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
New Forest Mare & FoalApril
Time to inspect colts in the stallion "passing", while the foals by the previous summer's stallions start to arrive on the Open Forest
The Shared Forest
Latest News
Public Engagement Training for Commoners: 31st March 2020
5th March 2020
In 2019 the CDA realised that we could do a lot better in the way we communicate directly with the public about commoning and the New Forest. Part of ... READ MORE
All change!
27th February 2020
Tony Hockley, CDA Chair 27th February 2020 The Government has now offered more clues regarding post-Brexit agricultural and environmental policies. These will be made possible ... READ MORE
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
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