Commoners and livestock benefit from New Forest Trust grants

New Forest commoners and their livestock have benefitted from several generous grants given to the CDA by the New Forest Trust.

The Trust, which funds projects aimed at helping sustain the New Forest for future generations, has provided a £5,000 grant to go towards the vaccination of cattle against the viral disease BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea).

The vaccinations have taken place over the past few months and will not only help prevent the transmission of the disease in the Forest but also help stop abortions from taking place.

New Forest CDA chair Andrew Parry-Norton said: ‘I would like to say a massive thank you to the New Forest Trust for funding this project. We could not have carried this out without their backing and support.

‘New Forest commoners are not immune to the rising costs of living so I was delighted the CDA could help them out financially with these vaccinations.

‘The program is a really important initiative and one which we hope to replicate in the coming years to boost the overall health of cattle in the Forest.’

The Trust has also funded the salt lick project, which is an ongoing scheme overseen by commoners Tony Vanderhoek and Bill Howells.

The project sees bowls of Himalayan salt put out in various places around the New Forest to encourage ponies and other animals away from the road, and stop them licking the grit spread on roads during icy conditions.

It is aimed particularly around the times when the clocks change and drivers are getting used to different conditions on their morning and afternoon commutes, and also during the winter months when it is dark for longer periods.

Salt licks are among various initiatives, including signage and fencing, aimed at reducing the number of accidents between vehicles and livestock.

Chair of the New Forest Trust William Ziegler said: ‘We are delighted to help New Forest commoners with these two grants. They contribute a huge amount to the landscape and we are happy to support them in any way possible.’

For more information about how to apply for a grant from the New Forest Trust, head to the page here