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 pony
New Forest: the costs and benefits of commoning
I’ve been doing a bit of sums recently and calculating the cost of being a commoner on the New Forest. I can tell you that it’s not cheap. After registering my mark, having my brand made, joining the New Forest … Continue reading
New Forest: the arrival of ‘Doctor Green’
With the warmer weather and longer days upon us more visitors are coming to the New Forest to enjoy its scenic beauty, tranquil atmosphere, wildlife and, of course, the free-roaming ponies. The ponies, quite rightly, have been given the title … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged Agisters, biodiversity, body condition scores, DEFRA, Doctor Green, Furzey Gardens, gorse, heather, holly, National Equine Welfare Council, New forest, New Forest pony, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, spring grass, Ulex europaeus, Verderer's Court, wild ponies
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New Forest: ‘talking’ with wild ponies
The beauty of the New Forest is a stunning backdrop in which to practice commoning. The open heaths, ancient woodland pastures and valley mires have been shaped by the commoner’s free-roaming animals. The animals, in their turn, have been shaped … Continue reading
New Forest: interdependence of commoners, animals and nature.
Becoming a practising commoner has opened my eyes to a new ways of experiencing the countryside and a traditional pastoral economy. Learning about the interdependence of the free-roaming animals, the commoning system and the flora and fauna of the New … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner, New Forest pony
Tagged ancient trees, biodiversity, cattle, commoning, Dartford warbler, donkeys, heathland, Honey Buzzard, Mother Nature, New forest, New Forest Cicada, New Forest Commoner, New Forest pony, nightjar, pigs, ponies, SSSI, Wild horses, wilderness, woodcock, woodland
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Agisters of the New Forest
The practise and management of commoning on the New Forest has, since 1698, been devised and protected by Acts of Parliament. However, the history of commoning in the area predates even the creation of the ‘Nova Foresta’ by William the … Continue reading
Famous New Forest inhabitants
I recently wrote an article about ‘celebrity’ trees on the New Forest and have since received requests for information about other famed inhabitants. An obvious candidate is King William I, otherwise known as William the Conqueror, who established the Nova … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner, New Forest pony
Tagged Alice in Wonderland, Alice Liddell, celebrities, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, Duke of Bernay, Florence Nightingale, Henry Brusher Mills, Henry Lyte, Hollywood A-Listers, Lawrence of Arabia, Lewis Carroll, New forest, New Forest pony, Old Tame, Purkis, Rufus the Red, Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, snake catcher, William the Conqueror
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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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