Katie Walding, Author at Real New Forest

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

New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association chair Andrew Parry-Norton has expressed his dismay as the number of accidents involving Commoners’ livestock has increased.

It comes amid the release of the animal accident report for 2025, which outlines the number of incidents involving livestock in the Forest over the year.

During 2025, there were 108 reported animal accidents involving New Forest ponies, cattle and donkeys, resulting in 47 animals being killed. This represents an increase on the previous year, when 97 accidents were recorded and 37 animals lost.

Despite this recent rise, the long-term trend remains encouraging, with animal accident numbers showing a clear overall decline since records began in 1991.

Organisations involved in the New Forest Animal Accidents Reduction Group – including the CDA – are renewing their call for motorists to drive with care, adapt their speed to road and weather conditions, and pass livestock slowly and with plenty of space, helping to keep both people and animals safe.

Andrew outlined the impact each accident can have on New Forest Commoners, saying: ‘Every Commoner dreads the phone call in the evening or the middle of the night from the Agister.

‘Hearing that one of your animals has been killed on the road is devastating. These animals are not just livestock – many have been bred and cared for by the same families for generations, and each one is known and valued.

‘While there is a financial cost, it is nothing compared to the emotional loss felt by the Commoner and their family. Losing an animal in this way is deeply distressing, and with the rise in accidents we are seeing, that impact is being felt far too often across the Forest.’

Although the number of accidents occurring at night fell in 2025 compared with the previous year, night-time remains the period when most incidents take place. Of particular concern is an increase in accidents during daylight and twilight hours.

Hit-and-run incidents also remain stubbornly high, with 18 recorded in 2025, similar to the figures seen in the two preceding years.

‘Drive with care on Forest roads’

It is a legal requirement for any road traffic accident involving New Forest livestock to be reported to the police within 24 hours, even if the animal runs away from the scene.

Providing a What3Words location can greatly assist efforts to locate injured animals. A reward of up to £5,000 is available for information leading to the conviction of a driver who fails to report an animal accident.

Head Agister Jonathan Gerrelli added: ‘It’s very disappointing that the number of accidents has increased, despite the efforts of the organisations involved in trying to reduce them.

‘I would again like to remind drivers to drive with care on Forest roads, drive to the road conditions and pass livestock wide and slow. If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident with a Forest animal, please report to the police as soon as possible.

‘The Agisters are on call 24 hours a day to deal with livestock emergencies.’

‘All drivers should expect that, once they cross a cattle grid, they will encounter livestock’

Gilly Jones, New Forest Roads Awareness and Chair of the Animal Accidents Reduction Group, said: ‘The aftermath of an accident has a serious effect on the driver, passengers and witnesses. All drivers should expect that, once they cross a cattle grid, they will encounter livestock.

‘While speeding is a factor, inconsiderate driving around livestock has also caused some of these accidents. The increase in accidents in daylight and twilight is the most worrying statistic.

‘We have to collectively work harder to get these figures back down. We ask companies that use Forest roads to sign up to the New Forest Drive Safe initiative.’

The Animal Accidents Reduction Group includes the CDA, Forestry England, Verderers of the New Forest, New Forest National Park Authority, New Forest District Council, Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Constabulary, New Forest Trust and British Deer Society.

Full statistics and further information can be found on the New Forest National Park Authority website

The New Forest Livestock Society has confirmed this year’s dates for the pony sales at Beaulieu Road sale yard.

The sales will take place on the following dates:

Beaulieu Road sale yard – Thursday, May 28
Beaulieu Road sale yard – Thursday, October 8
Beaulieu Road sale yard – Thursday, November 5 (tentative pre-sale foal show)
Timed online sale – Friday, November 27 to Wednesday, December 2

The sales give New Forest Commoners – as well as members of the public – the opportunity to buy and sell high-quality Forest ponies.

Members of the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association are being urged to write to Winchester City Council in support of a new abattoir in Hampshire.

NCFDA chair Andrew Parry-Norton says: ‘Talks are taking place with Winchester City Council regarding a new abattoir for Hampshire.

‘There is a huge pot of money available and rural diversification has four projects, and number one is the abattoir.

‘We need 50 letters of support of this project and what it means to rural businesses in the New Forest.

‘If you are able to help please email them to: sdixon@winchester.gov.uk with the heading ‘Abattoir support letter.’

‘Thank you.’

We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy New Year from the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association.

Thank you for supporting commoning over the past 12 months and we look forward to what lies ahead in 2026.

Our membership continues to grow and we hope this will continue over the coming months.

The Forest continues to face many challenges but the NFCDA will always be a strong voice for the commoning community.

As ever, if there are any issues you would like to raise with us, simply use the contact form above.

Our chair Andrew Parry-Norton has provided his final video update of the year to members of the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association.

In the video he provides an update on the bid for a Landscape Recovery scheme, the guidance relating to food waste bins for Forest residents and the latest on how upcoming car parking charges will impact Commoners.

You can watch his video on our Facebook page here

A Forestry England property near Lyndhurst has become available to rent for New Forest Commoners.

Park Grounds Cottage in Clayhill is a three-bedroom detached cottage on the A337 backing onto Park Ground inclosure. Back-up grazing is attached.

There is an agricultural shed although there is no water or electricity supplied to it.

The rent is £1,140 per calendar month (fully subsidised commoning rent) and the deadline to submit an application of interest in the property is 5pm on Friday, 16 January

Viewings are by appointment only and will take place between Monday, 5 January and Thursday, 15 January.

For more information about the property itself and to fill in an application form, please see the links below.

Park Grounds Cottage, Clayhill, Lyndhurst

Further information

Park Grounds Cottage Particulars

Application Form and FAQs

Declaration of Household Income

For any other questions or queries, please email Fergus Robertson-McIsaac at Forestry England: fergus.robertson-mc@forestryengland.uk

The salt licks are back out for a fifth year to help protect New Forest livestock.

Two of our committee members – Bill Howells (pictured above) and Tony Vanderhoek – have placed 30 salt licks across the Forest.

They have been placed in various locations, including along the B3054 Bull Hill to Furzey Lodge and Hilltop to Dibden Purlieu. They are also situated along the B3078 Cadnam to Godshill and B3079 at Turf Hill.

The salt licks, which are formed of large blocks of Himalayan salt inside old tyres, are a way of enticing livestock away from busy roads where they are in danger of being hit by traffic.

This is heightened during cold weather and when gritting lorries have been out, leading to lots of salt on the roads which draws in the animals.

Pictured above: New Forest salt lick

It is hoped the salt licks will keep animals off and away from the roads by providing a safer alternative in a more natural habitat.

Even with these measures in place, we still ask all drivers in the Forest to drive to the conditions, expect the unexpected and prepare to stop at any time.

If you are involved in an accident involving a pony, cow, donkey, pig or sheep, you are required by law to report it to the police by ringing 999 as soon as possible.

A big thank you to The New Forest Trust for helping fund the salt lick project. Find out more about what the Trust does on its website here

The New Forest Trust works to preserve, sustain and enhance the unique beauty and conservation value of the New Forest for future generations.

It has helped the New Forest CDA in a number of ways over recent years, such as:

– Providing a £5,000 grant towards a vaccination programme for cattle against BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea), helping improve livestock health and support Commoners financially.

– Funding the ongoing salt lick project run by Commoners (and overseen by the CDA) which places Himalayan salt bowls in strategic locations to encourage ponies/livestock away from roads, reducing animal accidents.

– Supporting initiatives through small grants that help maintain traditional commoning practices

Now, there is an easy way to support the Trust – the New Forest Community Lottery.

Tickets to play cost just £1 per week and 60% of that goes to good causes.

There is also a jackpot of £25,000 should you match all six numbers.

Get your ticket and support the New Forest Trust through this link

Good luck!

A big thank you to all New Forest CDA members who turned out for our Mid-Term meeting at Bramshaw Village Hall last month – it was an excellent turn out and we hope all who attended had an enjoyable evening.

Chair Andrew Parry-Norton provided an overview of the past year and some of main issues which the CDA has been working on, on behalf of New Forest Commoners.

Issues include the introduction of parking charges by Forestry England, New Forest District Council’s roll-out of the new bins and how the Forest and commoning will be impacted by local government reorganisation.

Committee member James Young gave an update and overview of encroachments and why it is so important to keep on top of them throughout the Forest.

Chair of the Young Commoners, Daisy Slocombe, recapped some of the key events for the organisation over the past year while the CDA’s honorary vet Alex Crook talked about this year’s Pannage season, neospora and strangles, as well as a potential vaccine for the latter.

The guest speaker on the night was Professor Russell Wynn, director of Wild New Forest. His talk focused on some of the current pressures facing the New Forest, from climate change and conservation grazing to land management and pollution.

Russell spoke about the need to balance preservation against restoration, and how important it is to spread more positive messaging and stories about New Forest commoning to a wider audience as much as possible.

He also emphasised the importance of working together alongside New Forest Commoners to help safeguard the Forest’s future.