The Gallery
Learning about and practising commoning on the New Forest.
In medieval times a forest meant an area preserved for royal hunting, and not a wooded area as it does today.
The Agisiter ensures welfare standards of the free-roaming animals are maintained.
The ‘architects’ of the New Forest.
The New Forest landscape supports many species of plants, insects, birds and mammals. It should be valued as a reserve for nature.
One of many gatherings where Commoners can exchange news, information and knowledge.
Pannage season is part of the ancient commoning rights and a popular tradition.
Traditional management practices, particularly commoning, have conserved the ecological diversity of the Forest.
Category Archives: New Forest
Lucy Kemp-Welch: Colt Hunting in the New Forest
One of the most important pieces of art ever inspired by the New Forest was a painting by Lucy Kemp-Welch (1869-1958), entitled ‘Colt Hunting in the New Forest’. This painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1897, when she … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest
Tagged Anna Sewell, artist, Black Beauty, Chantrey Bequest, Colt Hunting in the New Forest, horses, Lucy Kemp-Welch, New forest, painting, ponies, Royal Academy, Royal Artillery, suffragette, Tate Gallery, WW1
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New Forest: reflective collar or headband?
The mild weather of late has meant that the trees seem to be holding on to their foliage, and subsequently treating visitors to the New Forest with displays of lingering autumn colour. Soon the strong winds will denude the trees … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged body language, herd, New forest, pony, reflective collar, roads, safety, semi-feral
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New Forest: the hunters and the hunted
The history of the New Forest is very closely intertwined with that of hunting. Indeed, it was for that very purpose that the New Forest was established nearly a thousand years ago. Royal hunting favoured red deer but also extended … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest
Tagged assizes, bloodhound, Bolton's Bench, carriage, chaise, deer, Deering's Town, Derby, equipage, fox, foxhound, hare, hog, hunted, hunter, Lyndhurst, New forest, omnibus, pig, robbery, Royal Buckhounds, stag, stealing, Winchester
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New Forest: Charter of the Forest 1217
Today (6th November) is the anniversary of one of the most important pieces of legislation ever to be issued in our nation’s history. The carta de foresta or Charter of the Forest, as it became known, was so significant that even … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest
Tagged 1215, 1217, 1225, 1297, charter foresta, Charter of the Forest, chivalry, Confirmation of Charters, Estovers, Henry III, King John, law, legacy, legal, legate, legitimate, Magna Carta, marl, New forest, Pannage, Statue, Verderer, William Marshall
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New Forest: litter – natural and otherwise
This week I’ve had the subject of litter on my mind. Looking at the amazing colours of the New Forest’s autumn foliage made me think of the leaf-litter that covers the forest floor. It carpets the ground with a profusion … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest
Tagged autumn, bedding, biodegradable, biomolecule, Chinese lanterns, chlorophyll, Forest, habitat, incendiaries, litter, New forest, refuse, rubbish, rural, sky lanterns, trees, wildlife, winter
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New Forest: autumn leaves and falling temperatures
If you have walked out onto the Forest recently, you will no doubt have been impressed by the variety of colours across the heathland and woods. Some of the higher elevations of the Forest provide spectacular views over the landscape … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged autumn, colour, drift, end-of-season, fall, galloping, leaves, New forest, ponies, pony, round-up, Saxon, summer, winter
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The Norman Conquest and being English.
If you had lived in England on this day (16 October) 950 years ago chances are you would be aware that a momentous battle had just been fought, only a few days earlier, near Hastings in Sussex. Even if you didn’t … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest
Tagged Anglo Saxon, Domesday Book, English, Great Survey, King John, King William, Lionheart, Magna Carta Libertatum, New forest, Norman conquest, Norse, Nova Foresta, Parliament, pirates, raiders, Richard, The Queen Wills It, United States Constitution, Verderer
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New Forest: the story of the pig that pointed!
During pannage season pigs undoubtedly become the favourite animal to see in the New Forest. There is nothing quite like the sight of happy porkers that have been set free to root about through the fallen leaves and undergrowth, in … Continue reading
New Forest: pannage, pigs and wild boar
Autumn has got to be one of my favourite seasons of the year. The annual drifts are underway, the heaths and woodlands are changing colour, adding variety to the hues of the already breath-taking scenery, and pannage season has begun. … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest customs, Pannage season
Tagged acorns, Beech, Charles I, chestnuts, Common of Mast, commoners, English Civil War, hunting, New forest, Pannage, pigs, Rights of Common, wild boar
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New Forest: signs of the times
As my regular readers will know, the drift season has started. The season runs from August until November and entails rounding up the ponies across the New Forest in a series of drifts that take place in approximately 40 locations. … Continue reading
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