A SECOND woman is to be at the helm of the New Forest National Park this summer.

Alison Barnes will take over from interim chief executive Barrie Foley at the park’s headquarters at South Efford, Lymington in June, it was announced at the authority meeting today (Thurs, March 25).

There will be a month-long hand-over period.

Ms Barnes, who is currently Natural England’s regional director for London, said: “I am passionate about the New Forest. It will be a fabulous privilege and challenge to help the National Park Authority look after the forest so that people can enjoy it now and in the future.”

Authority chairman Clive Chatters welcomed the new chief executive and said “she brings an ideal combination of professional and personal qualities to take us forward”.

And interim chief executive Mr Foley said his successor “is keen to engage with all parties”.

The permanent £80,000 pa job became available last summer after the resignation of the organisation’s first chief executive Lindsay Cornish following criticism of her leadership.