The practice was established sometime before the First World War. At the time, it was based in Christchurch and owned initially by Colonel Martin and then by Major Davenport. Over the years, the practice extended and in the 1960s it split with the west side, becoming Strang and Pocock (now Priory Veterinary Group) and the east side becoming Smith and Jenner. In 1967, it became Jenner, Cook and Stevens then later Jenner and Cook. In 1984, Mr Jenner retired and it became Cook and Wilson. In 1996 Mr Cook retired and we built a new surgery in Lymington, changing the name to Forest Lodge Veterinary Practice with Roger Wilson, Janine Redman and Sandra Tyler as partners in business. In November 2013 Sandra Tyler and Janine Redman retired as business partners, but continue to work in the practice as veterinary surgeons on a more part-time basis.
The business was incorporated in December 2013 and is now Forest Lodge Veterinary Practice Ltd., with Roger Wilson as the Managing Director. In November 2015, Roger Wilson retired and the practice joined the Independent Vetcare Ltd group and Sandra Tyler, Janine Redman and Aidan Borrill became the Clinical Directors. Sandra Tyler retired in March 2017. Aidan Borrill left in September 2019 and Jenny Asher took over the role of Clinical Director in October 2019.
The practice specialises in the care of companion animals with approximately eight veterinary surgeons, ten veterinary nurses, twelve support staff and two practice premises. The main centre is at New Milton where there are two operating theatres, four consulting rooms, separate kennels and cattery, a radiographic unit, an ultrasound unit, and a well-equipped laboratory as well as 24-hour nursing facilities. The Lymington practice has two consulting rooms, an operating theatre and ward unit.
The practice has been inspected and approved as being up to the rigorous standards required by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as a Tier 2 practice and a Veterinary Nurse Training Practice. We also offer appointments with Veterinary Surgeons with special interests in Dermatology, Ophthalmology, rehabilitation and Acupuncture.