It's that time of year again when the pigs roam the New Forest in search of tasty morsels...pannage season. Every autumn between mid September and mid November (although this can be extended in bumper years) the commoners release their pigs into the forest to search out nuts, in particular Acorns which are poisonous to the forests ponies and cattle. They can be unpredictable buggers, pigs, sometimes being quite aggressive as well as chasing you, which I can tell you gets you moving, though for the most part they're amiable creatures, inquisitive but harmless, more scared of you. I'd take care to check them out before getting to close though, and keep your distance for sows with piglets, man, they can be feisty. It's a lovely thing to see. This was Geoff's first encounter with pigs. I checked them out before getting too close, they were clearly the mellow type. Geoff on the lead, we cautiously approached each other, the pigs interested in Geoff and Geoff in them, they sniffed each other and were cool. I let Geoff off the lead and they mingled without incident, Geoff intrigued by their snuffling had a go himself.
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