Welcome to the

#RealNewForest

Shared with you by the New Forest Commoners Defence Association

Welcome

Discover the real New Forest – a 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 an extraordinary commitment to the New Forest.

Discover the voluntary work of the Commoners Defence Association (CDA), created in 1909 to continue the centuries-old defence of the traditional system of grazing, and which has saved this open landscape. Find out about all the benefits of the grazed Forest, about commoners’ year-round care of the animals, and about the commoners themselves. We have section of what we can each do to keep the Forest special – a Shared Forest. We also have pages for our Young Commoners Group and for the Shared Forest Business Group. We really hope you find it useful and enjoyable.

If you appreciate the value of commoning then please do support us by applying to join the CDA. You don’t need to be a commoner to join as an Associate Member.

For the Commoning Voices Exhibition audioguide

About Commoning

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About the Commoners Defence Association

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Latest News

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Geldings – Mares & Stallions

16th April 2019

Stallions, geldings and mares Why do some commoners run geldings on the New Forest, and how might this affect the stallions and mares? By Jenny Tillyer Common Rights of ... READ MORE

It Ain’t What You Do – Its the Way You Do It

7th April 2019

By Tony Hockley Chair, New Forest Commoners Defence Association #DiscoverNationalParks fortnight 2019 As the country celebrates the 70th anniversary of its national parks it ... READ MORE

Rewilding the New Forest?

22nd February 2019

by Tony Hockley, New Forest Commoners Defence Association "You are amazing. We bow down to you. We are trying to emulate what you are doing!" In his opening words to a ... READ MORE

Commoners’ Pride & Chris Packham’s Prejudice

27th January 2019

There can be few things more demotivating than seeing daily vocational effort for a cause you love under attack from sideline commentators, whose opinions are based on personal ... READ MORE

Winter Accidents Campaign

31st October 2018

For the second year running the main Forest organisations have pulled together to highlight the high risk time on the roads around the autumn clock change. Every year animal ... READ MORE

Commoning Voices

30th October 2018

3rd November 2018 sees the exciting launch of a brilliant new exhibition at the New Forest Heritage Centre, Lyndhurst. Made possible by the Heritage Lottery Fund the "Commoning ... READ MORE

Commoning year

New Forest Mare & Foal

May

The first foals beging to arrive, progeny of the stallions selected and turned out last summer. One of the year's two "welfare tours" take place, with a range of national and local organisations setting out in buses from the Verderers Court to assess the condition of the herds around the Forest.

AT the Beaulieu Road saleyard the Spring sale is held.