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: Verderer
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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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
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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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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Abundance of acorns means winners and losers
There’s an often quoted saying that is familiar to commoners: “where you get livestock you get deadstock”. The livestock part is the good part. Tending to your animals, working with them, and, if you’re a breeder, watching the next generation … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner, Pannage season
Tagged Acorn, common right, Commoner, Forestry Commission, Maest, Mast, New forest, Oak, Pannage, poisoning, pyrogallic acid, tannin, Thor, Verderer
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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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The Verderers of the New Forest
My first step to becoming a practicing New Forest Commoner has been taken. I have an appointment at the Office of the Verderers’ Court! I must take a completed application and other documentation to the Verderer’s Office and meet with … Continue reading
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