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
New Forest Mare & FoalMay
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.
The Shared Forest
Latest News
New Forest Awards 2025: Could you be this year’s Commoning Champion?
16th May 2025
Do you know someone who makes an exceptional contribution to New Forest commoning? Then now is the time to get them recognised as part of the New Forest National Park ... READ MORE
New Forest CDA committee confirmed for 2025/26
14th May 2025
The New Forest CDA committee has been confirmed for the year 2025/26. Andrew Parry-Norton has been re-elected as the group's chair, with Keith Mansbridge replacing Robert ... READ MORE
How salt licks, signs and fences are helping keep New Forest livestock safe
13th May 2025
This is a report on salt licks, signs and replacement fences in the New Forest, organised by CDA committee member Tony Vanderhoek. The report was first published in the CDA annual ... READ MORE
‘Let’s try it, we can’t lose’ – Andrew Parry-Norton’s latest video update for NFCDA members
7th May 2025
Andrew Parry-Norton outlined a number of key issues facing commoners in his monthly video update. He talks about a report from New Forest National Park Authority member Brice ... READ MORE
Birch felling, track repairs and bridge battle among key issues on open Forest
6th May 2025
This is a report on Open Forest management, by New Forest CDA vice chair Robert Stride. It was first published in the CDA's annual report for 2025. CDA committee members Robert ... READ MORE
The ongoing challenge of encroachments for the New Forest CDA
28th April 2025
This report is from James Young, chair of the Encroachments Sub Committee and was first published in the New Forest CDA annual report for 2025. It has been another busy year ... READ MORE
New Forest foal season approaching
28th April 2025
Foal season is almost upon us, meaning the first of the New Forest foals will be emerging over the next few weeks. The foals are the offspring of the stallions turned out last ... READ MORE
Stallions to be turned out on the New Forest for six weeks
24th April 2025
Stallions will be released on the New Forest for a six-week period this summer. A total of 21 have been chosen and will be turned out to breed with the free-roaming mares ... READ MORE
Campaigning continues to help reduce number of New Forest animal accidents
17th April 2025
This is an update on animal accidents in the New Forest from Gilly Jones, who is chair of the Animal Accidents Reduction Group and who leads the New Forest Roads Awareness ... READ MORE
Burning and pony welfare – New Forest CDA’s April presentments at Verderers’ Court
16th April 2025
New Forest CDA chair Andrew Parry-Norton made two presentments in front of Verderers at their April open court session. The first presentment thanked Forestry England for 'a ... READ MORE
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