Problem
What to see in the New Forest?
Answer
The New Forest was new in William The Conqueror's time but now it's pretty old. You drive along the road through the forest and you could get help up by donkeys. You have to slow down or stop and wait for them to get out of the way.
Tourists love the donkeys. Locals say, "I wish that stupid donkey would get out of the way!"
The donkeys look at you as if to say, "What's your problem?"
You are not allowed to hoot them. (The donkeys, not the tourists.) That's because you might startle the donkeys and make them run into traffic and cause an accident.
You might drive from London down to Southampton. Big attractions in the area are:
Exbury Gardens
The gardens were planted by the Rothschilds. I loved them. I meant the gardens. The Rothschilds, too. I shall always remember being run around the garden in the car with the late Mr Rothschild, a member staff driving a tiny car, because the paths were too small for anything grander.
Weather affects gardens as well as vineyards. Last year the flowers and plants were not as good as the previous year. I don't complain about the rain any more, spring time or any time. I realise that rain is helping the gardens grow.
Beaulieu Motor Museum
Nearby is Beaulieu Motor Museum. Another stunner. It's no coincidence that these two attractions are near each other. The Rothschilds moved here to be near their friends.
What else should you see? I asked a local person.
Countryside Countryside Education Trust
You should also see the Wildlife Centre at the Countryside Education Trust. Who says? Mealanie Draper who used to be a guide there. The Centre takes in all kinds of rescued and abandoned animals. The Centre staff try to restore the animals' health and then release the animals back into the wild.
The centre began as a rescue centre for otters, but has now expanded to take in sort of animals and birds. Wolves, wallabies, Scottish wild cats, pine martens.
I asked, "Do you have to keep the dangerous animals behind double doors?"
Melanie said, "Yes, for the lynx. And the otters, which bite. They have very sharp teeth. They need sharp teeth eat raw fish.
"You also need double doors for animals you think of as friendly, such as deer. They have antlers. They are mostly friendly," ("Except in the rutting season, interrupts a friend.") "We had one deer called Daisy which would go through the gate with kids and go into the Cafè,"
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
What to see in the New Forest?
Answer
The New Forest was new in William The Conqueror's time but now it's pretty old. You drive along the road through the forest and you could get help up by donkeys. You have to slow down or stop and wait for them to get out of the way.
Tourists love the donkeys. Locals say, "I wish that stupid donkey would get out of the way!"
The donkeys look at you as if to say, "What's your problem?"
You are not allowed to hoot them. (The donkeys, not the tourists.) That's because you might startle the donkeys and make them run into traffic and cause an accident.
You might drive from London down to Southampton. Big attractions in the area are:
Exbury Gardens
The gardens were planted by the Rothschilds. I loved them. I meant the gardens. The Rothschilds, too. I shall always remember being run around the garden in the car with the late Mr Rothschild, a member staff driving a tiny car, because the paths were too small for anything grander.
Weather affects gardens as well as vineyards. Last year the flowers and plants were not as good as the previous year. I don't complain about the rain any more, spring time or any time. I realise that rain is helping the gardens grow.
Beaulieu Motor Museum
Nearby is Beaulieu Motor Museum. Another stunner. It's no coincidence that these two attractions are near each other. The Rothschilds moved here to be near their friends.
What else should you see? I asked a local person.
Countryside Countryside Education Trust
You should also see the Wildlife Centre at the Countryside Education Trust. Who says? Mealanie Draper who used to be a guide there. The Centre takes in all kinds of rescued and abandoned animals. The Centre staff try to restore the animals' health and then release the animals back into the wild.
The centre began as a rescue centre for otters, but has now expanded to take in sort of animals and birds. Wolves, wallabies, Scottish wild cats, pine martens.
I asked, "Do you have to keep the dangerous animals behind double doors?"
Melanie said, "Yes, for the lynx. And the otters, which bite. They have very sharp teeth. They need sharp teeth eat raw fish.
"You also need double doors for animals you think of as friendly, such as deer. They have antlers. They are mostly friendly," ("Except in the rutting season, interrupts a friend.") "We had one deer called Daisy which would go through the gate with kids and go into the Cafè,"
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
