More than 50 businesses across the New Forest have now signed up to the New Forest Drive Safe campaign to help protect animals and improve road safety. 

The initiative, led by the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA) and New Forest National Park Authority in conjunction with New Forest Roads Awareness, encourages businesses from across the area to raise awareness among staff, customers and visitors about the importance of driving carefully on New Forest roads. 

This is particularly important due to Commoners’ free-roaming animals – namely ponies, cattle, donkeys – as well as other wildlife, who regularly cross roads. 

Beaulieu estate, Harwoods Bentley and McClaren, the Commoners’ Larder and New Forest Fruit Company are among the companies who have already lent their support to the initiative. 

Businesses joining the scheme are listed on the CDA website and can opt into a quarterly newsletter with key road safety messages and seasonal updates, which they are encouraged to share with their employees who regularly travel on Forest roads. 

Animal accident hotline cards are also given out, highlighting who to call in the unfortunate event of an accident involving Forest livestock. 

Andrew Parry-Norton, who run the Commoners’ Larder which delivers farm produce, said: ‘We are very proud to be part of the New Forest Drive Safe campaign.  

‘As a business rooted in commoning, we understand how important Commoners’ free-roaming animals are to the landscape, heritage and way of life.  

‘By supporting this campaign, we hope to help raise awareness of how important it is to drive safely in the New Forest to ensure the safety of both people and Commoners’ livestock.’ 

By signing up to New Forest Drive Safe, businesses are helping to spread awareness of the simple actions drivers can take to reduce the risk of collisions and keep both people and animals safe in the National Park. 

Road traffic remains one of the greatest threats to the welfare of the free-roaming animals who play a vital role in maintaining the unique landscape and habitats through their grazing regimes. 

The New Forest Drive Safe campaign continues to welcome new businesses from across the Forest and surrounding areas.  

From retailers and hospitality venues to tourism operators and service providers, any organisation is encouraged to sign up so it can play a role in helping visitors and residents understand how to drive responsibly in the Forest. 

Businesses interested in joining the campaign can find out more and sign up on the CDA website. 

New Forest CDA vice chair Keith Mansbridge said: ‘We are delighted that more than 50 businesses and organisations have already signed up to support the New Forest Drive Safe campaign.  

‘This demonstrates a strong commitment across the New Forest to reducing animal accidents and promoting safer driving.  

‘However, this is just the beginning. We want to see even more businesses joining the campaign, helping us spread the message further and ensuring that everyone who visits the Forest understands the importance of driving with care.’ 

This press release was issued jointly by the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association and the New Forest National Park Authority.

New Forest CDA chair Andrew Parry-Norton has raised concerns about the activities of Cadnam Cricket Club and the impact they are having on the Open Forest.

Addressing Verderers Court last week, Andrew explained the CDA and Forestry England have met with the club’s new chairman on several occasions in an effort to ensure the club understands its responsibilities when operating within the Forest.

However, he said these discussions had achieved little progress.

‘What was once a small village forest club now seems to have much larger ambitions,’ Andrew told the court.

‘On match or training days the lawns around the enclosed pitch is covered with over 40 cars, the car park which is 50 yards away remains completely empty.’

Further concerns were raised regarding compliance with the club’s licence agreement.

The CDA has called on the Verderers to take a firmer approach to ensure the club complies with the terms of its licence and fulfils its responsibilities to the Forest.

New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA) chair Andrew Parry-Norton has urged people not to leave buckets of water out for New Forest ponies as the outbreak of equine flu continues to spread across the Forest.

In his latest video update, Andrew said the disease has now resulted in 35 pony deaths in the New Forest, with cases continuing to be reported.

As a precaution, the Verderers have cancelled all Drifts during August, with September’s programme under review.

Andrew stressed that while the current hot weather may prompt people to try to help, ponies are well adapted to finding their own water from streams and other natural sources. Leaving buckets of water out can encourage animals to gather unnaturally, increasing the risk of spreading equine flu.

He also provided an update on plans to secure the long-term future of commoning through the proposed Landscape Recovery environmental scheme.

Work is continuing on the application, with a key focus on ensuring commoning remains at the heart of the project. A facilitator is being recruited through a partnership between the CDA, Verderers and New Forest National Park Authority to work with Commoners and organisations, with one of the aims being to develop a grazing management plan.

Watch Andrew’s video in full below or on our Facebook page

With just two weeks to go until the New Forest and Hampshire County Show, we are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA) stand.

Taking place over three days from Tuesday, 28 July to Thursday, 30 July, the Show is one of the biggest events in the New Forest calendar and provides a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the unique tradition of commoning and the people who help care for this internationally important landscape.

Visitors to the CDA stand – which is located in the Heart of the Forest area – can meet Commoners and volunteers, discover how commoning has shaped the New Forest for centuries, and find out why it remains vital to the future of the Forest’s wildlife, habitats and free-roaming animals.

Whether you’re a long-standing supporter or simply curious to learn more, there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions, hear first-hand stories from those involved in commoning, and learn how you can support the work of the Association.

We look forward to welcoming visitors of all ages throughout the three days of the Show.

The Verderers of the New Forest have announced the start of the Drift season has been postponed due to the ongoing outbreak of equine flu.

As a result, no Drifts will take place during August. The decision has been taken to help reduce the risk of further spreading the virus while efforts continue to manage the outbreak.

The Verderers added in a statement: ‘Drifts in September and onwards will be subject to ongoing review depending on the status of the infection.‘

Further updates on the 2026 Drift programme will be shared as soon as more information becomes available.

Members of the public can play an important role in helping to reduce the spread of disease. If visiting the New Forest:

• Keep your distance from all livestock, including ponies, donkeys and cattle
• Do not touch, pet or feed the animals
• If you own or work with horses elsewhere, avoid unnecessary contact with New Forest ponies and ensure good biosecurity measures are followed

The Verderers confirmed earlier this week they are following expert advice in light of the outbreak.

‘You should expect to see ponies with heavy nasal discharge and a dry, harsh cough,’ they said.

‘The Verderers are following veterinary advice which is to leave the affected ponies where they are to avoid causing them unnecessary stress and potentially spreading the virus further.

‘Although mostly airborne the virus can be spread by contact with an affected animal.

‘The advice to horse riders and walkers is to give the ponies as wide a berth as is possible and not to allow ridden horses to drink from communal water troughs.’

This event has been postponed. A new date will be announced in due course.

All New Forest Commoners are invited to the Young Commoners’ summer round-up this weekend.

The round-up is an evening of live music, great food and community spirit, all in support of the Injured Stallion Fund.

It is taking place on Saturday (July 11) at Storms Farm in Cadnam, from 6pm to 10.30pm.

Guests can enjoy live music from Charlie Woodford, a licensed bar and Big Ben’s BBQ, while helping to raise money for a cause that plays an important role in supporting New Forest commoning.

What is the Injured Stallion Fund?

The Injured Stallion Fund was established by the New Forest Young Commoners to help owners of approved New Forest stallions if their stallion is injured while carrying out its breeding duties on the Open Forest.

Each spring, selected pedigree stallions are turned out to roam the Forest with the mares for around six weeks. These stallions are essential to maintaining the health, quality and future of the New Forest pony breed. However, turning valuable breeding stallions onto the Open Forest comes with risks, and injuries can and do occur.

The fund helps contribute towards the costs associated with treating injuries sustained during the breeding season, providing reassurance to stallion owners who make their animals available for the benefit of the wider commoning community.

By supporting the Injured Stallion Fund, you’re helping to safeguard one of the key traditions that underpins commoning in the New Forest and ensuring the future of the iconic New Forest pony.

Tickets

Tickets cost £5, with under 15s going free.

Buy tickets online here

The New Forest CDA is pleased to support this event and encourages Commoners to come along and help raise funds for this valuable initiative.

The New Forest Commoners Defence Association (CDA) has renewed its call for improvements at Penny Moor, urging action to resolve ongoing access issues following habitat restoration work.

Presenting to the Verderers’ Court on Wednesday, June 17, CDA chair Andrew Parry-Norton acknowledged Forestry England’s (FE) many successful restoration projects but said the challenges at Penny Moor continue to overshadow those achievements.

The CDA has previously raised concerns about the site to the north west of Beaulieu and while some remedial work has taken place, the Association says a significant problem remains.

‘Due to large areas being unintentionally flooded and deep impassable mud, access to the ford is nearly impossible,’ Andrew told the court.

‘The public, as well as our stock still try to cross this area, making the conditions even worse. Our concern is there is no way sick animals can be removed; even a member of the public could not be easily evacuated in an emergency.

‘This situation needs to be immediately rectified, [so] we request the Verderers’ enter into discussions with FE to construct a causeway to allow safe access. This needs to be done this year before the onset of poor weather.’

Read the presentment in full by clicking on the link below.

CDA Presentment June 2026

This article by Gilly Jones, chair of the New Forest Animal Accidents Reduction Group, was first published in the CDA’s annual report for 2025.

After the lowest numbers of your livestock deaths in 2024, I have no pleasure in telling you that 2025 was the worst since 2019. So, what have we done to reduce the livestock deaths in the past 12 months?

The New Forest CDA, Young Commoners and New Forest Roads Awareness have been very active on social media, media, radio and television interviews.

Raising the profile of Commoners has always been quite difficult, but we must work together to get to know, like and get people to trust us as guardians of the New Forest.

In late 2025, the CDA launched the New Forest Drive Safe group. The premise is simple: we would like companies with staff who drive in the New Forest to promote animal awareness and safe driving across the National Park, and to educate people in what to do if they are involved in or witness an accident.

We would ask every CDA member to find a business and ask them to sign up.

Operation Mountie is a multi-agency initiative to reduce speeding within the Forest.

It is out monthly, and more often when possible. We have a huge amount of success with this, not only giving education to drivers going a couple on miles an hour over the limit, but tickets to those who go above a set threshold. Cars have been seized due to many offences.

I had a meeting with the Official Verderer, the District Commander for the New Forest Police and the Roads Policing Unit. The Police have committed to more patrols on the key routes where incidents are happening.

We also have an extra speeding deterrent that is new to Hampshire. We are lucky enough to have the speed camera van that is part funded by the Verderers. Now we have access to motorbikes that use video devices to detect and report speeders. They can go to areas that the camera van cannot use.

While doing Op Mountie, my main concern is that people do not know who to call if they witness or are involved in an accident, so please let’s help them in every place we can.

When there has been a collision, I will put a sign out on behalf of the Agisters. I am trialling some that are double sided, so drivers from both directions will see that a RTC (road traffic collision) has happened.

Finally, what can we as Commoners do? Lead by example, pass livestock slow and wide. Please collar your ponies, cattle or donkeys and help spread the word on who to call.

The New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA) is pleased to support the recruitment of a New Forest Facilitator by the Foundation for Common Land.

This exciting new role offers the opportunity to work at the heart of one of the UK’s most distinctive and internationally important landscapes, helping to strengthen collaboration across the New Forest commons and support the long-term future of commoning.

Working in partnership with the CDA, the Verderers of the New Forest and the New Forest National Park Authority, the successful candidate will coordinate the delivery of an ambitious programme of work, building on previous projects to deepen engagement with Commoners, landowners, local stakeholder groups and agents across the Forest.

The New Forest is recognised as one of Europe’s most important landscapes for nature conservation. Its ancient woodlands, wetlands, mires and open heathlands are protected through multiple national and international designations, including Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Ramsar status.

The New Forest’s internationally recognised landscape depends on the continuation of commoning, making this an exciting opportunity to contribute to the future resilience of both the commoning community and the environment it helps sustain.

About the role

The New Forest Facilitator will play a key role in:

• Coordinating project activities with Commoners, landowners and agents across the New Forest commons
• Strengthening collaboration and engagement across the commoning community, building on the foundations of previous initiatives, including the PA2 Study and the Lowland Common Test and Trial
• Supporting the development of best practice governance arrangements in preparation for future schemes
• Producing engaging case studies and sharing learning from the project with partners and wider audiences

The role is ideally suited to someone with experience of project coordination or facilitation within rural, environmental or community settings. Applicants should have excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills and be able to build trusted relationships across diverse land-based communities.

Working with the Foundation for Common Land

The Foundation for Common Land works nationally to support commoning by coordinating knowledge, sharing best practice and representing the interests of Commoners, landowners and partner organisations. It works closely with organisations including Defra, the Rural Payments Agency, Natural England, commoners’ associations and environmental NGOs.

This role offers the opportunity to join a friendly and flexible team while making a meaningful contribution to the future of common land management in the New Forest.

Job details

Contract: Fixed-term for 12 months (with potential for extension, subject to funding)

Hours: 22.5 hours per week (0.6 FTE) with flexible working arrangements

Location: Home-based with opportunities for occasional hot-desking in partner offices. Regular travel throughout the New Forest will be required, with occasional national travel for Foundation for Common Land meetings.

Salary: £32,000–£36,000 pro rata, depending on experience

How to apply

Please send your CV and a covering letter explaining how your skills and experience meet the person specification to laura@foundationforcommonland.org.uk

Application deadline: 11:59pm on Wednesday, 22 July

Interviews: Week commencing Monday, 4 August

For the full job description and further information, visit the Foundation for Common Land website

This article by Daisy Slocombe, chair of the New Forest Young Commoners and New Forest CDA committee member, was first published in the CDA’s annual report for 2025.

The committee has had a busy year, so I hope you’ve got a cuppa and are sitting comfortably.

• Jake and Tom hosted three guided walks; all of these sold out. The boys did an excellent job educating the public on all things commoning and our shared Forest.
• We have taken the mobile exhibition trailer out on three occasions. Rowan, Matt, Sophie, and Isaac took it to the Conservation Day at Beaulieu. Louise, Rowan and Lucy spent the day with it at Bolton’s Bench. Jake and I took it to Holmsley campsite.
• We wrote an article on how the public can support the Forest.
• We collaborated with the Heritage Centre and Culture in Common on a project highlighting the importance of the New Forest pony.
• Jake and Ines supported the New Forest Schools Day by creating an interactive game to teach local children about the New Forest Code.
• Lucy took the reins and organised a fundraising event for the Injured Stallion Fund, generously hosted by the Parry-Nortons.
• We supported stallion owner Kate Robb through the newly devised Injured Stallion Fund, initiated by Luke.
• Collectively we organised the CDA stand at the New Forest Show and achieved a near record breaking total.
• Luke and I met with the deputy surveyor, Craig Harrison, to discuss how Forestry England can support Young Commoners.
• Jonny and I met with Andy and Keith to talk over our finances.
• We welcomed Sam Loades to a meeting on available funding for Commoners.
• Ben organised a successful hedge-laying course.
• Louise represented Young Commoners on the CDA sub-committee on FE housing.
• Recognising that much of the work sustaining commoning happens quietly and without fanfare, the committee introduced the Young Commoner’s Recognition Award to honour outstanding contribution. The award was presented for the first time to Elycia Farnish.
• We hosted a first aid course.

Being Chair is made easy by the strength of this committee. Every member brings new ideas, different perspectives and a proactive approach to the challenges young Commoners face. I am proud of what we have achieved this year and hope everyone reading this feels the same.

Thank you to all the Commoners, especially our elders, for your continued support and willingness to guide us. I hope that with everything I have listed, you are reassured that the Young Commoners committee are passionate about ensuring our indefinite aim of protecting our Forest for future generations.

Help required!

The committee has organised several engagement days with Camping in the Forest, where we will take the MET to selected campsites, and we would value your support.

If you can help at any of the following events, please get in touch, as even a few hours make a real difference.

• Tuesday 28^th, Wednesday 29^th, Thursday 30^th July: New Forest Show (branding or taking orders)
• Saturday 8^th August: MET @ Denny Campsite, 10am-3pm