Neighbours' April Rose Pengilly criticised for petting ponies in New Forest

April Rose Pengilly posted an Instagram video showing her visit to the New Forest

A former star of Australian soap Neighbours has been criticised for a video showing her touching and stroking free-roaming animals in the New Forest.

April Rose Pengilly's Instagram showed her in the Hampshire national park petting foals and donkeys - which is not permitted under the area's rules.

A forest ranger told the BBC petting was an "absolute no-go" as it was dangerous for both animals and humans.

Pengilly said she just gave them "a little pat [and] then let them be".

In the video, Pengilly, who played Chloe Brennan for four years and has 134,000 Instagram followers, is seen on the open forest and in the village of Beaulieu letting ponies and donkeys lick her hands.

"YES there is a magical place where horses and donkeys roam free. We visited The New Forest and it was extremely cute!!!" she wrote.

"FYI we did NOT feed them as that is not allowed - they came up and nuzzled us so we just gave them a little pat then let them be."

Official advice is to stay well clear of free-roaming livestock in the New Forest

Under a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), "petting or touching any New Forest pony, horse, mule or donkey" is banned, along with "feeding or providing or depositing food."

Anyone carrying out these activities is liable for a fixed penalty fine of £100, rising to £1,000 following a successful prosecution.

The order was introduced in 2023 following instances of injuries to the public and animals dying after being fed human food.

The New Forest Code also urges visitors to "keep your distance from the animals - don't feed or touch them".

Ponies, pigs, cattle and donkeys, owned by the New Forest's commoners, are allowed to roam freely on the open forest under ancient rights tied to their properties.

Forest ranger Erika Dovey, also a commoner, said visitors should exercise "common sense".

She added: "A lot of people want to have selfies, start touching donkeys or stroking the ponies - the ponies get aggressive and it often ends in a bad way with a kick or a bite.

"People think they are fluffy quiet animals, when really they are wild animals which shouldn't be touched

"Let's use social media to send out these positive messages - do a bit of research if you are going to visit a place, look to see the dos and don'ts."

Pengilly, 36, featured in the soap when it was shown on Channel 5, before being revived on Prime Video.

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