VISITORS can now take a privileged peek into the lives of New Forest goshawks and buzzards.

'Raptorcam' technology allows viewers to follow the lives of birds of prey in their nests as they breed, hatch eggs, feed chicks and teach their young how to fly.

The project is based at the New Forest Reptile Centre, near Lyndhurst, and is run by the RSPB, New Forest National Park Authority, Forestry Commission and Carnyx Wild.

Last year around 20,000 people visited the centre.

This year, until June, visitors can see pairs of buzzards and goshawks and then footage of a hobby nest through the summer.

The footage can be viewed online and at the centre between 10am and 4.30pm.

Cameras have already been positioned in the tree canopy ready to capture footage of the buzzards and goshawks as they guard their eggs, with the chicks likely to appear in May.

Michael Lake, project officer for the RSPB, said: "This year we are feeling very fortunate to be able to show visitors a different bird from previous seasons and show them the family life of a buzzard.

"People are used to seeing these magnificent birds soaring high in our skies; but we will show their life from a whole new angle."

Go to newforestgateway.org or newforestnpa.gov.uk/datewithnature.