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 Commoner
New Forest: Kindness can kill ponies born to be free
With spring definitely beginning to establish its influence on the landscape it is getting near the time of year when my recently purchased New Forest ponies will be going back out on the Open Forest to roam free. My two … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner, New Forest pony
Tagged Agister, back up land, Commoner, couchancy, custom, farming, grazing, horses, kindness can kill, levancy, New forest, New Forest pony, ponies, Tradition, Verderer, winter heyning
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New Forest: signs of spring
The recent day of sunshine was a welcome relief from the incessant wind and rain of late. I was able to get out on my holding for a good look around in the daylight and check boundary fences and trees … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner, New Forest pony
Tagged autumn, breeding, chase, colt-hunting, drift, foal, horseback, mare, New forest, New Forest pony, NFCDA, NFPB&CS, riding, spring, stallion, summer, Verderer, winter
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New Forest Wildlife Forum
I recently attended the New Forest Wildlife Forum in Lyndhurst (February 2014) where an impressive array of scientists, academics, and conservationists gave interesting and informative presentations on their work. There were representatives from the National Trust, the Freshwater Habitats Trust, … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner, New Forest pony
Tagged adder, biodiversity, butterflies, catchment, Commoner, conservation, ecology, environment, Forestry Commission, Freshwater Habitats Trust, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, habitat, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, monitoring, moths, National Trust, New forest, New Forest Cicada, New Forest Land Advice Service, New Forest National Park Authority, New Forest pony, New Forest Wildlife Forum, New Forest Woodcock Group, non-native species, ponds, project, research, restoration
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New Forest: traffic, animals and road accidents
For me, one of the biggest attractions in commoning is learning about and practicing an ancient pastoral activity that involves keeping commonable livestock (ponies, cattle, donkeys, or pigs during Pannage), which are so important to the ecology of New Forest. There is … Continue reading
The New Forest Commoner
When I learned that I had Rights of Common on the New Forest, I began a journey of discovery into the traditions and practices of commoning on this beautiful and ancient landscape. Being a commoner means that I can ‘depasture … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner
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A calf called ‘Mary Christmas’
When William the Conqueror declared, in 1079AD, his intention to create a Nova Foresta, he did so because he wanted to establish a royal hunting park. However, the laws he created to protect the game also provided for the creation … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest Commoner
Tagged Aberdeen Angus, Agister, Calf, Commoner, communication, cooperation, Cow, Mary, Merry Christmas, mutual support, network, New forest, social, William the Conqueror
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Abundance of acorns means winners and losers
There’s an often quoted saying that is familiar to commoners: “where you get livestock you get deadstock”. The livestock part is the good part. Tending to your animals, working with them, and, if you’re a breeder, watching the next generation … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner, Pannage season
Tagged Acorn, common right, Commoner, Forestry Commission, Maest, Mast, New forest, Oak, Pannage, poisoning, pyrogallic acid, tannin, Thor, Verderer
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People watching and other wildlife observations
I’ve been travelling to London a lot recently for meetings and business functions. Travelling in and around our nation’s capital and waiting for trains at mainline railway stations gives one the most marvellous opportunity for ‘people watching’. Watching people has … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest Commoner
Tagged animal, cooperative, instinct, London, New forest, primative, social, train, Waterloo, wildlife
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