We decided to live in the New Forest because it had always been a dream of mine to get as close to horses and ponies as possible, without actually owning one.
My husband had spent many happy childhood years living in the New Forest and we had spent the last 20 years staying in our assorted caravans in weekend breaks and annual holidays.
Although I'm a bit of a fair weather caravanner - if it rained and hailed for days I wanted to head home - there's only so much rain beating on basically a tin roof you can take - when it interrupts the reading and wine consumption it's time to head home! However, amazingly enough we only had just a few rainy incidents and I think only two incidents where we chucked the awning - soaking wet of course - in the van and called it a day.
Not bad considering this is England? We'd always stayed as basic as possible - we needed water and sewage disposal and somewhere to put our rubbish and that was it.
I had never been interested in a communal shower block or a vegetable preparation area as a selling point to a campsite in the New Forest and luckily enough very few camping grounds offer them.
Our caravan had a good shower and if I went home a bit grubbier than I usually was at home then too bad - I'd had a great time and seen some wonderful sights ( and sounds if the owls were flying overhead at dusk - wonderful!).
Recently I discovered on my dog walks that there are New Forest campsites set right in the heart of this beautiful UK National Park.
Now I live within the New Forest I sometimes walk through these camping grounds.
I was walking through one called Longbeech campsite a few weeks ago and came upon a really wonderful site.
A couple had pitched their caravan amongst the beech trees but on the edge of a flat grassed area.
They had built a large branched bird feeder by using a huge branch secured onto a base they had brought along from home.
Six or seven bird feeders were full of seeds and there was a huge variety of birds tucking in with great enthusiasm.
I was only there a short while and I saw nuthatches, great tits, coal tits, blue tits, siskins, chaffinches and green and gold finches.
The owner was sitting enjoying the birds and a cup of tea and she had all her bird books laid out in front of her so no bird escaped identification.
Strangely enough that was the moment I missed my caravan the most since we had sold it! Actually if we had still had it I would have booked myself into this campsite for the next weekend - and its only about 5 miles from my home - it really did capture the beauty and chance to co exist with nature that a visit to a New Forest campsite can bring.
I came home and looked up the names and locations of campsites on the New Forest.
I found there are ten Forestry Commission Campsites.
They all vary slightly.
Some are set in beautiful beech woods; others are heathland sites and may offer spectacular views.
All of them are set within the New Forest which means just as you are free to wander, so are the New Forest ponies, cows, donkeys and even pigs! You do have to beware and please never, ever touch or feed an animal.
If you feed them you may cause them a painful, lingering death by colic.
Lecture over! It really was a wonderful sight to see and showed just one of the experiences you can enjoy if you visit one of these campsites in the New Forest.
Whilst I was talking to her a pair of ponies pulling a small cart came through the camping area and I had a quick chat to the driver and his two companions.
I said what a handsome pair they were and then had to explain I meant the ponies not the passengers! I can't think of a lovelier way to explore the New Forest.
All the 10 New Forest campsites have varying facilities - some you must have your own toilet for your tent or caravan, others provide showers and toilets.
Some are suitable to bring your dog, others are family based or more suitable for a quiet stay; just enjoying the peace and quiet of the New Forest.
There is so much to see and do if you decide to stay on a New Forest campsite in this UK National Park.
If you love nature and wildlife you will have an experience to remember forever and keep coming back to.
Having visited quite a few now, providing you love nature and wildlife and of course camping and caravanning I can't think of a better way to escape the stress and frantic lifestyle we all live today.
You can explore the coastline and visit places like Christchurch and Mudeford or take in a few attractions like Beaulieu or Paultons Park or just sit and chill out away from the stress and strains of modern life!