Saturday, May 10
New Forest Pony - Food & Death on the roads
A busy period last week saw me off on one of my a semi-regular round trip commutes to the North West of England. Perversely enough, it matched the arrival of good weather. So that meant much of my time was spent gazing through the windows of various public transport terminals. Mainly air conditioned to add insult to injury. Better than working for a living I guess. Oh hang on - I was!
It was a welcome breather then to get into the New Forest earlier today, and work my way around the local inhabitants, already training their urchins in street-wise ways.
Despite the many warning notices there's always someone who thinks the 'pretty ponies' look malnourished and need nothing better than to be provided with various human cast-offs of the edible variety. Usually sandwich based. As a result the ponies quickly recognise the start of the New Forest tourist season and as a result gather nearer to the roads, and hang around the car parks waiting for the next free hand-out. Unfortunately this means increased road deaths for the ponies, and the occasional bitten hand, or bruised body part from a well placed pony kick, for the humans. Burley in particular will become a no-go area during the next month as the equine gathering swells on account of the pesky day trippers and coach parties. If you are down this way........DON'T FEED THE FECKIN' WILDLIFE, IT'S LIKELY TO DAMAGE THEIR HEALTH - POSSIBLY TERMINALLY.Please.Labels: nature, New Forest
A busy period last week saw me off on one of my a semi-regular round trip commutes to the North West of England. Perversely enough, it matched the arrival of good weather. So that meant much of my time was spent gazing through the windows of various public transport terminals. Mainly air conditioned to add insult to injury. Better than working for a living I guess. Oh hang on - I was!
It was a welcome breather then to get into the New Forest earlier today, and work my way around the local inhabitants, already training their urchins in street-wise ways.
Despite the many warning notices there's always someone who thinks the 'pretty ponies' look malnourished and need nothing better than to be provided with various human cast-offs of the edible variety. Usually sandwich based.
As a result the ponies quickly recognise the start of the New Forest tourist season and as a result gather nearer to the roads, and hang around the car parks waiting for the next free hand-out. Unfortunately this means increased road deaths for the ponies, and the occasional bitten hand, or bruised body part from a well placed pony kick, for the humans. Burley in particular will become a no-go area during the next month as the equine gathering swells on account of the pesky day trippers and coach parties.
If you are down this way........
DON'T FEED THE FECKIN' WILDLIFE, IT'S LIKELY TO DAMAGE THEIR HEALTH - POSSIBLY TERMINALLY.
Please.
Labels: nature, New Forest
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