Educate the public or the Forest will be changed forever – commoners

COMMONERS are fearful the New Forest could be changed forever if the public are not better educated on how to behave around livestock.

The stark warning was issued at a verderers meeting in Lyndhurst on Wednesday morning, when a delegation of cattle owners asked the court to endorse a public information campaign urging Forest users to report incidents of livestock worrying to the police.

It comes just days after the Commoners Defence Association wrote to 200 of its members asking for cattle that are grazed on the Forest to be dehorned as a precautionary measure following a spate of incidents in which people and pets have been hurt by cows.

Addressing the Verderers’ Court, CDA vice-chairman and cattle-owning commoner Robert Stride declared: “This court is well aware of the ever-increasing pressures of recreation on the Forest. This is increasingly bringing our livestock into conflict with other Forest users and changing their behaviour.

Referring to a recent joint meeting of cattle owners and verderers hosted by Official Verderer Lord Manners, Mr Stride said commoners were extremely concerned that the majority of Forest users were completely unaware of how they should behave around livestock.

He declared: “There is a real lack of clear information given to the public about how to pass livestock safely.”

Mr Stride continued that commoners were “keen to do their bit” to ensure everyone was able to safely access the Forest, and as an upshot of the meeting he reported that the CDA had asked all cattle-owning commoners to dehorn their animals with the exception of Highland cattle and longhorns – for which the horns were a characteristic of the breed.

“We have drafted a poster which clearly informs people of their responsibilities,” said Mr Stride, continuing: “We need the general public to help us and report any incidents of livestock worrying to the police or verderers.”

Cattle-owning commoner Tom Hordle then stood up to show a version of the draft poster to the Verderers’ Court which reads: “Livestock keep your distance.”

It goes on to caution that interaction with dogs can change animals’ behaviour, stating: “Livestock worrying is a criminal offence. If you witness livestock worrying call the police immediately on 999.”

Turning to the Official Verderer, Mr Stride said: “We respectfully ask consent from the verderers and Forestry England to place these posters in the car parks and access points.”

He concluded: “We need to remember that the Forest is only the way it is because of the animals that graze it. If we don’t take some positive steps to preserve our traditions we will lose them forever.”

The presentment to the verderers comes a month after a commoner claimed that a herd of cows which wounded a walker and killed his dog could have turned “unusually aggressive” after being denied access to drinking water.

As reported in the A&T in July, the attack resulted in the man being rushed to hospital with serious injuries and the cows sent for slaughter because they could not be safely returned to the Forest.

Commoner Fiona Gover attended the September meeting of the Verderers’ Court to share details of a “very worrying incident” she saw of a group of activity centre staff and youngsters trying to scare away thirsty livestock so they could continue sailing model boats on a pond.

Ms Gover recalled how she was riding towards Ibsley when she noticed a small group of Dexter cows and calves running in the direction of a water-filled gravel pit which she said was “the only source of drinking water” locally.

She said: “Suddenly I heard a huge commotion, clapping and shouting – sufficient to startle my riding pony. When I came past the gorse that was obscuring my view of the gravel pit pond, I saw below me six or more adults lined up, clapping and actively preventing the cows from accessing the pond.”

After challenging the group they eventually relented, but Ms Gover warned actively preventing animals from accessing drinking water on a hot summer day could be described as “livestock worrying or animal abuse”.

She said: “The last two summers have been hot and dry – blocking access to water and driving animals away is guaranteed to provoke a hostile response at some point.

“Doubtless this could be a major contributory factor in the unusual behaviour displayed by cattle on Ibsley in the last two years which has resulted in two separate herds being removed and sent to slaughter.”

Calling for better signage with clear messages for visitors, Ms Gover said: “It is fundamental to the Forest that animals have right of way.

“Simply banning animals is not going to remedy this situation, and only postpone and possibly exacerbate the problem. Perhaps it is time to return to signage – and plenty of it – in order to save the Forest.”