Military families came together for a weekend of outdoor activities and bonding in the New Forest.

Little Troopers, a children's military charity, hosted the event as part of their initiative to provide free family reconnection weekends.

This was the second weekend of its kind, with eight families participating in activities at the New Forest Outdoor Centre in Lyndhurst.

The families arrived on June 13, and began the weekend with an evening woodland nature walk.

Children and parents build memories at Lyndhurst family eventChildren and parents build memories at Lyndhurst family event (Image: Stuart Martin/Little Troopers) They stayed in shepherd’s huts and enjoyed a raft of activities over the weekend, including raft building and racing on Leominstead Lake, archery, and bushcraft.

The weekend concluded with a morning of high and low ropes among the trees on June 15.

Stuart More, who serves in the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, attended with his daughter.

He said: "My favourite thing from the reconnection weekend was the family time.

"Military families have come together as one, played different types of games, and interacted with each other with no use of technology, which is brilliant.

"It’s brought us all back to nature and it’s been really rewarding to be part of it."

Natasha Lowe, from Gosport, attended with her two children, Joseph, 13, and Saffron, 11.

She said: "It’s been fantastic to come with my children, no devices, and actually spend some time together.

"The raft building we all got stuck in and enjoyed.

"Meeting the other parents and realising that often you are all in the same boat, it has felt like a real military community and all the kids have got on great."

Louise Fetigan, founder of Little Troopers, said: "Our new ‘All Together’ family reconnection weekends are aimed at families before, during, or after a period of separation or deployment, to help ease periods of separation and help children to connect with their parents and make new friends.

"Our New Forest weekend went brilliantly.

"It was so lovely to see families getting stuck in with all the activities and it was a real joy to see everyone laughing and enjoying some special time together out in nature."