New Forest CDA presentments at Verderers Court – February 2026

The New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA) made two presentments at this month’s Verderers’ Court. The presentments were made by president Mike Eccles on Wednesday, 18 February.

The first was in response to a presentment heard at January’s sitting, requesting for permission to install a cattle grid outside a house in Burley. Mike told the court the CDA will be opposed to any such plan given it would be classed as an encroachment.

‘We acknowledge there is little grazing lost as this is a track, but agreeing to this would set an example to other potential encroachments that it’s acceptable to enclose Forest ground if it’s not grazed,’ the court heard.

‘We suggest to the resident that they construct this large entrance and grid within the fenced curtilage of their property. Everyone that moves into and lives in the Forest has to accept that the ponies and cattle are a huge part of the Forest; they are not to be seen as an inconvenience.

‘Encroachments to the Forest in any form will be strongly contested by the Commoners Defence Association. We will strongly oppose the permission allowing this grid, gates and walls to be installed.’

The second presentment called on the Verderers and fellow Commoners to support commoning being listed under the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage – an initiative which backs cultural communities and the passing of information through the generations.

‘Commoning in the New Forest is a unique part of England’s living heritage and we need to ensure that it is protected in as many ways as possible,’ Mike told the court. ‘Being listed under the UNESCO Convention is the first step to being officially recognised as a minority Cultural Group.’

Read the two presentments in full below.

CDA Presentment – Dower House, Burley

CDA Presentment – Living Heritage