The National Park's special qualities

An historic commoning system

maintains so much of what people know and love as ‘the New Forest’ forming the heart of a working landscape based on farming and forestry

Although common rights were once widespread in Britain and Europe, they have been lost in many areas due to the enclosure of common land and the disafforestation of former royal forests.

The New Forest remains one of the few extensive lowland commons where rights are still widely practised and a strong commoning culture continues. Over the centuries the commoning has largely been responsible for shaping the distinctive landscapes and habitats of the Open Forest.

There were six traditional rights of common, several of which are still practised today. The right of mast allows the turning out of pigs to feed on the acorn crop, while common pasture allows the grazing of ponies, cattle and donkeys.