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Learning about and practising commoning on the New Forest. -
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Author Archives: newforestcommoner
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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The New Forest Commoner
When I learned that I had Rights of Common on the New Forest, I began a journey of discovery into the traditions and practices of commoning on this beautiful and ancient landscape. Being a commoner means that I can ‘depasture … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest, New Forest Commoner
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A calf called ‘Mary Christmas’
When William the Conqueror declared, in 1079AD, his intention to create a Nova Foresta, he did so because he wanted to establish a royal hunting park. However, the laws he created to protect the game also provided for the creation … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest Commoner
Tagged Aberdeen Angus, Agister, Calf, Commoner, communication, cooperation, Cow, Mary, Merry Christmas, mutual support, network, New forest, social, William the Conqueror
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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
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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New Forest: leave room for the mushrooms
Did you know that the largest living organism on the planet was found in an ancient forest? The organism in question is an Armillaria ostoyae, a variety of honey fungus, which started from a single spore invisible to the naked … Continue reading
Posted in New Forest
Tagged bush tucker, ecology, Forestry Commission, Fungi, Health Protection Agency, mushroom hound, mushrooms, toadstools, wild food, wild foraging
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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
Going under cover at the Beaulieu Road Pony Sales
I haven’t visited the Beaulieu Road Sales in a long while and was pleasantly surprised by the improvements that have taken place in my absence. The first thing that greeted me as I crested the railway bridge on the road … Continue reading
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