NEW Forest commoners are being urged to take part in a census which will provide vital information to support the traditional way of forest life in the future.

Official verderer Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre told the January Court of Verderers the census will identify changing trends and attitudes.

With the support of the verderers, Dr Jo Ivey carried out a previous census in 1991 and another in 2001.

“Taken together they will provide us with 20 years of the history of the commoners’ way of life, their changing views on both the future of commoning and the most serious threats it faces,” said Mr Crosthwaite Eyre.

The latest census has been tailored to find out what measures need to be taken to support commoning in the years ahead with the help of the “significant funds” in the Verderers’ Grazing Scheme.

He added: “I urge all recipients to complete and return the forms which will help us gain a clear picture of what matters to practising commoners today and what needs to be done in the future to support them.”

Dr Ivey said the questionnaire will cover a range of subjects including whether young people are entering commoning and who is still putting animals out to graze in the forest.

“Issues which have previously been raised and might come up again include the market for New Forest stock, land, housing, road accidents involving animals and the many pressures which threaten the future of this way of life,” she said.