New Forest Commoners urged to stay vigilant as chair Andrew Parry-Norton issues update

New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association chair Andrew Parry-Norton has shared his latest monthly video update, covering everything from the importance of protecting commoning rights to livestock health, foal season and the release of stallions.

Andrew began by reflecting on the many organisations involved in managing and protecting the New Forest, including the Verderers, Forestry England, the National Park Authority and Commoners themselves.

‘Over the years, this has been a great protection for the Forest,’ he says. ‘It’s protected the Forest and it’s why we still have what we see today.’

However, he acknowledged that the different layers of governance can also make it difficult to move policies forward and get things done quickly.

‘We have to try our best to work together and work out how we can achieve that,” he says.

Andrew said a recent conversation with Commoners in the Forest of Dean had reinforced just how important it is to continue protecting the New Forest’s traditions and rights.

After a discussion with Commoners in the Forest of Dean, he describes their situation as ‘really unfortunate.’

‘The person running the association there described it as ‘death by a thousand cuts’,’ Andrew explained. “Small things have happened over the years, but they’ve added up and added up.”

He said commoning in the Forest of Dean is now ‘virtually non-existent,’ with numbers reportedly reduced to around 50 Commoners.

‘It drove home to me that although we have got these layers of governance, they have protected us as Commoners and everybody else,’ he says. ‘We have to make sure we don’t just give up on small things. We need to protect our rights, protect the Forest and not concede.’

The update also included an important reminder about the New Forest CDA’s BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea) vaccination programme.

With support from the New Forest Trust, around 800 cattle were vaccinated last year, with the programme continuing again this year.

BVD is a highly contagious disease which can cause abortion in cattle and significant welfare and financial impacts.

‘As you know, the whole Forest is one [cattle] herd,’ Andrew says. ‘Once it gets into a herd it can cause huge financial loss, but also welfare issues for the cows.’

He encouraged Commoners with cattle turned out on the Forest to get in touch about the free vaccinations.

Andrew also highlighted growing concerns around neospora, a parasite spread by dogs through contaminated faeces. The parasite can cause severe abortion in cattle and has become an increasing issue in the Forest.

He explains that dogs can become carriers after eating raw dog food which has not been frozen to the correct temperature for long enough to kill the parasite.

‘If dogs eat raw dog food and then poo on the Forest, they shed oocysts onto the ground,’ he says. ‘If a cow eats around that area, it can cause severe abortion in cattle.’

Andrew also reminded members of the public that foal season is now underway, with young foals increasingly being seen across the Forest.

‘Do be careful,’ he says. ‘They dart all over the place, especially if the foal is one side of the road and the mare is on the other.’

He urged drivers to slow down and stay alert, particularly on unfenced roads.

Meanwhile, the annual stallion turn-out has begun, with the stallions spending up to six weeks on the Forest carrying out their important role in breeding New Forest ponies.

‘We need as many filly foals as we can to carry on those bloodlines,’ Andrew says. While describing the stallions as ‘really impressive animals,’ he urged people to admire them from a safe distance and avoid approaching them, especially while riding horses nearby.

‘They are only out there for a short period of time,’ he says. ‘Please just give them space and let them do their job.’

Watch the full video on the New Forest CDA’s Facebook page