If you are looking for a different kind of day out in the New Forest that swaps the usual nature trails for some fascinating local history, there is a new exhibition opening this week. Starting this Friday, 3 July 2026, the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst is hosting "Lumberjills in the New Forest" (also known as "Women in Forestry: The Lumberjills' Story"). Running until Monday, 17 August 2026, the exhibition focuses on the Women's Timber Corps (WTC), the young women who left their homes during the Second World War to work in Britain's forests, with a particular focus on those who lived and worked right here in Hampshire.
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Curated by author and historian Joanna Foat in collaboration with Forestry England, the exhibition brings to light a chapter of wartime history that was nearly forgotten. During the war, Britain imported almost all of its timber, and the labour shortage led to the recruitment of thousands of women. In the New Forest alone, these workers helped produce 12.5 million cubic feet of timber. Armed with seven-pound axes and six-foot crosscut saws, they felled trees, drove tractors, operated sawmills, and calculated production figures. Despite their massive contribution, members of the WTC received no veteran status or public recognition when they disbanded in 1946, receiving only a personal letter signed by Queen Elizabeth. It took decades for them to be allowed in the Remembrance Sunday parade or to receive commemorative badges.
Joanna Foat has spent over ten years interviewing more than 60 original Lumberjills, publishing several books on their experiences. For this exhibition, the team is also reaching out to local families. If you have any relatives who served in the Women's Timber Corps in the south of England and have photographs, letters, diaries, or memorabilia, you can get in touch with the museum team at library@newforestheritage.org.uk to potentially have their stories included.
The New Forest Heritage Centre is located at the Main Car Park in Lyndhurst (SO43 7NY) and is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 during the summer months. It is an independent charity that houses a museum, gallery, library, and café. Alongside the Lumberjills exhibition, Forestry England is supporting the project with a series of events throughout July, making it a great opportunity to explore the local history of the area.
Published Date
30 June 2026
