New Forest businesses are urged to join the 100 organisations already signed up to a free safer driving initiative marking its one-year anniversary this month.

The New Forest Drive Safe group was launched to encourage local organisations to promote safer driving among employees, contractors and customers, following one of the worst years for New Forest Commoners’ livestock deaths due to road accidents.

In the year since, more than 100 businesses have signed up to the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association-led (CDA) initiative, which is supported by the New Forest National Park Authority and Forestry England.

Animal accidents are most frequent during the winter months, due to the clocks going back and more journeys being completed in darkness or poor weather conditions. It‘s the law to report an accident involving New Forest livestock to the police as soon as possible and within 24 hours, even if the animal has run off.

Companies which sign up are provided with stickers, hotline cards and advice to help make staff aware of the risks of driving near livestock and what to do if they are involved in an incident with an animal.

The initiative has attracted support from businesses and organisations across the New Forest, including New Forest Ice Cream, Hockey’s Farm Shop and Forest Park Country Hotel. All companies involved in the group are listed on the CDA website.

New Forest CDA Chair, Andrew Parry-Norton said: ‘Reaching 100 businesses is a fantastic milestone for New Forest Drive Safe.

‘As we head into autumn, it’s a particularly important time to remind drivers that conditions on the Forest change with the seasons.

‘A few extra minutes on a journey, reducing your speed and being prepared for animals on the road can make a real difference to ensuring the safety of people and Commoners’ livestock in the National Park.’

Pony near the road at night (credit: Russell Sach / New Forest NPA)

New Forest National Park Authority member Ann Sevier said: ‘Everyone who drives on roads in the National Park has a duty to look out for free-roaming livestock as part of Team New Forest.

‘We’re thankful for every business which has already signed up, and urge anyone who has employees, contractors or customers who drive in the Forest to also join the group.’

Forestry England recreation manager, Charlotte Belcher said: ‘Free roaming ponies and animals are an iconic part of the New Forest and play a key role in helping to manage this special landscape.

‘It’s important that everyone driving on Forest roads is aware that these animals can be on or very close to the roads at any time of the day or night.

‘It’s really positive to see so many businesses in the area getting behind this initiative and we encourage any who haven’t signed up yet to join this winter.’

New Forest Roads Awareness lead and chair of the Animal Accidents Reduction Group, Gilly Jones said: ‘No one wants to be involved in a collision, but everyone should know who to call if they are unlucky enough to witness or are involved in an accident.

‘It’s important that businesses join New Forest Drive Safe to reduce the amount of livestock deaths and the senseless hit and runs.’

Animal accident cars and stickers which are given to members of New Forest Drive Safe

New Forest Ice Cream marketing officer, Frankie Skinner said: ‘We signed up to the Drive Safe campaign because, as a local business with deliveries throughout the New Forest and surrounding areas, we recognise the importance of driving safely through the Forest.

‘Many of our employees also travel through the area every day, so we feel it’s important to support initiatives that help protect the wildlife and reduce the risk of accidents.

‘Signing up to the campaign is a simple but meaningful way to encourage our employees to drive responsibly. We hope that, by working together, we can help make a difference and reduce the number of accidents on the Forest’s roads.’

New Forest Drive Safe encourages businesses to remind their staff and customers:

• Slow down and drive to the conditions

• Take extra care at dawn and dusk – particularly when visibility is limited

• Expect animals on the road and be prepared to stop

• Give ponies, cattle, donkeys and pigs plenty of space and never sound your horn or try to pass too closely

• Allow extra time for journeys rather than feeling pressured to make up time

• Be particularly careful when sun glare, fog, rain or wet roads reduce visibility

• If you’re in an accident involving livestock, it’s a legal requirement to report it to the police within 24 hours and provide the location, including what3words if possible.

Businesses can join free of charge by filling out the form on the CDA website: New Forest Drive Safe – Real New Forest.

Hotline cards with information on who to call in the event of a road accident with New Forest livestock can be downloaded on the NPA website: Animal Accidents – New Forest National Park

New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association chair, Andrew Parry-Norton has issued his monthly update to members and those interested in commoning in the Forest.

In his latest edition for October, he talks about the uncertainty around agri-environment funding, concerns about a proposed food van at Bolton’s Bench and the importance of driving carefully as the darker evenings return.

Watch Andrew’s full October video update below for more information.

How do Commoners and their livestock help create the New Forest landscape we know and love? Find out on a special guided walk led by several members of the Young Commoners group as part of this year’s New Forest Walking Festival.

Taking place on Friday 30 October, from 10am to midday, the walk will explore the area in and around Beaulieu Road Sales Yard, offering an insight into the traditions, skills and everyday work behind commoning in the New Forest.

Participants will discover more about the role Commoners play in caring for the Forest and how grazing livestock help maintain its distinctive landscape, supporting the habitats and wildlife that make the New Forest so special.

The event is a chance to hear directly from the next generation of Commoners, learn about a tradition that has shaped the Forest for centuries and gain a greater understanding of why commoning remains so important today.

Beaulieu Road sales yard

Event details

• Date: Friday, October 30
• Time: 10am–12pm
• Meeting point: Beaulieu Road car park, opposite Beaulieu Road railway station
• Cost: £5 per person; under-16s go free
• Duration: Approximately two hours
• What to bring: Suitable clothing and walking boots are recommended
• Parking: Available on site; charges apply in Forestry England car parks

Book your place on the walk on the Eventbrite page

The walk is part of the New Forest Walking Festival 2026, organised by the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA).

Find more walks taking place on the NPA page here

The New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA) will be increasing annual membership subscriptions from the start of 2027.

Having been agreed at the annual general meeting earlier in the year, the decision was taken to help the Association keep pace with the running costs and, most importantly, to ensure it can continue to provide a strong voice for Commoners and protect commoning for future generations.

Membership subscriptions are an important part of funding the CDA’s work as they help support the Association’s representation of Commoners, communications, meetings and ongoing work on the issues that matter to members and the future of commoning in the New Forest.

The new annual subscription rates for 2027 will be:

• Associate member: £10
• Full member – not turning out: £15
• Full member – turning out up to 10 animals: £20
• Full member – turning out more than 10 animals: £25
• Junior member: £5

Andrew Parry-Norton, chair of the New Forest CDA, said: ‘We have tried to keep the increase in membership fees as proportionate as possible. We recognise that costs are rising for everyone, but it is important that the Association has the resources it needs to continue representing and supporting Commoners and protecting the interests of commoning in the New Forest.

‘We are always grateful for the continued support of our members and by being a member of the CDA, you help ensure Commoners have a strong, collective voice in the New Forest.’

Current New Forest CDA members who pay by standing order should ensure they amend their payment plan in good time ahead of the change.

Any prospective new members to the Association can find out more information and sign up using the form here

Pannage is the traditional common right to turn pigs out onto the New Forest to forage for fallen acorns, beech mast and other nuts.

It is one of the oldest commoning practices in the Forest and remains an important part of commoning today.

Each autumn, Commoners turn their pigs out to make the most of the natural food available on the Forest floor.

Why do Commoners turn pigs out for pannage?

Pannage gives pigs the opportunity to forage naturally on the Forest, particularly for acorns and beech mast.

It is also an important part of the traditional system of commoning. The right to turn out pigs is one of the historic common rights associated with the New Forest, and continuing to exercise these rights helps keep commoning alive.

Pigs are particularly well suited to eating acorns, which can be harmful to some other livestock if consumed in large quantities. Pannage therefore has an important role in helping to reduce the amount of fallen acorns available to ponies, cattle and other livestock.

When does pannage take place?

Pannage takes place during the autumn, when acorns, beech mast and other nuts begin to fall.

The timing and length of the season can vary, depending on conditions and the availability of mast.

The amount of mast also varies considerably from year to year. Some autumns produce a heavy crop of acorns, while others have much less.

Where do pannage pigs go?

There isn’t a set area where pannage pigs stay. They are turned out across the Forest and naturally move around as they search for food.

This means they can sometimes be found in unexpected places – including close to roads, car parks, villages and popular visitor locations.

Their movements can also change quickly depending on where the best food is available.

Why are pannage pigs sometimes close to roads?

Pigs follow the food, and oak and beech trees can be found alongside many of the Forest’s roads.

During pannage season, drivers should, therefore, expect to encounter pigs and other livestock close to, or even crossing, roads.

Please slow down and be prepared to stop. New Forest livestock can move unpredictably and have priority on the Forest’s roads.

Can I feed a pannage pig?

No. Pannage pigs should never be fed by visitors.

The pigs are out on the Forest to forage naturally. Feeding them can alter their behaviour and may encourage them towards people, roads or car parks.

It is particularly important not to encourage livestock towards roads by offering food.

Can I approach or stroke a pannage pig?

No. Pannage pigs are livestock belonging to New Forest Commoners and should be treated with the same respect as any other livestock.

Even if a pig appears calm or is used to seeing people, it should not be approached, touched or followed.

Give pigs plenty of space to forage and allow them to move away from you.

Why is pannage important to Commoners?

Pannage is a practical example of commoning continuing to take place on the Forest today.

The sight of pigs foraging beneath the oaks and beech trees is part of the traditional rhythm of the New Forest year, alongside pony Drifts, grazing and other commoning activities.

For Commoners, exercising common rights such as pannage helps maintain the living link between today’s Forest and the generations of Commoners who have managed livestock here for centuries.

Does pannage help the New Forest?

Pannage is part of the wider system of traditional grazing and livestock management that helps shape the New Forest landscape.

Most importantly, it is a working common right that remains relevant today. The continuation of practices such as pannage helps ensure that commoning remains a living tradition rather than simply something remembered from the Forest’s past.

What should visitors do if they see pannage pigs?

The best thing you can do is simply give them space and enjoy seeing them from a safe distance.

If you are driving:

• Slow down and be prepared for pigs to cross the road
• Expect livestock around bends and near car parks
• Give animals plenty of room
• Never sound your horn or try to move livestock yourself

If you are walking:

• Don’t approach, feed or touch the pigs
• Keep dogs under control and away from livestock
• Give sows and piglets plenty of space
• Let the pigs continue foraging without disturbance

Every autumn, the New Forest comes alive as the free-roaming ponies, cattle and donkeys are rounded up as part of Drift season.

The Drifts, which take place over several months, form an essential part of Commoners’ lives and how they manage their livestock and offers a glimpse into the living heritage of the New Forest.

What are the Drifts?

The Drifts are carefully coordinated events where agisters, supported by Commoners and other helpers, gather animals from across the Forest into temporary enclosures known as pounds.

The work is done on foot and on horseback, and follows set routes that have been used for generations.

The term ‘drift’ comes from the way the animals are steadily moved or ‘drifted’ across the open landscape and into the pounds. Once there, each animal is checked and dealt with as needed before being turned back out onto the Forest.

Why do the Drifts take place?

The Drifts take place for a number of reasons, primarily:

• Health checks – Animals are inspected to ensure they are in good condition. Any that are unfit can be treated or removed from the Forest
• Welfare management – Foals are branded with their owner’s mark, and some animals may be wormed or vaccinated
• Stock control – Commoners can limit the numbers of animals they turn out by selling, resting or keeping them in over the winter
• Conservation balance – By managing numbers and health, the drifts help ensure grazing levels remain sustainable for the unique habitats of the New Forest

Advice to the public

It is important to remember that managing the Drifts is hard and necessary work.

For safety reasons, members of the public are asked to keep well clear of Drift routes and pounds, and to give working riders and animals plenty of space.

Safeguarding a living tradition

The Drifts embody the partnership between the New Forest, its landscapes, its wildlife, and the Commoners who continue centuries-old rights of grazing.

Without them, the health of the animals – and the balance of the Forest itself – could not be maintained.

A case of Bluetongue virus has been reported in the south of the New Forest over the weekend (September 26/27).

The New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association urges all cattle Commoners to contact their vet, if not already done so, to discuss and arrange vaccination for their animals as soon as possible.

The situation will be monitored closely and any further updates will be announced when available.

For information about the wider picture across the country, including risk level, vaccinations and restrictions, head to the page on the government website

Bluetongue does not affect people or food safety.

The New Forest Livestock Society has announced changes to the remaining Beaulieu Road pony sales planned for the remainder of the year.

The sale scheduled for Thursday, 5 November at the sale yard has been cancelled, as has the online auction, which was due to take place between Friday, 27 November and Wednesday, 2 December.

However, a new sale has been arranged for Thursday, 3 December, which will take place at Beaulieu Road sale yard.

Entry forms will be made available in due course by Southern Counties Auctioneers.

Commoners planning to enter animals are advised to read the terms and conditions carefully when the entry form becomes available, as there are changes to the eligibility requirements for animals entered in Section 4.

Section 4 will be restricted to:

• Commoners with animals on which marking fees have been paid during 2026; or
• The dams of foals born in 2026

There will be no pre-sale foal show this year. Commoners intending to enter animals in the December sale should look out for further information and entry forms from Southern Counties Auctioneers.

These changes come amid the outbreak of equine flu over the summer, which resulted in the pony sale at Beaulieu Road sale yard in early October being cancelled.

The start of the Drift season was also delayed, with Drifts scheduled for August and September all cancelled. They are set to resume, however, at the start of October with far fewer cases now being reported.

The Verderers of the New Forest have will continue to monitor the situation closely.

New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association chair Andrew Parry-Norton has shared his latest thoughts on a number of issues during his latest video update

Andrew talks about his meeting with DEFRA minister Stephen Morgan, lessons from other commons, the growing threat of Bluetongue virus and the start of this year’s pannage season.

Making the case for the New Forest

At this year’s New Forest Show, Andrew met Stephen Morgan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at DEFRA to talk to him about the New Forest and some of the issues facing Commoners.

The conversation covered the unique nature of the Forest, the way it is managed and the funding needed to support the many different activities and responsibilities involved in looking after it.

Andrew said: ‘I really hope he (Stephen Morgan) understands what is happening here and why it is so unique.’

Learning from other commons

Andrew also recently attended a World Horse Welfare seminar in Somerset, which had representatives from several commons including Bodmin, Dartmoor and Exmoor.

One of the most striking issues to come out of it, according to Andrew, was the perceived lack of governance and overall responsibility on some commons. The result, said Andrew, was a serious animal welfare problem, with some ponies in very poor condition.

Andrew said the seminar left him particularly proud of the system that exists in the New Forest and the system of governance is something that should not be taken for granted.

Concerns around Bluetongue virus

Andrew also raised concerns about the increasing threat of Bluetongue, which can affect cattle, goats, sheep and camelids such as alpacas and can be fatal.

Cases have been moving closer to the New Forest, with Salisbury among the areas of concern.

Vaccination is available, although supplies have been limited. Commoners with cattle, goats, alpacas or other susceptible livestock are encouraged to speak to their vet about vaccination and taking appropriate precautions.

Pannage gets underway

This year’s pannage season began last Monday (September 14), with pigs being turned out to feed on fallen acorns and other fallen foods.

Andrew highlighted that this year is very different from last year’s mast year, when there was an exceptionally large crop of acorns.

There are far fewer acorns available this year, meaning Commoners need to keep a particularly close eye on their pigs and their condition.

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

They added: ‘The Agisters have seen no ponies showing symptoms on the Forest for several weeks. However, cases continue to be reported on some private holdings in the Forest area.’

As a result, this year’s Drifts – which had been due to start in August – will start at the beginning of October, in accordance with the existing drift list.

The equine flu situation will be closely monitored as the Drifts progress and as throughout the outbreak, the Verderers will continue to be led by veterinary advice.