PONIES grazing in front of a spreading oak tree will feature on the New Forest National Park logo.

Members of the National Park Authority, meeting in public for the second time since its formation in the spring, had a choice of four symbols, drawn up by Blue Water Design Ltd, to choose from at their April meeting.

This week the authority heard that a logo based on the New Forest Committee's double pony head motif had only received seven per cent of the vote. A heritage design was in fourth place with just two per cent, a floral and fauna style had garnered 36 per cent but the new pony design had grabbed the majority of 55 per cent.

Director of policy Maddy Jago said design working group members John Sanger and Susan Achmatowicz had met with Blue Water and the design had been refined down to two similar images.

Instead of featuring a circular tree, both have more natural representations of the spreading oak.

She said there had been concerns that similar designs had been used by other organisations in the forest but overall it was felt to be an endorsement for its use.

Pat Wyeth thought something more innovative could have been drawn up.

"There are so many pony symbols in the forest. I feel it's very similar to other organisations' and as we are a new National Park I would have thought it would be something unique," she said.

Ms Achmatowicz said other images pointing to the diversity of the forest had been considered, but not utilising a pony image was "rather like throwing the baby out with the bathwater".

With the backing of the committee for the two-pony/tree design, Ms Jago said that would now be refined and brought back to the authority, probably in time for the June meeting.

First published: May 18