Pannage pig

The New Forest is an amazing place and close to where we live.
It was proclaimed a Royal Forest by William the Conquerer and is home to many animals and birds.

The New Forest pony is recognised as a breed and they roam free in the forest, being rounded up annually for a health check.

However, the magnificent oak trees in the forest produce an enormous number of acorns and, in excessive amounts, these are poisonous to the ponies.

The ancient practice of pannage is still to be found in the forest.
Livestock pigs are released into the forest to forage beneath the oaks and eat all the acorns.


I set out to find some pigs in this year's pannage (9 September to 10 November) and came across a delightful drift of about 35 pigs of various sizes and colours.


I have shown just one pig here and in the background one of the largest and oldest oak trees in the forest.
It must be in excess of 500 years old.