An illegal campsite was discovered just outside Lyndhurst in the New Forest, where individuals had reportedly lit a large fire overnight on May 18, despite strict fire bans in place.
New Forest police, in coordination with Forestry England officials, responded to the incident early the following morning at Parc Pale car park. Authorities confirmed that those found camping had created a significant open fire, violating the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which strictly prohibits all open flames and barbecues in the area due to fire risk.
Police issued fines to the individuals involved, reminding the public that such offenses can carry penalties of up to £1,000.
A New Forest police spokesperson stated: “This morning we joined our colleagues from Forestry England at Parc Pale car park just outside Lyndhurst. This illegal camp had arrived overnight and included what must have been quite a large fire.”
In addition to the fire violation, police discovered a small quantity of cannabis in the campers’ vehicle, which was seized and destroyed at the scene.
The spokesperson emphasized the serious dangers of fire in the region: “It is important that everyone knows how dangerous lighting fires is, particularly with the weather being so dry this spring.”
Authorities continue to urge visitors to respect the PSPO in place across the forest and avoid any activities that pose a fire hazard, especially during increasingly dry conditions.
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