New Milton Advertiser 20th Nov 2020

16 · Friday 20th November 2020

news@adt.press · advertising@adt.press · 01425 613384

NEW FOREST MARQUE

Celebrating the best of New Forest produce

The New Forest Marque – the sign of true local produce W hen buying local goods, look out for the New Forest Marque – the sign of true local produce. Anything with the distinctive blue logo has been grown, reared, brewed, produced or processed right here in the New Forest.

It’s thanks to commoning that we can enjoy an abundance of produce here in the New Forest. This traditional system of land management goes back centuries and today is very much still a big part of the working Forest. Ponies, cattle, pigs, donkeys and, in some areas, sheep graze and forage on unfenced common land and are owned by local families using their commoning rights. The members of these families are called ‘commoners’ – ordinary people with an extraordinary commitment to this special place. They have commoning rights from land they own, rent or share that allows them to graze their animals on the Open Forest. The free-roaming livestock are known as the ‘architects of the Forest’, as their grazing has shaped how the area looks today, with big, accessible open landscapes which are internationally-protected and home to wildlife that’s rare in other parts of the country. At this time of year, commoners let their pigs loose on the Forest to hoover up fallen acorns which are poisonous to ponies and cattle – a practice known as pannage which dates all the way back to the time of William the Conqueror, who founded the New Forest in 1079. The exact weeks when pigs are let out are decided by the Verderers and Forestry England according to how the season is looking. For example, this year’s pannage season has extended to the end of December because of a glut of acorns.

The 160 Marque members are proud to champion the very best of what the New Forest has to offer, be that beautiful wooden materials, freshly- grown veg or Forest-reared meat. The New Forest Marque is the stamp of approval given to food, drink and craft producers including commoners, farmers and growers as well as those who use locally-sourced ingredients in their finished products.

Available fromFarmShops, Gi s Shops andGardenCentres.

Pannage is also known as ‘common of mast’, and it traditionally enabled commoners to fatten their pigs for slaughter and salting in the winter. Pannage pork is known for its unique nutty flavour. Pedigree beef cattle are turned out onto the Forest, and their grazing and poaching (where their hooves tread near ponds and streams) subsequently create fantastic habitats for wildlife. Every animal labelled with the New Forest Marque logo will have spent at least half of its life in the New Forest. Every plant with the logo will have spent three quarters of its life grown here. New Forest Marque bakers, makers, preservers and cooks are committed to using raw ingredients from within the local area wherever possible – no less than 25% to get the Marque stamp. Restaurants, tea rooms, hotels and bed & breakfast outlets with the logo offer customers a wide selection of Marque produce.

Brockenhurst: e Sett, Co-opWelcome Store, atched Cottage, Cottage Lodge Hotel, Setley Ridge Farm Shop. Beaulieu: Fairweather Garden Centre, Queensmead Beaulieu, East Boldre Post O ce, Pilley Community Shop. Lymington: Tru es, Maison Cuisine, Shallowmead Farm Shop. Milford on Sea: Village News & Everton Post O ce. New Milton: Raise the Roots & Danestream Farm Shop, Ashurst: Longdown Farm Shop & Co-op Welcome Store. Ringwood: Crow Farm Shop. Lyndhurst: Pages Gi Shop, Minstead Community Shop, e Farmers Butcher. Burley: Shappens. Fordingbridge: Gourmet Grocer, Hockeys Farm Shop. Downton: Borough Cafe, Hale Newsagents, Romsey: Hilliers Gdn Ctr, Kimbridge Barn. Peters eld: Bunches Farm Shop. www.newforestshortbread.co.uk enquiries@newforestshortbread.co.uk

NOAH’S ARK FARM Lower Ashley Road, Ashley, New Milton 01425 638079 Free range geese and chickens also available noahsarkfarm@mail.com www.noahsarkfarm.co.uk CHRISTMAS TURKEYS FREE RANGE BRONZE TURKEYS

But it’s more than just a logo. It helps preserve traditional farming practices, rural skills and traditions which for centuries have influenced the distinctive Forest landscape and ecosystem. The New Forest Marque was originally set up in 2004 as Forest Friendly Farming, to support commoners and farmers in the New Forest, and membership is growing each year.

All sizes available

Beware livestock on the road!

The growing number of people

choosing New Forest Marque produce reflects the many benefits of buying local

Spout House Cakes Rich Brandy based fruit cakes (Christmas Cakes) in 3 sizes. 4”- £5. 6”- £12. 8”- £20. All un-iced but Gift wrapped. Traditional,

The 160 Marque members are proud to champion the very best of what the New

Gluten and Nut free available to order.

Rocky Road – a traditional biscuit fridge cake ideal as an alternative to Yule Log or in slices with berries topped with cream. Block- £5.

Pilley Community Shop and Post Office. CLA/NPA Award for the Best Supporter of Local Produce 2019 01590 610473 | 07594 711037 enquires@spouthousenewforest.co.uk www.spouthousenewforest.co.uk

SHOP OPENING HOURS Mon – Friday 8am – 4.30pm Sat: 8am – 4pm. Sun: 8am – 1pm. POST OFFICE OPENING HOURS Mon – Friday 9am – 4.30pm.

Forest has to offer

01590 673380 | Pilleyshop@aol.com We have a large range of locally produced Food, Drink, Christmas gi s & cards.