The New Forest donkey
what a beautiful little animal.
The New Forest Donkey
.
Donkeys are scattered throughout the National Park.
They are gentle and affectionate animals and have a much
more serene personality than some of the ponies - usually!
When we were renting a cottage, between finding a house to buy, we were in an area that had many of these lovely animals out at de pasture.
We got to know many of them and their kind and gentle
natures.
Here's a personal tale I thought you might enjoy.
One morning my husband crossed the track outside our cottage.
A lovely Jenny (female) donkey was facing
him head on.
He went up to her and gave her ears a gentle rub - when
he carried on walking past her he was amazed to see she
was in the middle of giving birth!
He gave her plenty of space until it was all over - which he
said was surprisingly quick - and then very tentatively
approached her.
When he was sure she was OK with this,
he looked at the new little donkey and it was a beautiful,
dark brown bundle of fur - a large head, long legs and a
body smaller than our big black dog!
A truly wonderful experience to start your day with!
Although I have shared this story with you, the rule on the forest is not to touch the animals, so please be very careful!
We knew this Jenny and so were able to get close to her but would never attempt to feed her.
To see these lovely creatures in the New Forest UK National Park, one area to try is on the Fordingbridge side of the forest.
Head towards Fordingbridge from Ringwood on the A338
turn right off A338 at a cross roads sign at Bicton and
take the road signed Hyde and Frogham.
There are many New Forest donkeys on Hyde Common and there are two pubs in this area.
The Royal Oak at North Gorley is good for a pint and there's a duck pond too!
The Foresters Arms, Abbots Well Road, Frogham.SP6 2JA.
I've heard this pub described as the New Forest donkey pub because they love to congregate round it in the summer.
Would you like to visit a
New Forest donkey at Norley Farm?
You can have a great day out, down on the farm, and see lots of other animals too.
I do hope you enjoy seeing these beautiful litle animals when you visit the forest - if you have food be very careful as they are usually after your sandwiches and like all the animals in this National Park they may bite!
Are you concerned about New Forest animal accidents, which may affect the donkeys or other forest animals?
Do you have your own personal story to share with us?
Here's how you can - just fill in the form and we can all hear your views.
Share your views on New Forest animal accidents.
What are your views on the New Forest accidents each year? Share it here!
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
MRS BINDERLY
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I love going out in the New Forest with my new husband and looking at the New Forest ponies and donkeys. What does make me angry and upsets me is the speed ...
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