New Forest: stallions vs geldings – boys will be boys!

Posted on May 18, 2015 by newforestcommoner
The New Forest ponies roam freely in small family herds that can consist of mares, fillies, colts and geldings.

The New Forest ponies roam freely in small herds that can consist of mares, fillies, colts and geldings.

Regular visitors to the New Forest will be aware that at the moment (updated May 2017) the stallions have been set loose to run with the free-roaming mares, causing much excitement among the herds of semi-feral ponies. Generally speaking the New Forest is predominantly a feminine environment for much of the year. The New Forest Byelaws are very specific about not allowing entire (uncastrated) male animals to roam on the Open Forest and stipulate that ‘No person shall cause or allow any entire bull, entire male sheep or entire male pig to roam at large in the Forest if, in the case of a bull, it has attained the age of three months or if, in the case of a male sheep or male pig, it has attained the age of one week.’

Stallions, colts and geldings
The herds of ponies that roam the New Forest are made up of mares, geldings, fillies and colts. In order to maintain the female bias on the Forest, the Byelaws further state that a colt is not permitted on the Forest after the age of two years old. If their owner wants to keep them entire, for use as a stallion, colts must be entered into the New Forest Stallion Scheme and be presented for inspection and approval. Colts that are to be kept for purposes other than breeding, such as riding, driving or simply roaming on the Open Forest are ‘cut’ or gelded, which involves castration by removing both testicles. Indeed, many of the ponies that help to maintain the biodiversity of the Forest through their grazing habits are geldings.

Equine courtship is noisy
When the stallions are turned out on the Open Forest, their presence has an electrifying impact on the dynamics of the herds. The courtship of all equines is noisy, aggressive, and involves lots of galloping about, which can have a stimulating effect on all the herd members. There is a lot of teasing or ‘vamping’ behaviour in mares and fillies, when in the presence of the stallions, as they try desperately to attract his attention. Some of this activity can be misdirected at the geldings, as the mares flirt outrageously, affecting their own conduct and interaction with the herd. During this time the ponies will behave unpredictably and visitors to the Forest are advised to drive with care, and pay close attention to the mood of the ponies when walking in the Forest.

Boys will be boys!
There is more to being a stallion than just hormones. Stallion behaviour in castrated horses or ponies is quite common (some studies record up to 50%) and geldings have been known exhibit all the characteristics of a fully entire male, including dominating individuals, mounting or rounding up mares, and territory marking. This is believed to be a product of social stimuli, particularly in animals kept on pasture with a number of other horses or ponies, rather than an urge to breed. It is not unheard of for geldings in an established herd on the New Forest to get into a tussle with a stallion over the attentions of the mares, and sometimes it is the stallion that comes off worse. The basic scientific opinion, even in the absence of testosterone, seems to boil down to the fact that ‘boys will be boys’. It is strength of personality that seems to be a dominant force in such behaviour rather than levels of testosterone. This is why the uninitiated folk out and about on the Forest at the moment would be forgiven for seeing stallions everywhere!

During the stallion season the dynamics of the herds change, and ponies become more frisky.

The stallions are set free for four weeks each year in certain areas of the New Forest: 2017 Stallion Areas

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New Forest: stallion areas 2015

Posted on May 1, 2015 by newforestcommoner
A thorough selection process of New Forest stallions ensures that the high standard and quality of the New Forest pony breed is maintained.

A thorough selection process of New Forest stallions ensures that the high standard and quality of the New Forest pony breed is maintained.

Each year stallions are released onto the Open Forest to run with the free-roaming mares to sire the next generation of New Forest pony. The stallions are carefully selected by the Verderer’s of the New Forest, the Commoners’ Defence Assocation and the New Forest Pony Breeding & Cattle Society. Only approved stallions are permitted to breed and will run with the mares for only four weeks. Stallions are released on Monday 11th May and must be removed from the Forest by Monday 15th June.

Stallion Areas 2015

Oke Dene President – Picket Bottom
Sandhole Whispering Grass – Penn Common, Bramshaw
Lucky Lane Rollo – Dur Hill, Holmsley
Woodfidley Top Gun – Blackfield
Halestorm Branston Pickle – Pilley, Boldre
Pondhead Bracken – Mill Lawn, Burley
Knaveshash Gold Fever – Withybeds,
Limekiln Brigadier – Matley, Lyndhurst
Applewitch Diversity – Hale Purlieu,
Sway Mister Blue Sky – Shirley Holmes, Boldre

Stallions must run out from Monday 11th May until Monday 8th June 2015
Stallions must be off the Forest by Monday 15th June 2015

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New Forest: the first cuckoo of spring

Posted on April 27, 2015 by newforestcommoner
The cuckoo is a regular visitor to the New Forest and is heard rather than seen.

The cuckoo is a regular visitor to the New Forest and is heard rather than seen.

(Posted 27 April 2015). Those people, who like me, rise early in the morning cannot have missed over the past few weeks the melodious symphony of the dawn chorus. The sound of bird song is much more noticeable from March to July because during this time birds are defending their territories and trying to attract mates. Not only do rival males from the same species compete with one another in repeated ‘sing-offs’ but there is also a multitude of avian species trying to raise their own voices in order to be noticed. Many of the bird species on the New Forest are actually heard rather than seen and for the majority of people who visit the heathland and woods the sound of bird song is a pleasant background noise to their primary activity. Unless you were a seasoned ornithologist you could be in the presence of a significant or rare species and not even know it.

The messenger of spring
However, there is one bird with a most distinctive call that many people are reporting hearing around the New Forest at the moment. ‘The merry cuckow, messenger of Spring, His trumpet shrill hath thrice already sounded’ – so said Edmund Spenser, the 15th century English poet. This cunning bird species (Cuculus canorus), which is about the size of a dove, has the look of a sparrow hawk and is well known for its parasitic brood habits. It is believed that the word ‘cuckold’, which refers to a man who is deceived by an adulterous wife and who possibly supports children that were not fathered by him, is derived from the word ‘cuckoo’. Nevertheless, the cuckoo is much favoured in folklore and it is generally believed to be a sign of good fortune when you first hear its call, unless you are in bed because then the portents are not so good. According to an old wives tale the state of health you are in when you first hear the cuckoo is how you will remain for the rest of the year. So you would best not be in bed and unwell! You will be the luckier however if you hear the cuckoo while you are out-of-doors, preferably standing on grass with money in your pocket! Wishes made upon hearing the call of the first cuckoo of spring are also supposed to come true.

Cuckoo Fair 
In the middle-ages people believed that cuckoos brought spring with them and many festivals and celebrations of fertility were held in honour of the migratory bird. The Cuckoo Fair at Downton near Salisbury, Wiltshire, is the most popular event held locally and its fairs are recorded in the borough as far back as 1249. On hearing the first call of the cuckoo farmers would sow barley to ensure a good crop or give their workers ‘cuckoo ale’ to celebrate the arrival of the good weather associated with spring. According to legend the cuckoo can be heard from St. Tiburtius Day (14th April) until St. John’s Day (24th June), so if you haven’t heard it yet you still have time. Just make sure that you are prepared to make a wish, be standing on grass and have money in your pocket – but only if you are the superstitious kind of course!

Take care when on the New Forest not to disturb ground nesting birds from March until July.

Take care when on the New Forest not to disturb ground nesting birds from March until the end of July.

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New Forest stallion inspection: choosing the next generation of pony sires

Posted on April 20, 2015 by admin
The inspections are for colts and stallions between two years and five years of age.

The inspections are for colts and stallions between two years and five years of age.

I recently attended the annual New Forest stallion inspection, held at the Beaulieu Road Sales Yard, where the next generation of pony sires were selected. It was an interesting process to witness and the colts and stallions that were presented for inspection, aged between two and five years old, were very impressive looking animals. There are actually two inspections going on, which occur simultaneously, conducted by a joint panel consisting of representatives from the Commoners’ Defence Association, the Verderers of the New Forest and the New Forest Pony Breeding & Cattle Society. The Verderers inspect and select the stallions that are offered for use on the open forest with the free-roaming mares, whilst the New Forest Pony Society is responsible for the licensing of all New Forest stallions, whether for use on the forest or at stud.

The colts and stallions were brought, one by one, into a show ring that had been set up next to the main sales ring, where the regular pony sales are usually held. The judges viewed them at walk and trot as their owners led them about. The ponies were then let loose so that the judges could see them moving freely around the ring. As well as judging the pony’s movement, the panel were also looking at its confirmation and the overall impression of each colt or stallion. Temperament is very important in the selection process and any sign of aggression in the animal is deemed to be a failure. Only the best animals are selected for breeding to ensure that the high standards of the breed are maintained and passed to the next generation of New Forest pony.

The colts or stallions selected for breeding on the Open Forest enter the Stallion Scheme. Up to 30 stallions are in the scheme and live in a bachelor herd on a specialised holding in the Forest. However, only 10 stallions are chosen each year to run with the free-roaming Forest mares during a four week period in the late spring and early summer. Choosing the rotation and location in which stallions go out is a delicate balancing act that demands careful consideration. Having a wide selection of stallion bloodlines to choose from ensures that the New Forest pony gene pool does not become too limited. But restricting the number of stallions permitted to breed on the open forest ensures that fewer foals are born, which in turn means that the demand for ponies can be maintained and that the wild mares are not exhausted by constant breeding.

The pens at the Beaulieu Road yard were filled with colts and stallions waiting their turn for inspection. Visitors were able to wander around and view the ponies before the inspection began. The noise of loud neighing and snorting from of dozens of full male animals filled the air, adding to the general atmosphere of horsey activity. Whether drawn by curiosity or lust, I do not know, but mares from the surrounding heathland soon began to appear. Within no time at all a column of mares quickly formed and made their way slowly but purposefully towards the yard. I had to laugh, because as I watched their steady progress they had all the appearance, from where I was standing, of an orderly queue!

A thorough selection process ensures that the high standard and quality of the New Forest pony breed is maintained.

A thorough selection process ensures that the high standard and quality of the New Forest pony breed is maintained.

More informatio can be found at the 2015 Stallions Inspection Report.

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New Forest: the Natural Health Service!

Posted on March 31, 2015 by newforestcommoner
The New Forest has 13.5 million day visits each year.

The New Forest has 13.5 million day visits each year from people who come to experience the benefits of nature.

Many of the millions of visitors who come to the New Forest each year do so to experience its tranquil beauty and the stimulus of nature upon their senses. The hectic pace of modern life leaves us needing to experience the restorative effects of the countryside upon our mental, physical and emotional health. Many studies have even confirmed that regular interaction with the natural environment has such a positive influence on our general well being that its has even been referred to as the ‘Natural Health Service’. Elements in nature that contribute to health and wellbeing include fresh air, natural light and sunshine, open spaces, long views, landscapes, a variety of plant and animal species, and different types of environments. All of which the New Forest has in abundance.

Growing pressure on the New Forest
The New Forest is the nations smallest National Park and yet is surrounded by the most densely populated areas. It is estimated that more than 15 million people live within a 90-minute drive of the area. This number is set to increase steadily over the next 20 years as a result of further housing development in the south of England. The pressure to provide opportunities for leisure and recreation within the New Forest is immense and growing. Housing developments in the vicinity seem to lack any meaningful provision for dog walkers, cyclists, joggers or runners, for example, because of the easy accessibility of the Forest. There will come a time when we will realise that the inclusion of nature, including wildlife, and provisions for recreation and leisure should be an intrinsic element of our neighbourhoods and not a separate destination. In an ideal world there would be more allotments, parks, civic gardens and community green spaces for people to enjoy.

Working Forest
As well as being an escape from the pressures of modern life the New Forest is a place where ancient agrarian practices are continued. It is a working Forest where commoners, who own the free-roaming animals, carry on a way of life that has been observed for over a 1,000 years. Their animals, the ponies and cattle, are generally agreed to be responsible for sculpting the landscape with their grazing and browsing activities and thus maintain the balance of habitats on the Forest, which are exploited by the wildlife. The New Forest provides essential habitat and sanctuary for many species, including rare insects, amphibians, mammals and plants. As a consequence many parts of the New Forest are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protected Areas (SPA), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), National Nature Reserves (NNR) and Ramsar sites, denoting wetlands of international importance. Humans, therefore, are not the only group that seek the benefits of this very special area.

The New Forest landscape supports many species of plants, insects, birds and mammals. It should be valued as a reserve for nature.

The New Forest is an irreplacable landscape that supports many species, including plants, insects, birds and mammals.

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New Forest: springtime – natures awakes

Posted on March 24, 2015 by newforestcommoner
The New Forest swathed in dawn mist is a sight that rewards the early risers.

The New Forest swathed in dawn mist is a sight that rewards the early risers.

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 these are now being returned to the Forest to join those that have over-wintered there. You’ll notice the difference between the two. The ponies that have been left to wander are now living on their bodily reserves, whilst their farm-kept counterparts look much better fed. The spring grass is on its way and it won’t be long before all the ponies will be looking sleek and healthy. There also seems to be more wildlife about too. I recently surprised a large herd of fallow deer that were grazing in the dawn mist. There was a pure white doe in their number and it made the whole scene rather ethereal. There is now plenty of birdsong in the morning, which is a wonderful musical accompaniment as I search the heaths and woods for my mares. I particularly like the trilling song of the skylark as it performs its overhead aerial display. For me this is a sound that is associated with spring, early summer and many happy days spent in the countryside. I also hear the peewit calls of some nesting lapwings, which is a sound I firmly associate with the New Forest.  The early mornings have an amazing atmosphere and a pictorial texture that is lost to late risers. The dawn mists weave through the floors of the valleys like silver thread, whilst the radiance of the morning light make their peaks appear gradually lighter the further they are in the distance.

With the spring comes warmer weather. The snowdrops are virtually finished and the celandines, crocuses, primroses and daffodils are now taking precedence in gardens and hedgerows. As the temperatures increase hibernating insects begin to appear. Look out for red admiral and peacock butterflies, bumblebees, moths, and ladybirds on sunnier days. The increase in water temperature of the many Forest ponds will also mean that amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts will become active. Frogspawn on the water’s surface is a tell tale sign of amphibian activity. Reptiles will also emerge as spring establishes itself. All six species of British reptile can be found on the New Forest and already there have already been sightings of one of the New Forest’s more elusive residents and Britain’s only venomous snake – the adder, which likes to bask in the spring sunshine. Groups of wild ponies can also be seen sunning themselves on the heathland and pastures. After the cold, dark winter months they often lie on their sides, stretched out to soak up the suns rays. In fact many visitors report sightings of ‘dead’ ponies on the heaths when in fact they are just sunbathing.

During the warmer spring days it is possible to feel a damp heat rising from the heathland and bringing with it an earthy, peat-like fragrance. The areas of heathland that have been blackened by controlled burning during the winter months will often have a scent of charcoal in the warm spring air. But one of the best scents of spring has to be the perfume of the gorse. It’s yellow flowers fill the air with a coconut-like scent. No wonder that commoners would often use it to make a tea, cordial or wine.  This is a magical time of year to experience the Forest, whether by the sights of the morning mists, the sounds of birdsong or the smell of the earth, and to awaken your senses as nature herself awakes from her long winter slumber.

Gorse flowers have the scent of coconut.

Gorse flowers have the scent of coconut.

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New Forest: killing with kindness.

Posted on March 9, 2015 by newforestcommoner
Only ponies habituated to the New Forest are turned out.

New Forest ponies are known as the ‘architects of the Forest’ because their grazing habits shape the land.

Since writing last week (March 2015) about people hand-feeding and petting the free-roaming ‘wild’ ponies on the New Forest I’ve had several readers get in touch to tell me about incidents they’ve witnessed. Some of these incidents have included families encouraging young children to feed or stroke the ponies, and others where people leave food on the roadside verges or feed the animals from inside their vehicles. This type of behaviour needs to be discouraged as it is potentially dangerous to the humans and equines alike. As well as encouraging the ponies into the car parks and onto the roads, where they will be in danger from vehicular traffic, there is a concern about the types of food that people are feeding the ponies. What might be good for human consumption may not be appropriate for a pony. It is also contrary to the New Forest Byelaws, which prohibit the hand feeding of the animals unless it is by the owner, a person appointed as their agent or an Agister. The Byelaws further state that no material may be placed in the Forest that might be consumed by the commonable stock unless it is by the owner or a person appointed as their agent who may place straw, hay or other feedstuffs out for the animals as approved by the Verderers.

Some human foods are actually toxic to ponies
All equines are herbivores and have a digestive system adapted for a diet of grasses and other plant material. Considering its size a pony has a fairly small stomach and has to eat little and often. Wild ponies can forage widely across the Forest landscape and spend up to 18 hours a day grazing. Even though it is working most of the time the equine digestive system is actually very delicate and the added disadvantage of not being able to vomit means that any dietary indiscretion or case of poisoning in a pony may prove fatal. Ponies cannot tolerate certain foodstuffs even though humans may easily digest them. Potatoes, tomatoes, onions and chocolate, for example, contain alkaloids that are toxic to ponies. Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are very good for people but not ponies. These, and other members of the brassica family, create too much gas in the pony’s stomach and may bring on a severe and life threatening colic. Likewise giving ponies the grass cuttings from your lawn can also prove fatal. Even though ponies eat grass when consumed in this form it ferments too quickly for the pony’s gut to process and the build up of gasses can bring on a fatal attack of colic.

The ‘architect of the Forest’
The wild New Forest pony is known as the ‘architect of the Forest’ because its foraging habits shape the land. In its turn the New Forest pony has been adapted to its environment and has the physiology to live upon the plants and grasses of the heathland, bogs and woods. The ponies learn from their mothers what is good to eat at which time of year in their territories and some commoner’s believe that the ponies even know where to find ‘medicine’, particularly for internal parasites such as tapeworm, as and when required. Generations of ponies living wild upon the diversity of habitat provided within the New Forest have been adequately catered for naturally without the need for human treats and fast food snacks. People who feed the ponies and other animals on the New Forest are not being kind to them and may actually be killing them.

The moment I discovered someone has been hand feeding one of my ponies. (She's begging for food).

The moment I discovered someone had been hand feeding one of my ponies. (She’s begging for food).

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New Forest: visitors feeding ponies could be spreading equine disease

Posted on March 2, 2015 by newforestcommoner
The flush of spring grass will ensure 'Doctor Green' will act as a tonic on the free-roaming ponies of the New Forest.

The flush of spring grass will ensure ‘Doctor Green’ will act as a tonic on the free-roaming ponies of the New Forest.

Keeping free-roaming ponies on the New Forest is a pleasure and a privilege. Walking through the woodland pathways and along the heathland tracks in search of my mares are journeys always full of anticipation and enjoyment. At this time of year I will notice that some of the ponies, particularly those that have over-wintered on the Forest, will be living off their body reserves and may be looking fairly thin. I’m not too worried though because once the spring grass comes through ‘Dr Green’ will work his magic and the ponies will begin to gain condition and start to look well again. It is a natural cycle that New Forest ponies have endured for generations. They have adapted to the climatic conditions of the Forest and the meagre rations of food that it sometimes offers in the bleaker months. The Agisters monitor the welfare of all the commonable stock to ensure that high standards are maintained and will intervene if they believe that any animals are unduly suffering. Nevertheless, some visitors feel the urge to feed the ponies because they think they’re starving or underfed. This is quite unnecessary and needs to be actively discouraged.

Another possible reason that a New Forest pony may look thin could be due to ‘strangles’, which is also referred to as ‘equine distemper’. This is a highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by a bacterium – Streptococcus equi. It is the most common respiratory infection of horses, ponies and donkeys in the world and can occur in the feral herds of the New Forest. The disease presents symptoms that include fever, loss of appetite, nasal discharge, and swollen lymph nodes. In severe cases an abscess forms in the back of the throat, which can lead to internal swelling and even a collapse of the airways, effectively ‘strangling’ the sufferer and giving the disease its name. Strangles has a 1% mortality rate. It is not an airborne disease but one that is contracted by direct contact between horses or indirect contact with infected material, such as feeding bowls, water troughs or shared tack and equipment. Humans, through petting and hand feeding, can also transfer it from infected animals to otherwise healthy horses or ponies. Visitors to the New Forest who stroke or feed the free-roaming ponies may be inadvertently spreading the disease. Last year a particularly vicious outbreak was reported on the New Forest and, as a preventative measure, the Verderer’s cancelled some of the pony drifts and sales at the yard in Beaulieu Road. This was a sensible precaution as herding the ponies together in the round-ups or sales yard could have spread the disease further.

There are over 13.5 million day-visitors to the New Forest each year. Many of them come to the area because they can gain close proximity to the wild ponies. It is not implausible to imagine that many bring the disease with them and cause some of the outbreaks. They may, of course, not even realise that they are carrying the bacterium or be spreading it about. (In favourable conditions strangles bacteria can survive outside a host for weeks or even months). As a consequence, it may be that in the future we will see measures that are currently in force to prevent the invasion of non-native plant species, such as Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed, and Giant Hogweed, will be extended to include bio-organisms, such as Streptococcus equi. For the present though we must rely upon common sense in asking visitors not to pet or feed the ponies, and to ensure that anyone that has recently come into contact with the strangles bacterium stay away from the New Forest.

Treatment for 'strangles' includes isolation, which to a 'wild' free-roaming New Forest pony is not an option.

Treatment for ‘strangles’ includes isolation, which to a ‘wild’ herd-living, free-roaming, New Forest pony is not an option.

Video: Strangles in Horses – Veterinary Surgeon Julien Renard DVM MRCVS explains about Streptococcus equi in domestic (non-feral) horses.

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New Forest: an ancient and diverse landscape

Posted on February 23, 2015 by newforestcommoner
The New Forest is a landscape of irreplacable habitats that supports a diversity of wildlife.

The New Forest is an ancient landscape of irreplacable habitats that support a diversity of wildlife.

Many visitors to the New Forest are surprised to discover that its landscape is not filled with woods or trees. Some are even more astonished to learn that the area is ancient and not ‘new’ at all. The reason for this confusion is that over time the meaning of the name ‘New Forest’ has changed. When William the Conqueror established his royal hunting grounds in 1079 they were, of course, ‘new’; while the term ‘forest’ was used to refer to an area that was reserved for the King’s hunting pleasure. A mediaeval forest was described as a ‘territory of woody grounds and fruitful pastures, privileged for wild beasts and fowls of forest, chase and warren, to rest and abide there in the safe protection of the King, for his delight and pleasure.’ Forests could also include whole villages and other settlements that were within the area selected for royal hunting.

Highest concentration of ancient trees
The establishment of the royal hunting grounds meant that the clearance of trees from the area, which is believed to have begun in the middle to late Bronze Age (c.2500-c.800 BC), was restricted under the Forest Law in order to protect the venison and vert (game animals and vegetation). As a result of this many of the ancient woodlands still present today on the New Forest probably owe their existence to William I. The New Forest boasts what is believed to be the highest concentration of ancient trees in Western Europe, particularly around the village of Lyndhurst. This remarkable achievement is tempered, however, by the fact that ancient woodland now covers only around 2 per cent of the land area of the UK. There are 5,500 woods in the UK covering 8,500 square miles. That’s 9 per cent of the total land area and one of the lowest percentages in Europe, where average woodland cover is 44 per cent – forest covers 32 per cent of Germany and 29 per cent of France.

Richest county in England!
Ancient trees are generally regarded as those that have been in existence for at least 400 years but some specimens in the New Forest are much older. The Knightwood Oak, for example, is believed to be about 600 years old. However, some New Forest trees have been identified as ‘primary’ making them the direct descendants of the original wildwood. This means that they have never been completely cleared from the area since the arrival of the first humans at the end of the Ice Age. This continuity and stability of environment has had a significant benefit to the ecology of the area. A vast diversity of species, many of them rare or threatened, has developed alongside the ancient trees. Species including insects, lichens, fungi, mammals, and birds, depend upon the barks, hollows and deadwood of these ancient trees. It’s no surprise then that the richest county in England, when measured by recorded plant and animal species, is Hampshire – all because of the New Forest.

The New Forest boasts what is believed to be the highest concentration of ancient trees in Western Europe.

The New Forest boasts what is believed to be the highest concentration of ancient trees in Western Europe.

Video: Wondrous Woodlands – by Simon King/New Forest National Park Authority

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New Forest: heathland management and controlled burning

Posted on February 16, 2015 by newforestcommoner
The burnt stalks of holly and gorse are known on the New Forest as 'blackjacks'.

The burnt stalks of  gorse are known on the New Forest as ‘blackjacks’.

Visitors to the northern part of the New Forest recently (Febuary 2015) may have witnessed a technique for managing the heathland that has been practiced for generations, namely controlled burning. The Forestry Commission undertakes this activity now, which aims to regenerate the heather and gorse whilst hindering invading scrub, by setting fire to the heathland. Using fire to improve the heathland may sound counter-intuitive but the burning actually encourages new growth, which is beneficial to a variety of flora and fauna, as well as providing food for the commonable livestock. It also plays an important role in reducing the risk of wildfires in the summer months that can burn out of control and have a devastating effect on vegetation and wildlife. Heathland wildfires are particularly dangerous because they can burn below ground causing long-lasting damage to the peat and the mineral soil underneath.

Practice of controlled burning
The law permits controlled burning each year from the first working day in November until the last working day of March. However, in practice it generally starts in early February because the worst of the winter weather is over, there are no birds nesting or animals producing young, the vegetation is still quite dry and the damp ground offers protection to the peaty soil. The process is strictly controlled and only a small percentage of the heathland is burned each year (on average 400 hectares) and only then in rotation, which traditionally is once every generation (about 25 years). A firebreak is first established around the area to be burned, which is made by using a cutting machine. Visitors to the Forest often have mistaken these safety margins in the heath for tracks or footpaths. The firebreaks are used to prevent the spread of flames to other parts of the heathland. Only skilled and experienced staff are permitted to undertake controlled burning of the heathland. In times past however, the commoners often operated their own unofficial controlled burning effort because they felt that the Forestry Commission programme was ineffective or did not cover the areas of heathland they wanted rejuvenated for their animals. Happily today the programme is better coordinated and many of the Forest organisations, including the Verderers, are consulted prior to any burning programme to ensure their cooperation.

Benefits of controlled burning
But not everyone is in favour of the controlled burning and some argue that it actually has a detrimental effect on the heathland by reducing the nutrients in the soil. Nevertheless it is a practice that is still widely used, particularly on grouse moors in northern England, to encourage new growth. It also has one additional benefit that no other type of heathland management, including cutting or swiping, can provide and that is the reduction of ticks and the risk of Lymes Disease. A traditional benefit of controlled burning, but one not practised today, was the harvesting by the commoners of the ‘blackjacks’, the burnt holly and gorse stems, to sell as firewood. What you might see today however, during the periods of controlled burning, are ponies sporting blackened criss-cross markings over their flanks and hindquarters. This is a sure sign that they have been picking their way through the blackjacks and have become striped by the charcoal stalks of the holly and gorse stems as they pass by them. These haphazard markings can give them the appearance of very odd-looking zebras.

The firebreaks, used as safety margins during periods of controlled burning, are often mistaken for tracks or footpaths.

The firebreaks, used as safety margins during periods of controlled burning, are often mistaken for tracks or footpaths.

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