Welcome to this first edition of On the Wild Side, a monthly feature that aims to inform and inspire readers about the incredible wildlife in the New Forest National Park, and some of the associated conservation issues and successes. I’m Prof Russell Wynn, director of Wild New Forest and Chair of the New Forest Biodiversity Forum, and I’ve been studying the wildlife of the New Forest for over three decades. I’m excited to have this opportunity to share topical nature stories with the A&T readership, and welcome feedback via the appended contact details.

New arrivals

As we say goodbye to 2025, it’s a good time to reflect on some of the remarkable new species that arrived in the New Forest during the year. Perhaps the most eye-catching was the discovery of European praying mantis at a heathland site in the summer, with evidence to suggest local breeding (they were also discovered to be breeding at several other south coast locations for the first time this year). This species has been moving rapidly north through mainland Europe in response to warming temperatures, and with a decent tailwind they can fly across water bodies like the English Channel.

Another winged insect hitting the headlines last summer was the little arboreal ladybird, which first appeared in my garden moth trap in Woodlands in June and was subsequently reported from several nearby sites in the eastern New Forest.