Residents of the New Forest district will be served by two new unitary councils from April 2028.

The announcement was made by the Government on Wednesday amid local government reorganisation (LGR) for Hampshire.

It means residents of the Waterside will receive services from a new local authority, alongside Southampton, Eastleigh and part of Test Valley while those in the rest of the Forest will receive their services from a separate new mid-Hampshire council.

This will also cover East Hampshire, Winchester and a large part of Test Valley.

The two new unitary councils will comprise:

• South West: Southampton, Eastleigh and the parishes of Totton and Eling, Marchwood, Hythe and Dibden, Fawley (New Forest) and Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams, and Valley Park (Test Valley)
• Mid Hampshire: East Hampshire, Winchester, Test Valley and the New Forest, excluding the Parishes in the New Forest and Test Valley, specified above.

Kate Ryan, chief executive of New Forest District Council, said: ‘I know many residents will be wondering what this means for them and the services they rely on. The most important thing to say today is that nothing is changing right now.

‘There are no immediate changes to our services, our staff are still out doing their jobs, and the ways to contact us stay the same. It’s business as usual while in the background we work to create two successful new councils.’

Andrew Parry-Norton, chair of the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA), delivered two presentments at this month’s Verderers’ Court.

He raised concerns on behalf of the CDA over car park café licences and encouraged support for the recognition of commoning as living heritage in a survey.

Speaking to Verderers on Wednesday, March 18, he reiterated the Association’s opposition to the licensing of mobile food and drink vans in New Forest car parks.

He stressed that the CDA’s position remains unchanged, with concerns centred on the impact the vans can have on commoning and the wider Forest environment.

While licences are now due for renewal, the CDA highlighted a previous commitment by Forestry England to relocate suitable vans into enclosed areas, with remaining sites fenced to prevent access by free-roaming livestock.

However, the CDA noted this undertaking has not yet been fulfilled so as a result, has formally requested the Verderers withhold their consent for any licence renewals unless – and until – these agreed conditions are properly implemented.

In a second presentment, Andrew issued a reminder to New Forest Commoners to fill in a survey regarding the long-term safeguarding of commoning through cultural recognition.

The Association is urging Commoners to complete the Inventory of Living Heritage survey, which forms part of a wider effort to have commoning acknowledged under the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The survey has been sent out to Commoners by the Verderers and CDA, with the deadline to complete it coming at the end of the week.

Read both presentments through the link below.

New Forest CDA presentment March 2026

New Forest Commoners are being urged to email Forestry England (FE) as soon as possible to obtain a parking permit.

It comes ahead of the roll-out of car parking charges across the New Forest by FE in all of its 129 car parks at the end of April.

Commoners must email the address below and then fill in an application form to secure their exemption.

A statement from FE says:

‘Practising Commoners will be exempt from charges for parking to ensure they can continue to tend to their livestock. This approach has been agreed with the Verderers of the New Forest and the Commoners’ Defence Association.

‘Forestry England will approve exemptions subsequent to confirmation by the Verderers that marking fees have been paid for the current year, or where continued commoning activity can be demonstrated through previous payment of marking fees and intent to de-pasture stock during the current year.

‘To apply for a commoning parking exemption, please contact newforestparking@forestryengland.uk who will be able to provide further details and an online application form.’ 

Discover the world of New Forest commoning during a special walk and talk led by two Young Commoners later this month.

The event, which takes place on Friday, March 27 between 10am and 12pm at Beaulieu Road sale yard, will offer a rare insight into one of the practices that helps shape the landscape of the New Forest.

Young Commoners Jake Moore and Tom Hordle will share their first-hand experiences of commoning, explaining how Commoners and their livestock play a vital role in maintaining the unique habitats and open landscapes that make the Forest so special.

The walk and talk will take place within the grounds of the sale yard, located opposite Beaulieu Road railway station. Tickets cost £5, with under-16s able to attend for free. Free parking will be available on site and toilet facilities are provided.

All proceeds will go towards supporting the New Forest Young Commoners

Tickets can be booked through the Eventbrite page

The walk and talk is part of the New Forest National Park Authority’s 2026 Awakening Festival, celebrating climate and nature throughout the month of March. Find out more about the festival on the NPA website

This year’s guest speaker at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association will be Gemma Stride from Freshwater Habitats Trust.

Gemma works with land managers and conservation partners to protect and restore freshwater habitats, and will be speaking about the importance of ponds, streams and wetlands in supporting wildlife and Commoners’ livestock across the New Forest.

Freshwater habitats are among the most important environments for biodiversity in the UK, providing a home for a wide range of plants and animals.

Her talk will also highlight work being carried out through the CDA and partner organisations – such as the Species Survival Fund – to improve freshwater habitats within the Forest landscape.

The AGM will take place at Lyndhurst Community Centre at 7.30pm on Friday, April 24 and is open to all full and associate members of the CDA.

Members of the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA) are warmly invited to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is taking place at the end of April.

The AGM is an important opportunity to hear about the work carried out over the past year to support commoning in the New Forest, and to look ahead to the challenges and priorities for the year to come.

The evening will include reports from officers, updates on key issues affecting Commoners, and the election of committee members. It is also a chance for members to raise questions, share views and contribute to the ongoing direction of the Association.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm on Friday, April 24 at Lyndhurst Community Centre.

Andrew Parry-Norton, chair of the New Forest CDA, said: ‘The AGM is always a valuable opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved together over the past year and to focus on the issues that matter most to Commoners in the New Forest.

‘The strength of the CDA lies in the active involvement of its members, and I would encourage anyone with views about how we can progress commoning to come along and take part.’

All full and associate members are encouraged to attend and take part in what promises to be an informative and constructive evening.

Refreshments will be provided and there will hopefully be a guest speaker too.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Our chair, Andrew Parry-Norton, has delivered his monthly update for New Forest CDA members.

In his latest video, which you can watch below or on our Facebook page, Andrew talks about the importance of communication between organisations in the Forest, plans for an abattoir and ideas to mark the 150th anniversary of the 1877 New Forest Act next year.

If you would like to provide any feedback on the video, then message us through the ‘Contact’ form at the top of this page.

The New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA) made two presentments at this month’s Verderers’ Court. The presentments were made by president Mike Eccles on Wednesday, 18 February.

The first was in response to a presentment heard at January’s sitting, requesting for permission to install a cattle grid outside a house in Burley. Mike told the court the CDA will be opposed to any such plan given it would be classed as an encroachment.

‘We acknowledge there is little grazing lost as this is a track, but agreeing to this would set an example to other potential encroachments that it’s acceptable to enclose Forest ground if it’s not grazed,’ the court heard.

‘We suggest to the resident that they construct this large entrance and grid within the fenced curtilage of their property. Everyone that moves into and lives in the Forest has to accept that the ponies and cattle are a huge part of the Forest; they are not to be seen as an inconvenience.

‘Encroachments to the Forest in any form will be strongly contested by the Commoners Defence Association. We will strongly oppose the permission allowing this grid, gates and walls to be installed.’

The second presentment called on the Verderers and fellow Commoners to support commoning being listed under the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage – an initiative which backs cultural communities and the passing of information through the generations.

‘Commoning in the New Forest is a unique part of England’s living heritage and we need to ensure that it is protected in as many ways as possible,’ Mike told the court. ‘Being listed under the UNESCO Convention is the first step to being officially recognised as a minority Cultural Group.’

Read the two presentments in full below.

CDA Presentment – Dower House, Burley

CDA Presentment – Living Heritage

New Forest CDA chair Andrew Parry-Norton has asked Verderers for permission to put out signs at every car park in the Forest to help dissuade people from interacting with livestock.

There are currently signs out in certain places in the New Forest, urging people not to touch or feed the animals.

However, the CDA wishes to extend the signage to every car park and at all the main entrances into the Forest to highlight the message.

Speaking at the sitting of Verderers Court on Wednesday, January 21, Andrew said: ‘As visitor numbers increase, the risk of stock interaction with public becomes increasingly more common and as part of the education of the public, signage plays an important role.

‘Another reason for the signs as recently advised by Forestry England’s Health and Safety officer to the CDA committee, is to reduce the risk of litigation to a Commoner in the event of an incident.

‘It is a basic requirement of the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) that signs should be clearly and prominently displayed informing the public of not touching, feeding or going near the stock. We cannot afford to ignore this advice.

‘The CDA paid for approximately 50 yellow metal A boards that were then displayed at prominent locations around the Forest.

‘Although looking industrial and unsightly, these signs are very noticeable and clearly display the message of not interacting with the animals. We must do all we can to encourage Commoners to turn out their stock and not be dissuaded by the risk of legal action.

‘The Commoners Defence Association will purchase, hopefully with the help of the New Forest Trust, more of these signs but request from the Verderers their support and permission to locate them at all car parks and main entrances into the Forest.’

The Verderers will respond to the request at this month’s (February) court held on Wednesday, February 18.

Ponies, cattle and donkeys can all kick or bite if startled or to protect their young, while feeding them can cause digestive problems, choking, colic and long-term illness.

The chair of the New Forest CDA Andrew Parry-Norton has delivered his monthly update to members.

In his latest January video, he talks about a number of subjects including a presentment made at Verderers Court calling for more signs in Forest car parks, a potential new abattoir for Hampshire and the increase in animal accidents last year.

Watch his video below or on our Facebook page here