The Verderers regulate Commoning…

We work in conjunction with Natural England, Forestry England and owners of other areas of common land.

Who are the Verderers of The New Forest

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.

Verderers

What do they do?

The Verderers of the New Forest regulate development on the Forest as well as overseeing commoning. They work in conjunction with Natural England and Forestry England which manages the Forest on behalf of the Crown, as well as with owners of other areas of common land within the perambulation.

The Court has to consider proposals for new roads, telephone and electricity lines, car parks, exchanges of land, camping sites, recreational facilities, improvement of the grazing, timber inclosures, playing fields and numerous other matters.

When to the Verderers Meet?

The Court of Verderers meet on the third Wednesday of each month in public session at which ‘presentments’ may be made.

A ‘presentment’ is a verbal statement made to the Court in which concern is expressed (which must be accompanied by a written note), a complaint made or a question asked about a matter relevant to the New Forest.

Much of the business is of administration nature and requires close co-operation with Forestry England. The Deputy Surveyor of the New Forest (Forestry England’s chief officer in the area) and his Land Agent usually attend.

Why do they do it?

An Act of parliament ensures that Forestry England (FE) has to fund the Verderers

The New Forest Acts of 1877 to 1970 together with other legislation such as the Countryside Act of 1968, the European Union Habitats Directive of 1992 and more recently the New Forest National Park Authority (Establishment) Order 2004, govern what can and cannot be done in the Forest.

The essence of this is that although the land is in state ownership the rights of the commoners must be taken into account, together with wildlife and conservation.

Road Traffic Incidents

If you are involved in, or witness, a road traffic accident in which a vehicle collides with a pony, cow, donkey, pig or sheep, you must telephone the Police on 999 or Forestry England on 0300 067 4600 (24 hours) at the earliest opportunity.

Even if you think the animal is uninjured, you must report the accident. The Agisters will always do their best to find animals which have been involved in a collision with a vehicle.

Report an Incident

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.

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