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: ponies
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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Commoning: cooperation and coordination
The practice of commoning on the New Forest is generally a very sociable enterprise. The support and cooperation of other commoners is essential for maintaining the welfare of the free-roaming stock. When I go out on the Forest I always … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner, New Forest pony, New Forest Pony Drift
Tagged Agisters, commoning, Cow, drifts, mastitis, New forest, New Forest pony, ponies, round-up, snake bite, veterinarian
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Abandoned horses and ponies
Owning a pony is a dream for many. For those of us lucky enough to have our own pony (or ponies) it is a hugely enjoyable, if a somewhat expensive and time consuming, activity. I feel that some months it … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged abandoned, Agister, Animal Welfare Act, Commoner, commoning, depasture, horses, New forest, Open Forest, ponies, pony, Verderers, welfare
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Many colours of the New Forest.
While walking in the Forest of late it is very evident that autumn is fast approaching. The early morning mists that weave silken ribbons of silver vapour through the valleys and woods are a telltale sign. Some of the leaves … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest
Tagged architects of the forest, autumn, bay, brown, colours, filly, Forest, green, grey, heathland, landscape, lilac, mare, New forest, ponies, pony, purple
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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: picnics and ponies
The late spring and early summer is a much favoured time of the year for many Forest dwellers and visitor alike. It is the time when the lushness of nature returns to the Forest, our migratory birds have again taken … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged bacchanalian, British, feast, foals, Forest Byelaws, King, May, merry, New forest, nobles, picnic blanket, picnics, ponies, sandwiches, titbit
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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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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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Animal road casualty reports make grim statistics
The Verderers weekly reports of animal casualties on the Forest roads always make such grim reading. Each entry states the day, date, time, the animal involved – pony, cow, sheep, pig or donkey – and what happen to that animal. … Continue reading
It’s an ill wind that blows no good
The storm that hit Britain recently (October 2013), wreaking havoc and claiming four lives, was nicknamed St Jude because it was due to fall on the patron saints’ day – 28th October. St Jude was the patron saint of lost … Continue reading
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