Welcome
This website is for anyone interested in discovering 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. 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
About the Commoners Defence Association
Latest News
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
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