A Year in the New Forest

In autumn, one of the forest's greatest spectacles begins: the red deer rut. As winter approaches, the pigs hunt for acorns, while the people who live in the forest search for rare flora and funghi.

It's winter. Disease threatens Ann's young cattle. The forest keepers begin the annual deer cull. And the locals take part in an ancient tradition: a dangerous horse race across the forest.

Spring brings new life in the New Forest, but it can be a changeable season, and a difficult time for the semi-wild ponies and cattle to give birth. Late frosts could spell disaster for the goshawk.

The New Forest's hottest early summer for decades is heaven for myriad rare butterflies. As the pace of life slows, the people who look after the forest reflect on its fragility and uniqueness.