The nature of traffic

I was held up bit today by the traffic. Visitors to the New Forest can wonder about the animals roaming around the roads and villages.
These grazing animals are the property of New Forest Commoners who are local people who enjoy traditional New Forest Common Rights.
These rights date back to early medieval times, maybe before.

"Common of Pasture" rights are when a payment of a 'marking fee' is made for each animal (ponies, cattle, donkeys) and then they can be put out to graze on the open lands. This means all the grass verges etc are continually eaten down and look very well manicured. It also means there can be manure on the roads!

"Common of Mast" is used in autumn when the acorns fall and pigs are put out to eat them up and fatten up. This is also a good clear up operation because the acorns are not so good for ponies or cattle. The pigs can cause quite a stir snuffling along the edge of the roads,sometimes with little piglets in tow.
I will try to blip some of the pigs soon... the acorns have just begun to fall.