Come and help us celebrate 30 years of sharing the New Forest’s history at our free family fun day!

The New Forest Centre was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in the summer of 1988 as the New Forest Museum after a decade of fundraising by the New Forest Ninth Centenary Trust, an independent charity which still owns and runs the building today.

An award from the Heritage Lottery Fund led to a major refurbishment in 2003, making the Centre a cultural hub catering to both local residents and visitors, and in 2016 admission charges to the museum were scrapped, making it free for everyone!

The family fun day runs from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday 24 June and is kindly sponsored by Ringwood Brewery, which will have a craft beer stall at the Centre on the day. Entry is free and there will be craft activities and a chance to personalise a leaf for our 30th anniversary tree.

Raffle prizes have been donated by The Woods Cyclery, Lyburn Farmhouse Cheesemakers and Tip, Leaf and Bean Café.

The Centre’s mascot Pete the Pony will be on hand to blow out the candles on the birthday cake, baked by Jenny Angel from Rosedale Bed & Breakfast in Lyndhurst.