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: spring
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: autumn activity, tradition and festival
Autumn is always a busy season for farmer, smallholder and commoner alike. It is also a time of ritual, tradition, and festival that reminds us of our connection to the natural or, indeed, supernatural world. Michaelmas, which signals the end … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest customs, Pannage season
Tagged autumn, cereal, Christian, Christmas, Commoner, custom, dam, deer, drift, Equinox, famine, farmer, feast, festival, foal, fortune, gods, Halloween, harvest, Harvest Festival, hay, mare, Michaelmas, moon, natural, New forest, October, pagan, Pannage, pig, pony, pork, produce, round-up, season, September, smallholder, spirits, spring, straw, supernatural, Tradition, winter
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New Forest: spring-time musings
I was going through my diary to see what I was doing this time last year. I was wondering when I had moved the home-kept ponies off their winter grazing and into their spring paddocks. When did I begin to … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest flora & fauna
Tagged Africa, British Trust for Ornithology, BTO, cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, fields, Gilbert White, grazing, Hampshire Ornithological Trust, harvest, hay, haymaking, herald, Hirundo rustica, HOS, martin, New forest, NORAD, poached, ponies, pony, Santa, Selborne, spring, swallow, Wet!
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New Forest: Easter and the coming of spring.
The Easter holidays have a big impact on the New Forest. They traditionally mark the beginning of springtime and the time of year that many visitor attractions open their doors to welcome guests at the start of the season. Tourism … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest flora & fauna
Tagged animals, attractions, breeding season, circle of life, conservation, Easter, ecology, environment, nature, New forest, petrichor, spring, tourism, visitors, wildlife
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New Forest: chalybeate springs and aquatic things
I was watching visitors paddling in one of the many Forest streams recently and it made me reflect on the distinctiveness of the watercourses on the New Forest. The New Forest contains streams, ponds, and mires, as well as coastal … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest flora & fauna
Tagged amphibians, Bog, chalybeate, Eyeworth Pond, Fritham, Hampshire Avon, Hirudo medicinalis, invertebrates, Latchmoor Brook, leeches, Mire, New forest, pollution, Shultze Gunpowder Factory, smokeless gunpowder, spring, stream, wildlife
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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: signs of spring
The recent day of sunshine was a welcome relief from the incessant wind and rain of late. I was able to get out on my holding for a good look around in the daylight and check boundary fences and trees … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner, New Forest pony
Tagged autumn, breeding, chase, colt-hunting, drift, foal, horseback, mare, New forest, New Forest pony, NFCDA, NFPB&CS, riding, spring, stallion, summer, Verderer, winter
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