Email address change
The Verderers' email address has changed. Please use the form on the Contact web-page to email the Clerk.
Emergencies
To report Road Traffic Accidents involving Forest stock (ponies, cattle, pigs, sheep and donkeys) - ring the Police on 999.
For sick or injured stock or deer - ring the Forestry Commission on 023 8028 3141 (24h).
Have you been involved in an accident, or are you a witness? Please read this important information.
Livestock deaths
Drive with care in the Forest - 73 livestock were killed in 2008, thankfully a reduction from 2007. A further 21 animals were injured (excluding deer). Twenty accidents were not reported.
HIT & RUN accidents
There is a reward of £1000 for information leading to the successful prosecution of drivers convicted of a HIT & RUN accidents involving a Forest animal.
Example: Two donkeys (Sooty and Sweep) were hit in the village of Brook. The driver of the vehicle involved failed to report the accident. In the same week, a pony was also severely injured by a HIT & RUN driver and had to be destroyed.
An overview of the role and history of the Verderers
The New Forest
The New Forest is a royal former hunting area in Hampshire, and was constituted by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.
It is a nationally important environment of woodland pasture, heath, bog and the remains of 17th, 18th & 19th century coppices and timber plantations. It retains many of the agricultural practices conceded by the Crown in historical times to local people. Principal of these is the depasturing of ponies, cattle, pigs and donkeys in the Open Forest by authorised local inhabitants known as Commoners.
The New Forest is an outstanding recreational area for walking and horse riding.
The Crown still owns most of the land within the Forest. William imposed legal powers to arrest settlement by the local inhabitants and these limitations remain in modified form to this day. The rights of Commoners must be taken into account, together with preservation and enhancement of the flora and fauna.
The role of the Verderers
The role of the Verderers of the New Forest is to:
- protect and administer the New Forest's unique agricultural commoning practices;
- conserve its traditional landscape, wildlife and aesthetic character, including its flora and fauna, peacefulness, natural beauty and cultural heritage;
- safeguard a viable future for commoning upon which the foregoing depends.
The Verderers derive their offices, powers and responsibilities from an Act of Parliament in 1877 (and subsequent Acts - a link to the Acts is available on the Links page).
The Court comprises the Official Verderer (Chairman), five elected Verderers representing the Commoners and four appointed Verderers: one each appointed by the Forestry Commission, DEFRA, the National Park Authority and Natural England. The post of Official Verderer is a statutory appointment made by Her Majesty the Queen.
We work in conjunction with the Forestry Commission (which manages the Forest on behalf of the Crown), Natural England, and with owners of other areas of common land within the Forest, such as the National Trust.
The Official Verderer
The Official Verderer - Mr Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre - writes:
“There has always been an air of mystery surrounding the Verderers Court, however the work that we do today is key to the continued preservation of the Forest landscape that provides so much pleasure to the millions of visitors who come every year to this precious place.”
“Our main ongoing task is to ensure that the owners of the animals out on the Forest exercise their rights in a responsible and proper manner, and in keeping with the highest standards of welfare. In addition, over the last one hundred and thirty years since the Court was established by the great 1877 New Forest Act, we have firmly established our role as Guardians of those common rights and the land over which they are exercised.”
“As the south of England becomes ever more crowded, and the pressures upon the Forest increase from every side, we see our duty to perform that role as being of paramount importance.”
This website
This website is principally focussed at the requirements of Commoners, other Forest professionals and local inhabitants.
We welcome other visitors to the site and offer Education and FAQ pages. These provide a foundation for appreciating the Forest's splendour and the management of this unique farming environment. They also promote responsible attitudes from visitors and local inhabitants in their activities within this special place.
Quick Links
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Latest press releases
- Hit & Run 25 Jan 10 - Audi A6 driver sought.
[6-Feb-2010]
- Horse dumped in the Forest - information needed
[20-Jan-2010]
Recent additions
- Audited accounts 2008-2009
[26-Jan-2010] - December Court minutes
[22-Jan-2010] - Praise from the December Welfare Tour
[14-Dec-2009] - Horse Passports and Microchipping 2009 Regs. - NF ponies
[9-Dec-2009] - CSS Accounts, Advisory Group minutes, and Verderers' Sub-committee minutes
[4-Dec-2009] - Recreational consents - cricket, football, golf
[27-Oct-2009] - Draft amended Byelaws
[23-Sep-2009] - Notice of publication draft Electoral Register for revision
[23-Sep-2009] - CSS to Higher Level Stewardship Scheme
[16-Sep-2009]
Clerk to the Verderers
The Clerk manages the Verderers' Office and is the initial contact for all enquiries. Please use the Contact Form on the Contact web-page.
Agisters
Five Agisters are employed to ride the Forest and supervise the day-to-day welfare of Commoners' stock.
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