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IN
THE BEGINNING
The word ‘forest’ does
not actually imply covered with trees but derives from the name for a royal
hunting area with special laws to protect deer. Ashdown Forest became part
of the Duchy of Lancaster when Edward III granted the hunting park to his
son, John of Gaunt in 1372. Like all medieval parks, it was enclosed by a
ditch and bank with a deer-
proof fence. This ‘pale’ was about
23 miles long with 34 gates, some of which which still exist today in the
numerous ‘gate’ and ‘hatch’ names scattered around
the Forest.
TODAY
Only 60 kilometres from Marble Arch, Ashdown Forest
is the largest area of open countryside in the South East of England
and is a wonderful place for recreation, providing space in which to relax
and enjoy the magnificent countryside and glorious views. If you want to
walk, picnic or simply sit and take in the scenery, access to the Forest
is free to everyone and that includes the plentiful car parks. The Forest
is managed on behalf of us all by the Board of Conservators and run on
a daily basis by the Forest Superintendent, his staff and dedicated volunteers.
The Forest is at the heart of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty and is designated as a site of Special Scientific Interest by the
Secretary of State for the Environment. It is also a European Special Area
for Conservation and a Special Protection Area and with its close proximity
to London, it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year.
THE FUTURE
Ashdown Forest is
now one of the very few remaining areas of extensive lowland heath left in
Europe. This rare and threatened landscape is being lost internationally
at an alarming rate. In England for example, only about 20% of the heathland
to be found in 1800 still exists today and East Sussex has lost about half
its heathland over the last 200 years. Indeed, Ashdown Forest is virtually
all that is left. Around 2600 hectares of common land still remains, of which
over 1500 hectares is heathland. This comprises about 3% of what remains
in Britain.
Traditionally, commoners maintained the heathland but changing
lifestyles mean that grazing and cutting of vegetation have declined. Without
these vital activities, the heathland is lost and this threatens wildlife
such as Dartford warblers, nightjars, woodlarks and silver-studded blue butterflies.
Also under threat are plants such as marsh club moss, marsh gentians and
bog asphodels. All could vanish for ever unless we continue our programme
of conservation and that costs money. Help us now by becoming a Friend of
Ashdown Forest and help protect the Forest for future generations.
