New Forest CDA Mid-Term meeting proves a success

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.