New Forest Reptile Centre
The New Forest Reptile Centre (NFRC) is a reptile centre in the New Forest,[1] about two miles east of Lyndhurst, England. It was established in 1969 by Derek Thomson MBE, a forestry commission keeper, who was also involved in establishing the deer viewing platform at nearby Boldrewood.[2] The centre is reached from the A35. It consists of several small enclosures, in which a selection of reptiles can be seen.[3] NFRC has been featured in the Southern Daily Echo[4] and Scientific American.[5] The Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror both named the Centre one of the best places to nature watch in the United Kingdom.
![](../I/m/New_Forest_Reptile_Centre%2C_Holidays_Hill%2C_New_Forest_-_geograph.org.uk_-_57409.jpg)
Exhibits
The reptiles are contained in circular, concrete-sided enclosures. Exhibits include adders, grass snakes, smooth snakes, frogs and toads. A population of endangered sand lizards are also housed at the centre, as part of a captive breeding and reintroduction programme.[6][7]
For several years, the forestry commission, along with the RSPB have installed nest cameras, which can be viewed on a flat screen TV at the visitor centre.[8] Visitors are able to see live images of the nests of nearby birds of prey.[9][10]
References
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to New Forest Reptile Centre. |
- Attwooll, Jolyon (3 October 2017). "National Park focus: the New Forest". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- "Tributes paid to popular New Forest keeper".
- "New Forest Reptile Centre".
- Watson, Matt. "Dominik, 9, is just wild about nature". Daily Echo. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- Naish, Darren. "The New Forest Reptile Centre". Scientific American Blog Network. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- "New Forest Reptiles | the Real New Forest Guide".
- "A quarter century of saving sand lizards".
- "Details".
- "Murder, sibling rivalry and even cannibalism: The New Forest's best live soap opera is back!".
- "Third egg for rare bird of prey". BBC. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2020.