Charges for lorry parking after woods permits axed

Six months after Forestry England removed paid-for riding permits in many woodlands, it has started charging for horsebox parking in some areas

- By LUCY ELDER

FORESTRY ENGLAND has brought in new annual horsebox parking charges at some woodlands and excluded riders from parking at others – six months after trumpeting it was making “horse riding accessible to more riders across the nation’s forests”.

This spring, Forestry England announced that riders would be able to access 49 more woodlands in England without permits from May 2025. This followed a review of 51 woodlands, where paid-for permits were required for riding. Forestry England said at the time permits would still be required at two, as these are ecologically sensitive wildlife sites that need extra management.

As Forestry England gave with one hand, it took with the other and access to horsebox parking areas at several forests was withdrawn.

For some who can reach woodlands safely without driving, this will mean free access to hacking they would previously have had to pay for. But H&H heard from equestrians in the southeast who were frustrated as they were in effect losing access to this off-road riding on publicly owned land. They said they would box to the woods, to avoid riding on busy roads, so losing the parking was a blow, and that they would be happy to pay for safe parking (news, 7 August and 4 September).

Forestry England has now released a paid-for horsebox parking permit that allows riders to park at three woods: Hemsted Forest, Bedgebury Forest and King’s Wood, Kent. Parking at others, including Clowes Wood in Kent, and Friston Forest and Abbot’s Wood in East Sussex, remain off-limits for horseboxes.

The pass runs from 1 May to 30 April. A pass for the full year costs £96 and decreases proportionately, so one bought in November would cost £48.