Ashdown Forest

17/10/2026

17/10/2026

Tune into BBC Radio 4 this afternoon at 3pm to listen to a play written by Edward Kemp, Chief Executive of the Royal Literary Fund, about Ashdown Forest and how the real life Christopher Robin Milne helped save the Forest from two also very real threats…

Catch up on BBC Sounds if you miss the live airing.

By Edward Kemp. With Robert Bathurst as Christopher Robin Milne.

17/10/2026

Members of our NextGen Group were hosted by the Ashdown Bird Group for the autumn outing to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve last Sunday 🍂🔭

It was a fabulous day of birding: Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk, Golden Plover, Brent Goose, Wheatear, Kingfisher, Curlew, Redshank & much more! 🦆

If you're an 18-25 year old looking to gain experience and skills in the environmental sector prior to employment, please head to our website to apply: https://ashdownforest.org/about-us/work-for-us/ 🌿

16/10/2026

🕚 Opening times at the Forest Centre this weekend: 17th - 18th October 🕚

This weekend our Information Barn and Café will be open:

🍂Saturday: 11am to 5pm
🍂Sunday: 11am to 5pm

Public toilets (including our Changing Places facility) are open from 11am-5pm both days.

We're also open during the week from 9am-5pm (Mon-Thurs) and 9am-4.30pm (Fridays). Last orders in the café 15 minutes before closing!

As always, A BIG THANK YOU to all the volunteers who make opening up at the weekends possible - we couldn't do it without you! 🙏

🍦We serve fresh coffee (caff & decaff) and a range of teas.
🍦Why not try a slice of fresh cake? GF and vegan options available.
🍦Now selling Jude's Ice Cream! ✨

🎃Get into the seasonal spirit with a cinnamon latte! 🎃
(Sugar-free vanilla also available) ☕

Where to find us:
Ashdown Forest Centre, Colemans Hatch Road, Wych Cross, East Sussex, RH18 5JP

What3Words: career.discusses.scribble
Parking charges apply - pay at machine or by cash/card in the café. Annual & discounted permits available. Blue badge holders park free.

First photo by Craig Payne 📸

14/10/2026

"...and by and by they came to an enchanted place on the very top of the Forest called Galleons Lap"

Happy 100th birthday to the first Winnie-the-Pooh book written by AA Milne and illustrated by EH Shepard - what a gift to the world!

In the words of the real Christopher Robin Milne: “Pooh’s Forest and Ashdown Forest are identical".

Visit the memorial to Milne & Shepard by following the Dormouse Dawdle walk from Gills Lap car park. Pick up a free map from the Forest Centre or access a digital route map at https://ashdownforest.org/the-big-one-hundred-walking-trails/



Image: E.H. Shepard line drawing provided courtesy of Wikimedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence
Photos of Wrens Warren valley (Eyeore's Gloomy Place & the North Pole) and the path to the Enchanted Place at Gills Lap courtesy of Craig Payne Photography

13/10/2026

Beautiful and poignant words from Her Majesty the Queen, shared on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the publication of the first Winnie-the-Pooh book. Recorded on the day that the Queen visited Ashdown Forest on 7th July 2026.

13/10/2026

🦌 As the deer rutting season begins, you might have noticed an increased level of movement as the deer make their way to their traditional rutting sites. They are most active around the morning and evening rush hour, meaning there is an increased risk of collisions with vehicles. However, deer movement can happen at any time of day, so caution is always needed.

Please drive carefully and anticipate that deer could appear at any moment. Be aware that more deer may be following behind... 🦌🦌🦌

In the unfortunate event that your vehicle hits a deer, here's what to do:

- If the deer is alive and either in the road or could go back onto the road, please call 999 and ask for the Police. Sussex Police co-ordinate the deer warden scheme, so by calling 999, the Police will despatch the closest warden.

- If the deer is alive but injured and unlikely to go back into the road, please call 101 and police will contact the closest deer warden.

- If the deer is dead but causing a road obstruction, also call 999.

- If the deer is dead but not in the carriageway, please contact Wealden District Council for collection: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/dead-animals/

Movement of deer will increase over the next couple of months so please take care on the roads.

Thank you.

09/10/2026

⚠️ Winter works update 🚜

In addition to the works currently being undertaken at Duddleswell, over the next week contractors will start working in two more areas of the Forest. These include near Crow and Gate (north of the A26) and King's Standing (off the B2026 near the police training centre).

These areas will be focusing on removing over mature gorse and birch/pine scrub which is dominating the open heathland habitat.

If you are in this area, please observe safety signage and find alternative routes while the work is being completed. Thank you!

Ashdown Forest Riding Association

09/10/2026

🕚 Opening times at the Forest Centre this weekend: 10th - 11th October 🕚

This weekend our Information Barn and Café will be open:

🍁Saturday: 11am to 5pm
🍁Sunday: 11am to 2pm

Public toilets (including our Changing Places facility) are open from 11am-5pm both days.

We're also open during the week from 9am-5pm (Mon-Thurs) and 9am-4.30pm (Fridays). Last orders in the café 15 minutes before closing!

As always, A BIG THANK YOU to all the volunteers who make opening up at the weekends possible - we couldn't do it without you! 🙏

🍦We serve fresh coffee (caff & decaff) and a range of teas.
🍦Why not try a slice of fresh cake? GF and vegan options available.
🍦Now selling Jude's Ice Cream! ✨

🎃Get into the seasonal spirit with a cinnamon latte! 🎃
(Sugar-free vanilla syrup also available) ☕

Where to find us:
Ashdown Forest Centre, Colemans Hatch Road, Wych Cross, East Sussex, RH18 5JP
What3Words: career.discusses.scribble
Parking charges apply - pay at machine or by cash/card in the café. Annual & discounted permits available. Blue badge holders park free

02/10/2026

❗Reminder: Model Aircraft Competition, Sunday 4th October❗

This Sunday (4th October) between 9am-6pm, the BMFA will be running a model aircraft competition.

A map of the general flying area is posted on our website's News page: https://ashdownforest.org/bmfa-flying-competition-dates.../

We do not know the exact start location of each competition as it is dependent on the wind on the day. There will be signs on all riding routes leading to the area, which will be put up by the BMFA prior to the start.

Ashdown Forest Riding Association

On the below dates in 2026, British Model Flying Association competitions are scheduled to take place in the designated flying areas: (All Sundays) 22nd March 26th April 7th June 28th June 26th July 16th August 4th October Download a copy of the designated flight area map If you have a question, ple...