About Commoning
The commoning community are a vibrant and diverse community of people who come from all walks of life. Individually they have rights to turn ponies, cattle, pigs, donkeys and sheep out to graze and browse the New Forest’s woodlands, heathlands and lawns. Together the commoners and their animals have shaped the New Forest for generations. There are five Forest Rights:
Pasture, Mast, Estovers, Turbary and Marl
Commoning year
July
Commoners and their animals scrub up for the New Forest Show, and the CDA gets busy branding house nameplates for sale at the Show.
Some will be making hay while the sun shines, saving money from having to buy in winter hay, some training their young ponies, and others welcoming people to camp in their fields.
The Shared Forest
Latest News
New Forest CDA raises Cadnam Cricket Club concerns at Verderers Court
22nd July 2026
New Forest CDA chair Andrew Parry-Norton has raised concerns about the activities of Cadnam Cricket Club and the impact they are having on the Open Forest. Addressing Verderers ... READ MORE
New Forest CDA chair Andrew Parry-Norton shares equine flu warning and commoning update
17th July 2026
New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA) chair Andrew Parry-Norton has urged people not to leave buckets of water out for New Forest ponies as the outbreak of equine flu ... READ MORE
Come and visit the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association at the New Forest Show
14th July 2026
With just two weeks to go until the New Forest and Hampshire County Show, we are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the New Forest Commoners' Defence Association (CDA) ... READ MORE
New Forest Drifts postponed after equine flu outbreak
7th July 2026
The Verderers of the New Forest have announced the start of the Drift season has been postponed due to the ongoing outbreak of equine flu. As a result, no Drifts will take ... READ MORE
POSTPONED: Young Commoners’ summer round-up
6th July 2026
This event has been postponed. A new date will be announced in due course. All New Forest Commoners are invited to the Young Commoners' summer round-up this weekend. The ... READ MORE
New Forest CDA calls for safe access at Penny Moor following restoration concerns
6th July 2026
The New Forest Commoners Defence Association (CDA) has renewed its call for improvements at Penny Moor, urging action to resolve ongoing access issues following habitat ... READ MORE
Battle continues to reduce number of New Forest animal accidents
2nd July 2026
This article by Gilly Jones, chair of the New Forest Animal Accidents Reduction Group, was first published in the CDA’s annual report for 2025. After the lowest numbers of ... READ MORE
Job opportunity to help shape future of New Forest commoning
30th June 2026
The New Forest Commoners' Defence Association (CDA) is pleased to support the recruitment of a New Forest Facilitator by the Foundation for Common Land. This exciting new role ... READ MORE
How the Young Commoners are helping protect New Forest for future generations
29th June 2026
This article by Daisy Slocombe, chair of the New Forest Young Commoners and New Forest CDA committee member, was first published in the CDA’s annual report for 2025. The ... READ MORE
From drought to deluge: Head agister reflects on how New Forest Commoners’ livestock coped during challenging year
18th June 2026
This article by Head Agister and New Forest CDA committee member Jonathan Gerrelli was first published in the CDA’s annual report for 2025. Over the past year the New Forest ... READ MORE
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