The Commoners’ New Forest   photographic exhibition.  

Open every day 6th June - 26th July 2009 10am - 4.30pm. Admission Free

New Forest Gallery, New Forest Centre, Lyndhurst, Hampshire SO43 7NY www.newforestcentre.org.uk

And afterwards in New Forest Corner at the New Forest Show
28th, 29th, 30th July 08:15 - 19:00

This exhibition is to celebrate the Centenary of the New Forest Commoners' Defence Association.   A spectacular new collection of Sally’s New Forest photographs, alongside some ‘favourites’ and some commoning history. They demonstrate the commoners’ long-term commitment to their New Forest and to each other. The browsing and grazing of the commoners’ animals play a central part in the ecology of the New Forest. Without the animals the Forest would also be a much less attractive and interesting place for visitors.  10% of the families own 80% of the animals, so if these families were ever to drift from commoning there wouldn’t be many animals left on the Forest.  The Commoners’ New Forest is a celebration of commoning and the commoners.

The exhibition shows the New Forest, as you may never have seen it before. It reflects the working Forest and is a visual testimony to the commoners who are the very core of the Forest.  The commoners have been inextricably linked to the New Forest for a thousand years; they respect, care for and treasure it.  Without the commoners there would be no New Forest, as we know it today.  Commoning helps to support the New Forest’s fragile ecology and Sally hopes that this exhibition gives people an insight into the commoning way of life in the Forest.

There is a book to accompany the exhibition.

An estimated 350,000 people saw Sally Fear’s New Forest Drift exhibition during 2006/2007.  Do not miss The Commoners’ New Forest.

For further information about the photographs, you can contact Sally Fear at sally@sallyfear.com