How Does the New Forest Marathon Protect the New Forest?

The New Forest is a unique, special place. We all have a responsibility to look after it and safeguard its future.

New Forest Marathon sustainability starts with the landscape itself. We work closely with both local and national organisations to ensure the event has zero impact on the New Forest habitat. This includes a number of responsible measures to protect the forest, as well as supporting sustainable community projects throughout the year.

Why does this matter to us?

As an event, we have a unique platform to communicate key messages. We want our participants to gain valuable knowledge about protecting the forest. Together, we can make a real difference to preserve this wonderful place.

Why is the New Forest so important to protect?

The New Forest is one of Europe’s most important locations for nature and conservation. Its landscapes include ancient woodlands, wetlands, bogs and open heathlands. Many rare species of plants and wildlife live here — species long since lost from the rest of the UK and Europe.

The New Forest holds the highest possible level of legal protection. It’s a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds, a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and a Ramsar site (a wetland of international importance).

These protections bring real obligations. Every organisation looking after the Forest must meet strict conservation duties, and there are firm legal limits on the activities and events that can take place here.

Find Out More From Forestry England →

Is the New Forest Marathon recognised for its sustainability?

Yes. The Environment Agency has recognised us as a national model of best practice for sustainable events in the UK, and is now promoting our approach as a blueprint for other events across the country.

We’re proud to have had our work featured in various publications. e’re delighted to have been recognised in this way, and we’re committed to continuing to lead the way in sustainable event management.

Read the Environment Agency Recognition →

 

How can I help protect the New Forest?

Help us protect this unique and special place by following the New Forest Code.

 

Where did our sustainability journey begin?

ORA Events, organisers of the New Forest Marathon, created one of the UK’s first plastic-free events: Rock to Rock. This event raised awareness of ocean plastics, supported by Surfers Against Sewage, Tidal Revival, The Beach Guardians, The Wave Project, and global brands including Finisterre.

Rock to Rock created a blueprint we still follow today, and it continues to shape how we run the New Forest Marathon.

How do we raise awareness about the New Forest during the event?

We erect Forest Fact signs along the routes, so runners can learn a little about the forest as they go. Our digital race publication also dedicates content to raising awareness about the New Forest, developed with Forestry England to make sure the information is accurate.

Are our drink and energy stations plastic-free?

Yes — 100% of our drink stations are plastic-free, using cardboard cups rather than bottles. We ask runners to drop cups only within the marked drink station zones; littering outside these zones can result in disqualification, so our clean-up teams can properly protect the area and the wildlife that passes through afterwards.

Free water refills are available throughout the day at drinking water points in the Race Village. Our energy stations are plastic-free too, using cardboard cups instead of gel packets.

How do we reduce our carbon footprint?

We source equipment locally, using New Forest companies wherever possible. Building the Race Village takes around 7 days, and we use electric vehicles from a local supplier, specifically chosen to minimise ground impact.

Our free shuttle bus from Brockenhurst station means fewer people need to drive, and we provide dedicated bike parking too. We plan our build schedule carefully to minimise supplier journeys — even down to using flasks on-site, rather than repeatedly boiling a kettle.

What happens to waste and recycling?

Recycling bins are placed throughout the course, with a central recycling point in the Race Village. We encourage everyone to use them, so any plastic brought to the event is properly recycled rather than simply binned.

Have we gone electric?

Yes — the New Forest Marathon team now runs entirely on electric vehicles, including the 4×4 Gators we use to build the course and Race Village. This cuts both our carbon footprint and noise pollution, which matters in such a sensitive habitat. It also means we can work earlier and later in the day without disturbing wildlife or campers.

Are we paperless?

We’ve moved from pen and paper to digital platforms wherever we can. It keeps our operations cleaner, and reduces waste.

What are e-goodie bags?

We’ve switched to e-goodie bags. This cuts the amount of physical product we bring to site, while still giving runners access to a wide range of great offers.

Do we support any other causes?

Yes — we’ve partnered with New Forest For Ukraine, putting leftover event materials to good use where they’re needed most. This has included donating over 2,000 old event t-shirts to Ukrainian families. Closer to home, our approach to New Forest Marathon sustainability includes that every New Forest Marathon entry supports the New Forest Marathon Community Fund, which has raised over £1.4 million for local organisations including scouting groups, youth clubs and grassroots charities across Hampshire since 1981.

Find out more about the New Forest Community Fund 

What’s next for our sustainability work?

Away from the event itself, we’re proud to be a beta tester for The Green Data Hub. This helps us analyse our whole business and keep improving how sustainably we operate, year after year.

Got an idea for how we could do better? We’d genuinely love to hear it. The New Forest is a unique, special part of the world, and we’ll always investigate ways to make the event greener.