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| − | [[Image:AF-2.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:AF-2.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|pjohnson|pjohnson}}<br />A view over Ashdown Forest towards Nutley]] |
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
| − | + | Ashdown Forest is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the High Weald. It is situated between Crowborough, Nutley, Maresfield and Forest Row. Originally a deer hunting forest in Norman times, Ashdown Forest is now freely open to the public. It is a great place for walking and enjoying spectacular views over the Sussex countryside and is known the world over as the 'home' of Winnie-the-Pooh. | |
The Forest covers 6500 acres (2500 hectares), and over half of this is heathland. It makes up 2.5% of the UKs heathland which is a very important and rare habitat. The Forest Centre is the headquarters of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest who are responsible for the managing the Forest. Bird recording is conducted on the Forest by the Ashdown Bird Group who are wholly independent and not affiliated to the Forest Centre or Conservators in any way. | The Forest covers 6500 acres (2500 hectares), and over half of this is heathland. It makes up 2.5% of the UKs heathland which is a very important and rare habitat. The Forest Centre is the headquarters of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest who are responsible for the managing the Forest. Bird recording is conducted on the Forest by the Ashdown Bird Group who are wholly independent and not affiliated to the Forest Centre or Conservators in any way. | ||
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==Birds== | ==Birds== | ||
===Notable Species=== | ===Notable Species=== | ||
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Birding on Ashdown Forest can be a thankless task, particularly in the Winter. Speaking of Winter, this is when we get our most notable species... Great Grey Shrike, which often gets reported on the [http://www.sos.org.uk SOS] and [http://www.birdguides.com Bird Guides] websites. | Birding on Ashdown Forest can be a thankless task, particularly in the Winter. Speaking of Winter, this is when we get our most notable species... Great Grey Shrike, which often gets reported on the [http://www.sos.org.uk SOS] and [http://www.birdguides.com Bird Guides] websites. | ||
| − | + | [[Image:AF-3.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|pjohnson|pjohnson}}<br />Waterfall on Ashdown Forest]] | |
===Rarities=== | ===Rarities=== | ||
''To do'' | ''To do'' | ||
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Access is straight-forward and should ideally be done by road if possible. The main facilities are at the Forest Centre. | Access is straight-forward and should ideally be done by road if possible. The main facilities are at the Forest Centre. | ||
| − | ===Access By Car=== | + | ====Access By Car==== |
Access is by road, using the numerous car parks available to walk out onto the Forest. The A22 cuts through the Forest running between Nutley and Forest Row, access to the Forest Centre is from this road, turning at Wych Cross traffic lights. | Access is by road, using the numerous car parks available to walk out onto the Forest. The A22 cuts through the Forest running between Nutley and Forest Row, access to the Forest Centre is from this road, turning at Wych Cross traffic lights. | ||
| − | ===Access By Bus=== | + | ====Access By Bus==== |
'''Stagecoach Service 54 (becomes 261 from Uckfield onwards)''' | '''Stagecoach Service 54 (becomes 261 from Uckfield onwards)''' | ||
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East Grinstead to Haywards Heath, stopping at Forest Row, Wych Cross and Chelwood Gate. | East Grinstead to Haywards Heath, stopping at Forest Row, Wych Cross and Chelwood Gate. | ||
| − | ===Access By Train=== | + | ====Access By Train==== |
Trains from London Bridge or London Victoria to East Grinstead are fairly regular. | Trains from London Bridge or London Victoria to East Grinstead are fairly regular. | ||
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*[http://www.ashdown-forest.co.uk Ashdown Bird Group] | *[http://www.ashdown-forest.co.uk Ashdown Bird Group] | ||
| − | [[Category:Locations | + | [[Category:Locations]] [[Category:Sussex]] |
Revision as of 13:59, 12 June 2009
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This article is incomplete. This article is missing one or more sections. You can help the BirdForum Opus by expanding it. |
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Overview
Ashdown Forest is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the High Weald. It is situated between Crowborough, Nutley, Maresfield and Forest Row. Originally a deer hunting forest in Norman times, Ashdown Forest is now freely open to the public. It is a great place for walking and enjoying spectacular views over the Sussex countryside and is known the world over as the 'home' of Winnie-the-Pooh.
The Forest covers 6500 acres (2500 hectares), and over half of this is heathland. It makes up 2.5% of the UKs heathland which is a very important and rare habitat. The Forest Centre is the headquarters of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest who are responsible for the managing the Forest. Bird recording is conducted on the Forest by the Ashdown Bird Group who are wholly independent and not affiliated to the Forest Centre or Conservators in any way.
To support a heathland the soil is very acidic, Ashdown Forest is based on a bed of sandstone with pockets of clay. Water collects and creates boggy areas which are exceptionally good for wildlife. Being elevated quite high above sea-level the area also attracts a lot of rainfall in the Winter months. Acid loving plants including heath bedstraw, heath-spotted orchid and bog asphodel can be found in many places as well as heathland moths including latticed heath and hawkmoths.
Birds
Notable Species
Birding on Ashdown Forest can be a thankless task, particularly in the Winter. Speaking of Winter, this is when we get our most notable species... Great Grey Shrike, which often gets reported on the SOS and Bird Guides websites.
Rarities
To do
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
To do
Other Wildlife
To do
Site Information
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
To do
Access and Facilities
Access is straight-forward and should ideally be done by road if possible. The main facilities are at the Forest Centre.
Access By Car
Access is by road, using the numerous car parks available to walk out onto the Forest. The A22 cuts through the Forest running between Nutley and Forest Row, access to the Forest Centre is from this road, turning at Wych Cross traffic lights.
Access By Bus
Stagecoach Service 54 (becomes 261 from Uckfield onwards) Buses run from Eastbourne to East Grinstead via Uckfield. They stop at Chelwood Gate, Wych Cross and the Forest Centre.
Metrobus Service 291 East Grinstead to Tunbridge Wells, stopping at Forest Row and Hartfield.
Metrobus Service 270 East Grinstead to Haywards Heath, stopping at Forest Row, Wych Cross and Chelwood Gate.
Access By Train
Trains from London Bridge or London Victoria to East Grinstead are fairly regular.
Contact Details
The Forest Centre 01342 823583
Or use website links.
