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: New forest
New Forest: the Natural Health Service!
Many of the millions of visitors who come to the New Forest each year do so to experience its tranquil beauty and the stimulus of nature upon their senses. The hectic pace of modern life leaves us needing to experience … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest flora & fauna
Tagged commoners, fauna, flora, National Nature Reserves, National Park, natural health service, nature, New forest, NNR, Ramsar, SAC, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, SPA, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protected Areas, SSSI
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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: killing with kindness.
Since writing last week (March 2015) about people hand-feeding and petting the free-roaming ‘wild’ ponies on the New Forest I’ve had several readers get in touch to tell me about incidents they’ve witnessed. Some of these incidents have included families … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged Agister, alkaloid, architect of the Forest, Byelaw, colic, digestive system, donkey, equine, fatal, herbivore, New forest, New Forest pony, poison, toxic, Verderer, wild ponies
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New Forest: visitors feeding ponies could be spreading equine disease
Keeping free-roaming ponies on the New Forest is a pleasure and a privilege. Walking through the woodland pathways and along the heathland tracks in search of my mares are journeys always full of anticipation and enjoyment. At this time of … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged Agister, bacteria, Beaulieu Road Sales, bio security, contagious, donkeys, Dr Green, equine distemper, feral herds, horses, New forest, ponies, Pony Drift, respiratory disease, strangles, strangling, Streptococcus equi, Verderer
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New Forest: an ancient and diverse landscape
Many visitors to the New Forest are surprised to discover that its landscape is not filled with woods or trees. Some are even more astonished to learn that the area is ancient and not ‘new’ at all. The reason for … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest flora & fauna
Tagged ancient woodland, Bronze Age, Hampshire, Ice Age, Knightwood Oak, Medieval, New forest, wildwood, William the Conqueror
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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: poachers who steal more than game
In last week’s edition of the Forest Journal (05.02.15) was a front-page article about poaching that caught my eye. Poaching is defined as ‘the illegal practice of trespassing on another’s property to hunt or steal game without the landowner’s permission’. … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest flora & fauna
Tagged animal welfare, countryside, Forest Charter 1217, Forest Law, game, Lyndhurst, New forest, poachers, red deer stag, Rufus Stirrup, stealing, The Monarch, theft, Verderer's Court
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New Forest: Magna Carta and Commoner’s Charter
In London recently (February 2015) was held an event so momentous that over 40,000 people entered a public ballot in order to be present. The four surviving original copies of the 1215AD Magna Carta were brought together for the first … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest customs
Tagged 1215, 1217, Charter of the Forest, Commoners Charter, coronation edict, Declaration of Human Rights, edict, Forest Law, Great Charter of the Liberties, Henry I, John Lackland, Magna Carta, New forest, Rufus the Red, US Constitution, Wild Creatures and Forest Laws Act
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New Forest: searching for ponies and finding litter
One of the great benefits of being a commoner is getting to explore the heathland and woods in search of my ponies. No matter what time of year the New Forest is a place of breath taking scenic beauty. The … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner
Tagged Dartford warbler, dog excrement, litter, New forest, ponies, refuse, rubbish, wildlife
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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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