,643 were given “positive engagement” resulting in compliance, nobody has been fined between July 2023 and March 31, 2025.

READ MORE: Backlash as Gemma Collins warned of fine for hugging New Forest pony

In the response to the Echo's FOI, NFDC said the purpose of the PSPOs is "primarily to engage, explain and educate visitors and residents of the New Forest in the first instance, using enforcement powers where required".

Andrew Parry-Norton, New Forest Commoners Defence Association chairman, said that he thinks that somebody needs to be “made an example of” via the PSPOs.

New Forest Commoner Defence Association chairman, Andrew Parry-Norton. (Image: CDA) “It is good as an educational tool, I get that, you can use it to warn someone not do something,” he said.

“But we’ve had celebrities blatantly feeding and hugging ponies and putting it on their Instagram, pictures of them doing this.”

Reality TV star Gemma Collins posted a photo of herself hugging a New Forest pony to her two million followers on Instagram in February.

Gemma Collins posted a photo of herself hugging a New Forest pony in February. (Image: gemmacollins/Instagram) Andrew said: “We had her name, we had the evidence there, she could’ve been prosecuted for that. It wasn’t done. We need to start setting examples.

“If you go to a car park and overstay your welcome, you’re going to get clamped or get a ticket.

“That deterrent is there to make you get back to your car. We do need a proper deterrent and it needs to be used properly.”

READ MORE: Campaign to make New Forest roads safer for animals

Andrew is also concerned as the PSPOs expire in July 2026 and they will need to be manually renewed.

He thinks that it is a case of “use it or lose it” and that New Forest District Council may not renew the orders if they do not deem it worth it.

“They might withdraw it all together,” Andrew said.

“We need an example to be set for the space protection order can continue.”

'Celebrities have been asked to immediately remove the content' - Authorities respond

A spokesperson for Forestry England, The New Forest National Park Authority and New Forest District Council - all of the authorities involved in the PSPO - said: “Since the two PSPOs were introduced in July 2023 they have been used to intervene in and stop several hundreds of incidents involving the banned activities.

"Prior to the PSPOs introduction, requests by rangers to stop an activity were often disputed, challenged or ignored.

"There is no doubt that the PSPO powers have equipped rangers to engage more effectively and successfully.

"As a result fines have in the majority of cases not been required – as envisaged in the original rationale for the PSPOs.

“Images of petting or feeding ponies have been shared by a small number of high profile individuals on social media. In these cases they have been immediately asked to remove the content and share the PSPO guidance, and need for appropriate behaviours, directly with their followers.

"In this way, a significant number of people have been made aware of why New Forest ponies are special and encouraged to behave responsibly around them.”