Denny lodge
A bird-rich walk in the heart of the New Forest
Situated between the New Forest towns of Lyndhurst and Beaulieu, the Denny Lodge section of the National Park is set among classic Hampshire heath, wood and bog habitats, so typical of this ancient landscape. Despite being in one of the most overdeveloped parts of southern England the Denny area has managed to retain that unique New Forest atmosphere, typified by its wooded inclosures and grazing lands made famous by the New Forest ponies.
The open countryside around Denny supports a rich variety of wildlife and habitats, from coniferous and deciduous woodland to
isolated ponds and streams. Significant tracts of heathland and bog, complete with scattered birch scrub and solitary pine trees, make for an ideal setting for Hobby, Tree Pipit and Nightjar. Dense coniferous plantations may seem an unlikely setting for birds but can attract a few breeding pairs of Firecrest and Crossbill.
The topography of the forest is such that there are many opportunities to scan across valleys and over woodland canopy to search for scarce soaring raptors such as Honey Buzzard and Goshawk, and maybe a harrier, as Montagu’s have been reported in recent summers. Declining summer migrants, such as Wood Warbler, Whinchat, Common Redstart and Tree Pipit are still present, as are resident Hawfinch and Marsh Tit. This long walk covers most of the National Park’s birding habitats and is also good for a variety of other heathland wildlife including butterflies.