Beaulieu is showing its support for the New Forest’s #add3minutes safe driving campaign to protect animals on dark winter nights.
Near life-size silhouettes of a New Forest pony, donkey, pig, sheep and cow have been placed at the entrance to the home of the National Motor Museum, to help raise awareness about safe driving as the clocks have been turned back.
Each of the animals is marked with a number, showing how many have been killed by vehicles across the New Forest last year.
Beaulieu Enterprises Managing Director Russell Bowman said: “We ask our visitors to drive responsibly across the New Forest, with respect for the wildlife and other road users. We are therefore pleased to host the safe driving campaign and to raise awareness of it.”
The silhouettes will be seen by Beaulieu’s visitors arriving during October half-term and throughout the following week at the leading family attraction.
The #add3minutes campaign urges drivers to add three minutes to their journey – the extra time it takes to drive some of the most dangerous New Forest routes at 30mph rather than 40mph.
According to New Forest National Park Authority figures, 63 free-roaming animals were killed last year. Records of accidents over the last five years have shown a big increase when the clocks were turned back, with the peak time for injuries being between 5-6pm on Thursdays and Fridays during November and December.
The campaign is being supported by the Commoners Defence Association, Forestry England, Verderers of the New Forest, New Forest National Park Authority, New Forest District Council, Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Constabulary, New Forest Trust, New Forest Association and British Deer Society.
The animal silhouettes will remain at Beaulieu until November 7th, when New Forest Commoners will move them to their next destination to continue to raise more awareness.