From Forest to Table: The Importance of Pannage

Nothing signifies the start of Autumn in the New Forest more than the presence of playful pigs. One of commoning’s oldest rights and traditions, pannage ensures all the acorns are hoovered up by the pigs so the ponies don’t fall ill from them. The result is tasty, nutty pannage pork, a product that exemplifies the heart of what the New Forest Marque stands for.

As part of the New Forest National Park Authority’s ‘Behind the Scenes’ campaign, we visited commoner Wendy Maughan at her farm in Cadnam, to take a look at her pannage pigs and have a chat about commoner life.

She explained,

‘The best thing about being a commoner is being able to produce wonderful meat for the local community that has come from the landscape. You can trace it from the land, the farm, butcher to plate, and that’s important. It’s local and sustainable.’

Supporting commoners is quintessentially at the heart of what the New Forest Marque sets out to do –  championing local produce whilst preserving the New Forest’s heritage and landscape. Wendy is a proud member of the New Forest Marque because ‘it gives meaning to what we do’.

Local producers and sellers of pannage pork can be found listed in the Local Produce Guide available in New Forest shops and outlets, or why not view the guide online HERE. You can be assured that every product labelled with the Marque logo is genuine New Forest produce. Remember to place your orders in advance as pannage pork is always in high demand!