Latest news with #Verderers
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Forestry England 'risking devastating wildfires' by not removing dead wood
Forestry England has been accused of creating potential bonfires that could cause "devastating" blazes in the New Forest. As Hampshire swelters in the fourth heatwave of the summer, the organisation has been criticised for not removing fallen timber from the forest floor. The issue was raised at the Court of Verderers by one of the commoners whose free-roaming animals graze the landscape. Lucie Rowe said the importance of preserving the Forest's special ecology and habitats meant some dead wood should be left. But she warned that the current practice of seemingly leaving everything in place was effectively creating large bonfires, which could prove "absolutely disastrous". Signs warning about the danger of wildfires appear in the New Forest every summer (Image: Newsquest) READ MORE: Fire service set to recruit days after New Forest wildfire "I think we all understand that climate change is happening. The extreme weather we now experience means we have stronger winds and higher temperatures than ever before. "This spring gave us a particularly dry season and by early May I was walking in trainers where ordinarily I should have needed wellies. "The leaves on the forest floor crunched under foot, the fern hadn't started to grow, and last year's bracken was tinder try. All very much a fire hazard. Signs warning about the danger of wildfires appear in the New Forest every summer (Image: Forestry England) "I believe there could be spontaneous combustion on some of the heaths. Once the fire has spread into the woods, once that has got a lick on these bonfires of dead and dry timber, the situation would be a nightmare." Ms Rowe urged Forestry England to review its policy, adding: "The cost of a devastating fire is a price none of us want to pay." But a Forestry England spokesperson told the Daily Echo: "There is a well-established approach to dead wood in the ancient woodlands of the New Forest, agreed with Natural England, the Verderers and other forest organisations. "This rotting and decomposing wood it is one of the features that makes the New Forest so biodiverse. "It boosts habitats for fungi and many different species of wildlife. This is why much of this is left in place and only removed where there are specific issues such as blocking paths or health and safety. 'Removing large amounts of fallen deadwood across these incredibly sensitive ancient woodlands would risk serious ground disturbance and root compaction on the surrounding ancient and veteran trees."
BBC News
08-08-2025
- BBC News
Pony dies and cow injured in New Forest hit-and-runs
A pony has died after suffering "horrific wounds" and a cow has been injured in two hit-and-runs on the same are investigating the incidents, which happened within an hour of each other, in the New pony, an older mare called Lucky, was found in Beaulieu Road along the B3055, between Stockley Cottage and Roundhill campsite, at 22:57 BST on cow was found an hour later, at the entrance of Longslade View car park on the Wilverley road near Sway. A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesperson said the drivers of the vehicles that struck each animal did not report the incidents to police. New Forest Roads Awareness released a statement explaining: "We are hugely concerned by the amount of people who are not reporting incidents. Ignorance is not an excuse."The group said up to £5,000 could be rewarded for reporting a hit-and-run driver and urged people to come forward with information or dashcam added: "One if not both vehicles have broken headlights. Both vehicles left behind debris, so we are looking for two damaged cars."Speed may not have been the reason for an accident, but you should be driving at all times with livestock as your main concern and drive to the conditions."Anyone with information is being asked to contact police or the Verderers office. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- The Independent
Warning to drivers as stallions released in New Forest for breeding season
Drivers and visitors have been put on alert after stallions were released into the New Forest to breed. Verderers who watch over the livestock have warned visitors to avoid the area as 21 stallions were allowed into the forest to breed with the hundreds of mares roaming. Robert Maton, an agister of 31 years, said the message was simple: 'People can go onto the verderers' website if they're unaware where the stallions are roaming, but we ask everybody to avoid those areas.' Drivers have been urged to remain on their guard and expect large herds of ponies. New Forest Roads Awareness, a social media group campaigning to reduce the number of traffic collisions with livestock, warned there would be foals and asked motorists to drive with care and attention. The group wrote on Facebook: 'The stallions are going out to hundreds of ladies that haven't seen a gent in months... they are only thinking about one thing, and sorry, you and your vehicle are not it.' As well as walkers, who might come across the pushy male horses driving mares in and out of the herd, Mr Maton said any horse-riders were particularly at risk of losing control of their animals and having their steeds chased off by the stallions. Mr Maton added: 'It's just a recipe for disaster, and one that can be avoided - they just need to walk somewhere else.' Each year, approved stallions are turned out into the area in order to maintain the New Forest pony as a breed. They were turned out on 12 May and will be turned in on 23 June. When not out in the forest, the registered stallions live out on a large pasture together. They are owned by people who live in properties with rights dating back to the eleventh century, which allow them to graze livestock in the open forest. The New Forest is home to ponies, deer, reptiles, birds and other livestock such as cattle. Anyone who visits the National Park is told they have a duty to ensure the safety of all the wildlife, while drivers must adhere to a maximum speed limit of 40mph on the unfenced forest roads. Visitors can face a fine of £200 as well as a criminal record for feeding the ponies. They are warned to admire ponies from a safe distance, as even the gentlest-looking pony can kick and bite. The Verderers of the New Forest have regulated development in the area since 1877 and work in conjunction with Natural England and Forestry England. Agisters are officials responsible for managing the welfare of livestock grazing in the open forest.
