Some New Forest Terms
Verderers
are the ten elected and appointed officials who are the official guardians of
the Forest.
Agisters
are responsible to the verderers for the day to day management of the Forest.
Commoners
are those who own land with commoning rights.
Common of Pasture
is the most used right and the New Forest ponies are seen all over the Forest
and often come into our back paddock.
Common of Mast (Pannage)
is the right to turn pigs out onto the Forest during the pannage season. This typically lasts 60 days
and was originally to fatten up the pigs but is now remove some of the acorns and beech mast that
is not good for the ponies. The video is of one of three pigs that came into our garden.
Right of Turbury
allows those with the right to cut turf for fuel. It is no longer exercised.
Right of Fuelwood (Estovers)
is the right to cut wood for fuel. A cord of wood is 4' x 4' high by 8' long.
Right of Marl
is the right to dig for marl (a lime based clay used as a fertiliser)
in marl pits found in the south of the Forest. It is no longer exercised.
