Huge thanks to the one thousand, seven hundred people that have commented on my recent article about car parking charges in the New Forest.

It is going to take a while for me to read all of them but I can already see that there are lots of people who have used the forest for walking dogs. A significant number of these have stopped doing so, having been put off by the charges.

For those living locally, I thought I would give a bit of publicity to alternatives where you can park for free and give your dog some exercise.

The biggest and best area would be Bartley Park, which has some bespoke dog exercise facilities. There is a long stretch of free parking along Ashurst Bridge road, which you can access via Fletchwood Lane, off the A326. You will find the area to the doggy to the rear of the Skatepark.

Testwood Lakes has always been a popular place to walk dogs. Again parking is free. Some care required because this is a nature reserve and it is not “access all areas”… it is unwise to allow your dog to enter the water, owing to the regular presence of algae blooms.

The King George V recreation ground at Calmore has a doggy assault course, especially fenced off at the top end of Calmore road, Totton. There is room for about a dozen cars, free to park.

Finally, there is fenced doggy area at Eling recreation ground that has proved surprisingly popular, (next to the Splash park.) It allows your dog to run around without bothering anyone else.

Park in the Rumbridge Street car park opposite the recreation ground, using the traffic light controlled crossing. You can park for one hour, free of charge.