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.
Tag Archives: gorse
New Forest: when gorse is out of bloom, kissing is out of season
The recent holiday period has given me plenty of opportunity to visit the Forest and walk through the woods and across the heathland. The working week gives me little chance to explore the places my ponies haunt (i,e., their territory), … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest flora & fauna
Tagged alternative medicine, furze, fuzz-toppers, fyrs, gorse, gorst, homeopathy, medicine, New forest, nutrition, optimism, pagan, symbol of hope, Ulex europaeus
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New Forest: low temperatures and good nourishment
Winter is definitely on the way. As I go out checking my free roaming stock on the New Forest I’m wearing more layers than of late. I’m also in the habit of keeping my gloves on the radiator in the … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged Dr Green, gorse, grass, holding, New forest, nourishment, pea, ponies, pony, spring, temperatures, winter
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New Forest: springtime – natures awakes
I am so pleased to see the return of spring. The lighter mornings mean that I can now check on my stock before I go to work. Many commoners keep their ponies on their holdings during the bleaker months and … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner
Tagged adder, amphibians, bumblebees, celandines, Commoner, cordial, crocuses, daffodils, frogs, gorse, ladybirds, lapwing, lizard, moths, New forest, newts, peacock butterflies, ponies, primroses, red admiral, reptiles, sky lark, snake, spring, springtime, toads, viper
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New Forest: heathland management and controlled burning
Visitors to the northern part of the New Forest recently (Febuary 2015) may have witnessed a technique for managing the heathland that has been practiced for generations, namely controlled burning. The Forestry Commission undertakes this activity now, which aims to … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest flora & fauna
Tagged cattle, commonable stock, commoners, commoning, controlled burning, fire, Forestry Commission, gorse, heathland, holly, New forest, ponies, Verderers
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New Forest: gorse cutting provides a pony’s ‘ready meal’
I recently received a call from a commoning friend of mine who told me that the Forestry Commission was cutting the gorse bushes at Godshill. I was urged to go and have a look at a curious sight. Sure enough … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest flora & fauna, New Forest pony
Tagged Fabaceae, Forestry Commission, furze, gorse, New forest, pony, Ulex europaeus
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New Forest ponies with moustaches
I was in the pub recently watching the rugby (November 2014). Many of the players in the England squad were sporting moustaches, in support of ‘Movember’, to raise awareness of prostate cancer. As I looked around the room there were … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged Commoner, facial hair, fuzz-toppers, gelding, gorse, holly, mare, moustache, Movember, New forest, pony-mo, Pony-tache, stallion
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New Forest: lowland heath and commoning
For all its wilderness qualities the New Forest is an area that has actually been managed for over a thousand years. Generations of commoners, and their free-roaming ponies and cattle have maintained the landscape and, through their traditional practices, provided … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner
Tagged adder, bracken, cattle, commoning, conservation, Dartford warbler, gorse, heath, heather, lowland heathland, New forest, ponies, sand lizard, smooth snake
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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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The colours of the New Forest
I love the autumn. The colours that nature paints across the landscape are just beautiful. On the New Forest heathland at the moment one can see large blocks of purple from the heather that dovetail with the green of the bracken … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest
Tagged bracken, Commoner, gorse, habitat, heather, heathland, invertebrates, landscape, mammals, nature, New forest, New Forest pony, pony, vertebrates
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