About us

Hello, and welcome to the New Forest Explorers’ Guide, a web site designed for those who want to know more about the New Forest, its landscape, history, wildlife and villages.

My name is Andrew Walmsley and I’ve produced the site to share with others something of the special characteristics of this old hunting Forest. I hope all who browse here find the contents informative, but more importantly, enjoy the experience.

Some, though, might have misgivings about anything that attracts others to an already popular area, but surely the majority of those with a genuine interest in the subjects dealt with here should be made welcome, for they will respect and care for this and other such places. However, not everybody is well-meaning, and even today wildlife is threatened by collectors and over-enthusiastic visitors to fragile habitats. Consequently, the exact location of rare species is not revealed unless already well-known.  

Now, for anybody who’s interested, here’s a bit about my background.

I have lived in the New Forest since 1985, and have had a life-long interest in nature and the countryside, and a 20 year interest in landscape and nature photography. Since 1996 I’ve also written on countryside subjects for a number of local and national magazines.

I’m a long-standing member of the Hampshire Ornithological Society – I was a committee member for almost 20 years, was Chairman of the Membership Sub-committee for 10 years, organised the walks programme for even longer, and still lead walks in the New Forest and elsewhere in Hampshire.

I’ve also been a member of the Hampshire Wildlife Trust for over 20 years, and am a member of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Hampshire Bat Group, New Forest Badger Group and the New Forest Association.

With the exception of a small number of pictures mentioned in the Acknowledgements section, all the photographs on the web site are my own, most taken after countless, painstaking but hugely enjoyable hours in the field. And whilst the text is my own, many reference works have inevitably been consulted, and information provided by a number of friends and acquaintances.

After working in the I.T. industry for 39 years – yes, computers were invented that long ago – the opportunity has arisen to bring together professional skills, out-of-work interests, writing and photography. So now, assisted with general administration by daughters Sarah and Laura, this web site is starting to see the light of day. I hope the results are worthwhile.