Pannage starts today - please drive carefully through the New Forest

Pannage started today (15th) until Friday 28th November - Please drive carefully!

Many of the animals that roam the New Forest such as pigs, horses, sheep, cows and donkeys are owned by the Commoners.

Under the ancient practice of pannage, pigs are released into the Forest to feed on fallen acorns, beechmast, chestnuts and other nuts. Green acorns in particular are poisonous to the ponies and cattle which roam the forest the majority of the year.

As the nights draw in sooner, and with free-roaming animals feeding across the Forest, there is a risk of drivers in particular becoming involved in a collision with an animal.

For more information on Pannage please visit their website: New Forest Pigs and Pannage - Visit the New Forest

The last couple of years we have received reports of pigs being hit and killed in the New Forest. Where we can make enquiries and identify drivers we will issue drivers with Conditional Cautions, with a requirement that they pay the pig owner compensation (usually £100's).

In the event of a collision, it’s important to stop your vehicle, check on the animal if safe to do so, identify your location and report to the police by calling 999. It is worth downloading the What3Words app on your phone >>> Download the free what3words app | what3words

This can help identify exactly where you are, and this information can then be used by a police call handler to help track you down.

It is an offence to fail to report a collision with an animal under Section 170 (of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The animals captured within this piece of legislation are horse, cattle, donkey, mule, sheep, pig, goat and dog. #HantsRural #10625