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: pony
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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Smugglers in the New Forest.
The more I learn about the ancient system of commoning the more I realise that it has always been a very pragmatic way of life. The commoner’s intimate knowledge of the Forest and their canny resourcefulness enabled many, who often … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner, New Forest pony
Tagged black economy, booty, Commoner, commoning, contraband, Customs, Excise, free trading, Gentlemen of the Night, legend, New forest, pack pony, packhorse, pony, smuggler, smuggling, tax
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Pilgrimage to the New Forest Show 2014
Last week I made my annual pilgrimage to the New Forest & Hampshire County Show, a three-day celebration of local and countryside related activities. I always attend on the Wednesday, which is traditionally the day that features the New Forest … Continue reading
Commonable animals and road traffic accidents
Recently I was talking to someone who had heard about a particularly nasty hit and run fatality in the New Forest that had involved a pregnant donkey. The details were utterly horrific and the witness who discovered the dead animal … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner, New Forest pony
Tagged Agister, cattle, Cow, don't feed the animals, donkey, hit and run, killing with kindness, New forest, pig, pony, road traffic accident, sheep, Verderer
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Shades, sleeping ponies and the dreaded New Forest fly
The warm weather of late has driven the ponies to find relief from the sun and the heat of the day. They gather together in places known as ‘shades’ that, unlike the name would suggest, aren’t always under the cover … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged bloodsucker, crab fly, Forest fly, Hippobosca equina, insects, New forest, pony, swarm
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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
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
The New Forest pony – the natural selection
The New Forest pony is known as the ‘architect’ of the Forest and plays a significant role in the biological diversity, culture and economy of the New Forest. So important is this animal to the Forest and to commoning that … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony
Tagged appaloosa, Arab, Armada, biological diversity, carts, cremello, cross country, Culture, Dartmoor, drifts, Exmoor, freedom, gigs, Highland, history, hunting, legend, natural selection, nature, New forest, piebald, polo, pony, racing, show jumping, skewbald, social fabric, Thoroughbred, wagons, Welsh, wild, working horse
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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
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