Verderers' New Forest Higher Level Stewardship Scheme

Overview

The Verderers have formed a partnership with the New Forest National Park Authority and the Forestry Commission to manage a Higher Level Stewardship Scheme for the unenclosed Crown Lands of the New Forest. The new Scheme replaces the Verderers’ Countryside Stewardship Scheme and will provide in excess of £1.6 million per year for the New Forest. The agreement with Natural England is for 10 years, subject to a review at the 5 year point, and came into effect on 1st March 2010.

Cattle loafing in Longcross Pond

The Scheme is managed by Chris Caswell. Under the terms of the Scheme, around half the annual sum is managed by Colin Draper on behalf of the Verderers. In effect, this is a continuation of the original Stewardship Scheme and is known as the “Verderers’ Grazing Scheme (VGS)”.

Under the terms of the agreement, there will be no significant changes to the payments made to commoners, at least until 2013 when the CSS agreement would have come to an end, except that significantly more money is available enabling the funding of major projects such as the provision of mains water and electricity, together with toilets and other facilities, at the Beaulieu Road sale yard – planned for Summer 2010. There will be a detailed review to determine the terms and conditions for the VGS post 2013. The balance of the annual sum is managed by Chris Caswell and used mainly to fund maintenance and restoration work on the open Forest. Money is also provided for access and education and for maintaining the “historic environment”.

Ponies in Queen North Wood

VGS payments

In return for membership and depasturing their animals for laid down minimum periods, Commoners receive an annual payment - in 2009 this was £55.00 each, for cattle, ponies, and donkeys, and £25.00 each for pigs, and there are limits on the numbers which they are allowed to enter. There is an additional premium of £15.00 for cattle and registered pure bred New Forest ponies. There are no payments for sheep or other animals.

VGS rules

Please note that the Scheme rules (Terms and Conditions) were amended in February 2010. A copy may be downloaded below.

HLS/CSS/VGS Reports & Minutes

For more details, please use the links below.

• Record of Decisions of the HLS Scheme Board - 19 July 2010.
• Scheme Rules - Revised February 2010.
• Minutes of the Verderers' CSS Sub-Committee Meeting Held on 5 November 2009.
• Minutes of the CSS Advisory Group Meeting Held on 10 November 2009.
• Audited Accounts up to 31 March 2009.
• Annual Report - 2008.
• Annual Report - 2007.
• Minutes of the CSS Advisory Group Meeting Held on 9 March 2009.
• Audited Accounts up to 31 March 2008.
• Minutes of the Verderers' CSS Sub-Committee Meeting Held on 21 October 2008.
• Minutes of the CSS Advisory Group Meeting Held on 4 November 2008.
• Minutes of the Verderers' CSS Sub-Committee Meeting Held on 9 April 2008.
• Minutes of the CSS Advisory Group Meeting Held on 15 April 2008.
• Minutes of the Verderers' CSS Sub-Committee Meeting Held on 5 November 2007.
• Minutes of the CSS Advisory Group Meeting Held on 15 November 2007.
• Minutes of the CSS Advisory Group Meeting Held on 29 June 2007.
• Audited Accounts up to January 2007.
• Minutes of the CSS Advisory Group Meeting Held on 16 March 2007.
• Minutes of the Verderers' CSS Sub-Committee Meeting Held on 20 April 2007.
• Audited Accounts up to January 2006.
• Annual Report dated October 2006.
• Minutes of the CSS Advisory Group Meeting Held on 25 September 2006.
• Minutes of the Verderers' CSS Sub-Committee Meeting Held on 20 October 2006.
• Minutes of the CSS Advisory Group Meeting Held on 14 March 2006.
• Scheme Rules - Amended on 1st November 2005.
• Annual Report dated October 2005.
• Grazing Plan dated May 2005.
• Audit of Account at the end of the first year.
• Minutes of the Verderers' CSS Sub-Committee Meeting Held on 1 November 2005.
• Minutes of the CSS Advisory Group Meeting Held on 13 September 2005.
• Copy of the CSS Agreement between DEFRA and the Verderers.