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: Middle Ages
New Forest: pony breeding through the ages.
Anticipation is mounting across the Forest, as the annual Stallion Inspection approaches. Owners will currently be working with their ponies to ensure that they are prepared for the show ring and can walk and trot whilst being led and are … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged Beaulieu Abbey, Beaulieu Road, breeding, colts, confirmation, courser, cull, destrier, drift, foals, garron, hand high, Henry III, Henry VIII, hobbies, mares, Middle Ages, monastery, monks, New forest, pack horse, palfrey, ponies, pony, rouncey, round-up, stallion inspection, stallions, stud farm, sumpter, trot, walk, war horse, warhorse
Comments Off on New Forest: pony breeding through the ages.
New Forest: hand fasting in a woodland glade
Recently I was invited to a hand fasting wedding ceremony that took place within a leafy glade in the New Forest*. The weather was perfect, as dappled sunlight showered through the canopy of beech, ash and oak trees. A gentle … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest
Tagged Anglo Saxon, betrothal, Braveheart, bride, Celtic, ceremony, groom, hand fasting, Hollywood, Mel Gibson, Middle Ages, New forest, Oberon, Old Norse, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria, Romantic Period, sylvan, tyng the knot, wedding, William Wallace
Comments Off on New Forest: hand fasting in a woodland glade
The New Forest: the future of commoning
The New Forest is an ancient landscape that has survived into modern times. It is a place of exquisite natural beauty, which is internationally recognised for its importance to wildlife. Because of its distinctive geography it has never been cultivated … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner
Tagged Commoner, commoning, Middle Ages, New forest, Nova Foresta, Pannage, Parliamentary Commission, pastoral, symbiotic
Comments Off on The New Forest: the future of commoning
Learning to be a Commoner on the New Forest
I recently had a meeting at the Verderer’s Office in Lyndhurst to progress my status to a ‘practicing’ New Forest commoner. The Verderer’s Clerk, whom I met with, was very friendly and answered all my questions with cheerful enthusiasm. I … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest Commoner
Tagged Agister, Commoner, Culture, Medieval, Middle Ages, New forest, New Forest Commoner, New Forest pony, pony, Right of Common, Ritual, Tradition, Verderer
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.