ID SKETCH COMPETENCY TRAINING
Another chance for you to attend this popular and much-talked about session, which all previous participants have found very interesting and informative. It is particularly useful for Young Commoners, new breeders and all those who wish to ‘brush up’ their skills, and gain approval as a Competent Authority to complete and sign ID sketches.
It will be held on Friday 3 July, 5.45 pm for a prompt 6 pm start, at Bolderwood Cottage, Bolderwood, Emery Down.
The session is quite informal and covers describing colours, markings and whorls and how to complete the form. It concludes by you satisfactorily completing a form for a ‘test’ pony. Please bring a black pen and if you have one, a clipboard. Please let the NFPB&CS office know if you would like to come, so that we have some idea of numbers.
Young Commoners Centenary Pound
The Young Commoners have been working hard to rebuild Woods Corner Pound as their contribution to the Centenary celebrations for the CDA. Click here to see some pictures from the first day of work
On Friday 5th June 2009, renowned local photographer Sally Fear opened her new exhibition at the New Forest Museum in Lyndhurst.
The exhibition, a celebration of Commoning in the year of the Centenary of the New Forest Commoner’s Defence Association, features an exceptional collection of photographs reflecting the working forest, and our President, Jeff Kitcher MBE, was proud to be asked to say a few words on the night.
The exhibition runs until Sunday 26th July, and entry into the exhibition is free. Sally has also produced a new book to accompany the exhibition, which is available to purchase from the Museum.
I was honoured when asked if my name could be put forward as a candidate to follow Brian Ingram as Chairman of the New Forest CDA. I recognise the fundamental importance of Commoning to the future of the New Forest and the vital part it has played in the Forest being as it is today.
We have had a home in the New Forest for 25 years and have been rearing cattle, sheep and pigs on our smallholding in Sway for the last 12 years and Commoning, albeit in a very small way, for the last seven.
After living and working on a farm in Devon, I studied Agricultural Science at University where I met my wife Maggie on the same course. Having completed a PhD, I joined Shell and we lived and worked in various parts of the world for the next 30 years.
Clearly my own knowledge and understanding of Commoning is limited, but I know I can count on the enormous amount of expertise amongst the membership and the Committee to ensure that Commoning and the Commoners Defence Association continues to thrive in the face of the challenges that the future will inevitably bring.
And there are those who have said that coming to the role without a lot of preconceived ideas might be an advantage!
I look forward to meeting you all.
Graham Ferris
June 2009
To read the draft minutes of this year’s AGM, please click here -
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To read an additional note regarding the Oral History Project that was debated, please click here -
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