TO locals and visitors alike, the sight of ponies grazing in the fields and trotting along the roads in the New Forest is a beautiful sight.

But, according to some, they could be doing more harm than good.

Naturalist and BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham, who lives in the New Forest, has raised concerns about the 140-acre park’s future if things continue the way they are.

He says the number of animals, and people, need to be reduced if the rest of the wildlife and vegetation has any chance at survival.

“I’ve never been more worried about the future of the New Forest,” said Chris, who often visits to watch birds or take his dogs for a walk.

“When I was a boy, you could walk all day in the New Forest and hardly see a soul. Now you’re lucky to go five minutes without bumping into someone walking their dogs, riding a horse or careering round on a mountain bike.

“The number of ground-nesting birds is plummeting, butterfly species are disappearing every year and you’ll be hard-pressed to find an unprotected, young, native, broad-leafed sapling growing naturally anywhere at all.”

Chris said his main concern was “simple over-use”. And with 13.5 million day visitors a year, and the 7,000 animals grazing, perhaps he has a point.

But, with the population growing, more people owning cars and locals and visitors still wishing to enjoy the New Forest, exactly what can be done to solve the problem?

Reducing the number of car parks, improving the facilities for dog walkers in certain areas and keeping dogs on leads during the vital months of early spring are all ideas on Chris’ list.

“The New Forest is at breaking point,” he said.

“And we need to encourage people to modify their behaviour before it’s too late.”

Ken James, chairman of the New Forest Animal Protection Group, agrees.

“I think they should designate zones completely free from humans,” he said.

“I think that’s the only way. There’s much more horse-riding done nowadays, particularly in the ground-nesting season.

“It’s a wonderful place for recreation which we all need, I feel.

“But I think they could work something out, provisos that during nesting season restrict horse riding and dogs on the loose.”

Some measures are, in fact, already in place to restrict the number of grazing animals in the forest.

Graham Ferris, chairman of the New Forest Commoners Defence Association, said: “We appreciate Mr Packham’s recognition of the importance of commoners and the need to support it.

“We share some of Mr Packham’s concerns about the future of the New Forest, but most of the just under 5,000 ponies and just under 2,000 cattle are only in the forest for a few months.

“There are measures in place to control the number of stock in the forest by managing the stallions to reduce the number of foals born.

“This provides incentives for commoners to reduce the number of animals they turn out.

“Natural England does not believe the forest is overgrazed.”

Alison Barnes, chief executive of the New Forest National Park Authority, added the authority worked closely with conservation groups, land managers, locals and user groups to come up with ways everyone could enjoy the forest.

This was while reducing the impact of recreation and working to protect the park for the future.

But Chris remains adamant that more action needs to be taken.

“Coming up with a solution that not just preserves, but also enhances the biodiversity of the New Forest – or indeed for other national parks facing similar pressures – will not be easy.

“But it must be done. These unique landscapes and the wildlife they support are too important to do otherwise.”