English forest law

document granting rights to certain people, written in 1217

area of land with different meanings in England, Wales and Scotland

upright=1.2|thumb|Men knocking down acorns to feed swine, from the 14th century English Queen Mary Psalter, MS. Royal 2 B VII f.81v thumb|Modern-day pannage, or common of mast, in the New Forest

Assarting is the act of clearing forested lands for use in agriculture or other purposes. In English land law, it was illegal to assart any part of a royal forest without permission. This was the greatest trespass that could be committed in a forest, being more than a waste: while waste of the forest involves felling trees and shrubs, which can regrow, assarting involves completely uprooting all trees—the total extirpation of the forested area.