The man who helped make the New Forest a National Park has been honoured in the New Year Honours list.

John Ward has been made an MBE for his work in serving the New Forest in various capacities for the past forty years.

The 76-year-old from Lymington has been Chair of the environmental group, Friends of the New Forest, which campaigns to protect the wildlife of the local region.

He also successfully campaigned to make the forest a national park in 2005.

Daily Echo: John Ward, 77, has been awarded an MBE for his services to the New Forest communityJohn Ward, 77, has been awarded an MBE for his services to the New Forest community (Image: Provded)

Speaking to the Echo, he said: “I could name an awful lot of other people who would deserve the honour more than I would.

"I have never thought of my work as deserving of this but if it gets the name of the New Forest out there in the media then I am happy to take it.”

John moved to the area at the age of 30 when he accepted a role in the planning department at New Forest District Council.

But the inspiration for his community work struck when he read ‘New Forest’ by Colin Tubbs.

The book explains how the New Forest evolved to be an area of international importance and Britain's richest ‘nature reserve’.

He said: “I read it just so I could understand more about the region itself as I was starting a job there and it was a very insightful book.”

Determined to make sure the Forest got national recognition under national planning rules, he started building up connections which became the New Forest Committee.

Under his guidance and campaigning, the New Forest became a National Park in 2005.

John became a member of the New Forest Association Council – now known as Friends of the New Forest – in 2009 and in 2011 was elected Vice-Chair and then Chair in 2014.

He also served for ten years as Chair of the Friends of St Barbe Museum which is a museum, art gallery and community facility in Lymington.

He has also been behind numerous community ventures such as Lymington’s Gardens for Charity, an event in which a dozen gardens are open to visitors.

Speaking of his fascination with the region, named a “world capital” for wildlife, he said: “I got so immersed in it, I just feel like it is a place that needs an awful lot of support to help it keep going.

“The New Forest is incredibly special, and I just wanted to help it flourish.”