Welcome
Discover the real New Forest – an incredible living, working landscape, shaped over centuries by the animals that graze it, and the people who own and care for them – the “commoners”: Ordinary people, with ordinary jobs, but with an extraordinary commitment. If you want reliable, straightforward answers to your questions about the New Forest and prefer fact over folklore then this is the site for you. Please do explore. We’ve included more information than ever before.
If you know what you’re looking for then do use the Search button above to go straight to the right place. You can also support us by applying to join the NFCDA. You don’t need to be a commoner to join as an Associate member.
Explore what we do
About Commoning
About the New Forest Commoners Defence Association
Commoning year
© 2018 Sally FearJanuary
January can be a tough start to the New Year, with commoners often caring for their animals in the dark and wet, having to fit it around their other work.
Latest News
Salt licks now in place along Roger Penny Way
13th January 2022
One of the New Forest’s most infamous roads for animal accidents (Roger Penny Way), has been given the go-ahead to trial off-road salt licks in a bid to help grazing animals ... READ MORE
A parasite found in dog faeces has been attributed to several cows aborting their calves
4th January 2022
Last summer, Commoner Tom Gould turned 38 cattle out to graze on the New Forest. The majority of those at the time were in calf. By the Autumn, when the cattle were taken back to ... READ MORE
Longmead Cottage Open For Applications
16th December 2021
Forestry England has published the particulars for another Commoner's holding. Longmead Cottage at Burley Lodge is now open for applications. The property particulars and ... READ MORE
New Forest Livestock Society – 2022 Provisional Sale Dates
14th December 2021
The New Forest Livestock Society (NFLS) have confirmed their provisional dates for the 2022 sales to be held at Beaulieu Road Sale Yard. The dates are as follows: ... READ MORE
NFCDA response to the New Forest National Park Draft Partnership Plan
28th September 2021
ℹ️ The NFCDA Committee have responded to the New Forest National Park consultation on their emerging Partnership Plan. We hope that the feedback we have provided is ... READ MORE
Helping to spread key messages !
23rd July 2021
Great to see the new #keepyourdistance signs up and in action :-) You asked… so we listened! This has been fantastic a joint initiative, with funding from the Verderers and ... READ MORE
New support for the New Forest Commoning Community
21st March 2021
In a new initiative championed by ExxonMobil Fawley, some of their land on the edge of the New Forest, has been rented to to young commoners at a reduced rate. The full press ... READ MORE
NFCDA response to the consultation on the allocation of land on the New Forest Common for the Basic Payment Scheme
30th January 2021
Final NF BPS Consultation Jan21 READ MORE
ELM and Commons: What does the Future Hold?
9th December 2020
Commoners are welcome to sign up for a free one-hour session on ELM, hosted by the Foundation for Common Land and Federation of Cumbrian Commoners. The webinar will ... READ MORE
Consultation on the allocation of land on the New Forest common for the Basic Payment Scheme
30th November 2020
Background Up until 2005 subsidies were related to agricultural production, in the case of cattle this was paid through Suckler Cow Premium and Beef Special Premium for ... READ MORE
Top tips for enjoying the New Forest
Members Login
Latest Tweets
Follow us
@realnewforest 4h
Icilibus sam quas aut eriatem nume corepta auta conet officaborem quodi corepta auta conet officaborem quodi apernat ectlpa dolorpiaecus.
@realnewforest 4h
Icilibus sam quas aut eriatem nume corepta auta conet officaborem quodi corepta auta conet officaborem quodi apernat ectlpa dolorpiaecus.
@realnewforest 4h
Icilibus sam quas aut eriatem nume corepta auta conet officaborem quodi corepta auta conet officaborem quodi apernat ectlpa dolorpiaecus.
Join us on Social
Tag your images #RealNewForest
With thanks for support from
