NEW Forest farmers are in for a cash boost which will help them keep the ancient commoning tradition alive.

In recent years it has become increasingly difficult to earn a living by commoning alone, and many people with commoners' rights have to pursue other jobs to achieve financial stability.

Working together, the New Forest National Park Authority, the Commoners Defence Association and the Verderers have secured a three-fold increase from Defra's Single Farm Payment scheme to increase commoners' income.

Official Verderer, Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre, announced the extra payments at October's Verderers Court at Lyndhurst.

"I am very pleased to announce that the payments to commoners will be increased threefold with immediate effect," he said.

"This means that by 2012 an extra £1.7 million a year will be paid directly to commoners who already qualify for this payment.

"This will obviously have a significant effect on the commercial viability of commoning, and this is a positive step in securing a long-term future for so many of the forest's farmers."

Commoner Rick Manley, chairman of the New Forest Trust, welcomed the news, describing it as a "responsible and fair outcome for many months of joint and complex negotiations validating the unique situation for New Forest commoners".

"It will go some way to redressing the financial hurdles that they have had to jump in past years."

Mr Crosthwaite Eyre said: "The increase in the Single Farm Payment will have a very positive effect on the economics of commoning, and will be a major boost to morale here in the forest."

The area-based scheme, which takes into account stock turn-out rate, is backdated to 2005.

It will be phased in gradually until 2012 when the expected annual payment to forest commoners is estimated to be £1.7 million.