Commoning and Commoners' rights date back to the time when the New Forest was created by William I (William the Conqueror) as a Royal hunting ground. Both he and his son, William II (Rufus) set out 'laws' to protect and manage this new hunting area and its animals. However, these 'laws' proved to be very unjust for the people who already lived and worked there. For their sake, Commoners' rights were introduced, and they're still in place today. There are several rights attached to property or land and approximately 800 small holdings and houses still retain these rights, although less than half exercise them. Commoners therefore, are the people who own or occupy the property or land to which the rights are attached. One or more rights over the forest were granted, depending on the location of the land or property within the New Forest. There are six recognised rights of common.
THE RIGHT OF COMMON OF PASTURE is the right to depasture commonable animals on the forest. Commonable animals include, ponies, donkeys, mules and cattle.
THE RIGHT OF COMMON OF SHEEP is the right to turn out sheep on the forest. Only a few properties have this right and none of them are currently exercising it.
THE RIGHT OF COMMON OF MAST is the right to turn out pigs, who forage for fallen acorns (these acorns are poisonous to the ponies and cattle if eaten in large numbers). This is known as the pannage season, it always lasts for 60 days during autumn and begins only when announced by the forest Verderers.
THE RIGHT OF COMMON OF FUELWOOD (ESTOVERS) is the right to collect wood for fuel, although this is now regulated.
THE RIGHT OF COMMON OF TURBARY is the right to cut peat for fuel, although this is no longer practiced in the New Forest.
THE RIGHT OF COMMON OF MARL is the right to dig for the clay that is rich in lime, for use on agricultural land as a form of soil improvement. However, this right is also no longer practiced in the New Forest.
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