Verderers oversee Commoning…

Our primary objective is to regulate and protect the commoners interests and preserve the natural beauty and character of the Forest…

Commoning The Verderers

Report an Incident

Report Road Traffic incident involving Forest stock call 999. For sick, injured or dead Forest stock call 02380 282052 (normal office hours) or 0300 067 4600 (outside office hrs).

Report an Incident

The Verderers Office will be closed from Midday on Wednesday 24th Dec until 9am on Monday 5th January 2026

If anyone needs to report a sick or injured pony, cow, donkey, pig or sheep over this period please ring Forestry England’s out of hours call centre on 0300 067 4600 and ask for details to be passed to an Agister, including your name and telephone number.

Alternatively please dial 101 for the police. To report an RTA or a very urgent (animal welfare) problem please dial 999.

Please remember the Verderers and their Agisters do not deal with deer.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Who are the Verderers

The Court of Verderers is a corporate body set up under the New Forest Act of 1877. It is the last remnant of the old form of Forest government which was at one time found in many parts of the country.

The Verderers are charged with regulating commoning on the Forest and inquiring into unlawful inclosures. Subsequent Acts have added to the Verderers’ powers and they now have wide responsibilities in respect of development control and conservation.

Please refer to our leaflets for further info:

The Verderers

Commoning

Commoning in the New Forest refers to the traditional practice where local people, known as “commoners,” have the legal right to use the land for specific purposes, such as grazing their livestock or collecting resources. This centuries-old system is central to the cultural and ecological fabric of the New Forest.

The Verderers

The Verderers of the New Forest are an ancient and unique governing body responsible for protecting and managing the traditional rights, landscape, and ecology of the New Forest in southern England. They play a central role in overseeing commoning practices

Agisters

An Agister in the New Forest is an official responsible for managing the welfare of livestock grazing on the open forest. They play a key role in supporting the traditional practice of commoning and ensuring the well-being of the animals that roam freely within the forest boundaries.

Latest News

The Verderers publish regular announcements that include, protecting communing rights, managing livestock, conservation and environmental issues, resolving disputes, education and monitoring developments with the New Forest.

The Role of the Verderers

Protect and regulate the New Forest’s unique agricultural commoning practices;

Conserve it’s traditional landscape, wildlife and aesthetic character, including it’s flora and fauna
Peacefulness, natural beauty and cultural heritage
Safeguard a viable future for commoning upon which the foregoing depends