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
- Marl
Commoning year
December
The shortest days
December sees the final sale of the year of New Forest ponies at Beaulieu Road Pony Sale. Commoners will have been out across the Forest catching the last few mares and foals in preparation for the sale. Many ponies are not caught on the drifts and commoners will go out alone or in small groups to catch individual ponies.
In some years the acorn crop is heavy and commoners with the right of pannage are given an extension to continue turning their pigs out, this occasionally lasts until New Years Day. Commoners on the Crown lands, with a sow in pig, can also apply for a licence to continue turning her out so long as she returns home each night to sleep.
The Shared Forest
Latest News
What’s the New Forest done for us?
18th November 2019
The past three years have given ample time for Britain to think about what a break from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) could mean for the countryside and nature. Could the ... READ MORE
New Forest commoners advised to remove cattle horns
15th October 2019
The New Forest Commoners' Defence Association (CDA) is advising commoners in the New Forest to dehorn their cattle. This unprecedented move comes after a series of serious ... READ MORE
Kick on! The Glover Review & The New Forest
23rd September 2019
CDA Chair, Tony Hockley, offers his personal views on the review of national landscapes The review of Designated Landscapes led by Julian Glover faced a huge ... READ MORE
Special CDA/Verderers Meeting for Cattle Commoners
30th August 2019
Recreation & Cattle 7.30pm, 19th September 2019, Lyndhurst Community Centre All cattle commoners are invited to a special meeting hosted jointly by the Official Verderer ... READ MORE
Forestry England’s housing sell-off halted by Ministers, for now…
5th August 2019
In May 2019 the CDA wrote to Michael Gove alerting him to Forestry England's new and unauthorised approach to marketing Crown-owned land and homes in the New Forest. After a long ... READ MORE
Forestry England celebrates 100 years: Back to the Future
14th May 2019
Forestry England "celebrates" its centenary this year. It will be much less of a celebration amongst those who care for the New Forest. Austerity has seen significant real cuts to ... READ MORE
Geldings – Mares & Stallions
16th April 2019
Stallions, geldings and mares Why do some commoners run geldings on the New Forest, and how might this affect the stallions and mares? By Jenny Tillyer Common Rights of ... READ MORE
It Ain’t What You Do – Its the Way You Do It
7th April 2019
By Tony Hockley Chair, New Forest Commoners Defence Association #DiscoverNationalParks fortnight 2019 As the country celebrates the 70th anniversary of its national parks it ... READ MORE
Burning issues
22nd February 2019
by Jenny Tillyer, New Forest commoner, February 2019 Burning on the Forest: Controlled and Wildfire The traditional burning season is just getting underway and I wanted to ... READ MORE
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
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