Author Archives: newforestcommoner

About newforestcommoner

Keeping the history, ecology and cultural traditions of the New Forest alive through practice of 'commoning'. Sharing information about #NewForest & #commoning.

New Forest: Magna Carta and Commoner’s Charter

Posted on February 3, 2015 by newforestcommoner

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 | Comments Off

New Forest: searching for ponies and finding litter

Posted on January 26, 2015 by newforestcommoner

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 | Comments Off

New Forest: gorse cutting provides a pony’s ‘ready meal’

Posted on January 19, 2015 by newforestcommoner

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 | Comments Off

New Forest: the perils of ponies living wild

Posted on January 12, 2015 by newforestcommoner

My ponies have gone back out on the Open Forest (January 2015). For a while now they have been indicating that they have had enough of being kept on the holding. They have seemed restless and impatient to be back out … Continue reading →

Posted in New Forest Animal Road Traffic Accidents, New Forest pony | Tagged feral ponies, Hampshire County Council, hand feeding, horses, New forest, New Forest Transport Strategy, pony, Reflective Collar Initiative, road sense, road traffic accident, road traffic collision, RTA, RTC, Verderer | Comments Off

New Forest: Christmas customs and traditions

Posted on December 22, 2014 by newforestcommoner

Christmas is a time for celebration, merry social gatherings and observing Yuletide customs. In the New Forest during times past traditional mummers plays were performed at Christmas. The plays were usually folk dramas, often featuring Father Chrismas, the heroic figure of … Continue reading →

Posted in New Forest, New Forest customs | Tagged Boxing Day, carol singing, custom, Father Christmas, go gooding, mummers plays, New forest, point, point-2-point, scales, snogs, squirrel hunt, squoyles, St George, tipeering, Tradition | Comments Off

The New Forest ponies are dressed for winter

Posted on December 15, 2014 by newforestcommoner

It’s getting noticeably colder (December 2014). My outdoor coat, which hangs in the porch, is chilly to put on in the morning but as I go about the early chores on my holding I soon warm up. I’ve never forgotten … Continue reading →

Posted in New Forest pony | Tagged fodder, hay, minerals, New Forest pony, Norman Thelwell, sebum, winter coat | Comments Off

New Forest: The cow and the cattlegrid

Posted on December 8, 2014 by newforestcommoner

I was in the pub one evening last week (December 2014) and offered a lift home to a long established commoning friend of mine. We drove across the Forest chatting away until, within a couple of hundred yards of their … Continue reading →

Posted in New Forest, New Forest cattle, New Forest Commoner | Tagged cattle, cattle grid, Commoner, commoning, Cow, heifer, herd, New forest | Comments Off

New Forest: Beaulieu Road Sales

Posted on December 1, 2014 by newforestcommoner

Last week (November 2014) the final pony sales of the year were held at the purpose built sales ring in Beaulieu Road. Not only is this a chance to see native ponies being auctioned but a real opportunity to witness … Continue reading →

Posted in Beaulieu Road Sales, New Forest Commoner, New Forest pony | Tagged Auction, Beaulieu Road Sales, donkeys, foal show, guineas, Lyndhurst, New forest, New Forest Livestock Society, RSPCA, sales ring, semi-feral, viewing pens | Comments Off

New Forest ponies with moustaches

Posted on November 25, 2014 by newforestcommoner

I was in the pub recently watching the rugby (November 2014). Many of the players in the England squad were sporting moustaches, in support of ‘Movember’, to raise awareness of prostate cancer. As I looked around the room there were … Continue reading →

Posted in New Forest, New Forest pony | Tagged Commoner, facial hair, fuzz-toppers, gelding, gorse, holly, mare, moustache, Movember, New forest, pony-mo, Pony-tache, stallion | Comments Off

New Forest: Lane Creepers

Posted on November 17, 2014 by newforestcommoner

Before the New Forest was fenced and gridded the free-roaming stock ranged widely outside the official boundary. Commoner’s ponies were known to reach as far as the eastern suburbs of Southampton, down into Christchurch in the southwest, and almost into … Continue reading →

Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner, New Forest pony | Tagged hobbles, Lane Creeper, New forest, New Forest boundary, New Forest pony, perambulation, pound | Comments Off