Ashdown Forest

02/06/2026

✅ Repair work - complete ✅

Four car park accesses and three car park surfaces received major repair/improvement works last week 🛠

Further car park improvement works will be scheduled in the future.

Car parks photographed: Box (2 entrances), Friends and King Standing.

01/06/2026

🫶 It’s Volunteers Week! 💫

We thought we’d press pause to observe this National Volunteers Week, and to thank our many wonderful volunteers for their year-round hard work and dedication to both vital conservation tasks, and to providing support for our many visitors, both local and international.

For many, this has required multiple training sessions, and for others, hours of outdoor work. We’re immensely grateful to you all, who each bring a different set of skills and who we hope will continue to enjoy this thriving community 🌍

Thank you, thank you, thank you! ✨

Could volunteering right be for you? Check out available roles online, and apply today:
https://ashdownforest.org/volunteer-with-us/

(You must be 18, and some roles have additional requirements).

Got a question? 📩
Drop us a line via [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!

Information Barn Volunteer Join our friendly team of Information Barn Volunteers, and support our conservation efforts by keeping our historic Visitor Centre open to the public. The ideal applicant will have a can-do attitude, enjoy learning new things and helping others. Whether serving refreshment...

29/05/2026

📌 Weekend Opening Hours 📌

This weekend (Saturday 30th - Sunday 31st May), our Information Barn and café will be closed due to limited staff availability.

If you have an enquiry, please leave us an email, and our office team will pick it up as soon as possible next week.

We apologise for any inconvenience to your plans, and thank you for your understanding.

🪷Our outdoor picnic area and public toilets will remain accessible from 11am-5pm .

29/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who has called in regarding new born lambs in the grazing enclosure.

We encourage any continued sightings to be reported in the same way 🐑

❗NEWBORN LAMBS ❗

There have been a number of lambs born in the Commoners' Grazing Enclosure.

If you see any young lambs in the grazing enclosure, please...

● Don't touch them, or try to pick them up.
● Leave them exactly where they are.
● Phone 01342 823583 (option 7)

We will pass the information to the owner straight away, who will collect the lambs and their mums.
These ewes were not known to be pregnant! 🤨

Please ensure that all dogs are under close control (preferably on a lead) in the Grazing Enclosure.

28/05/2026

🐏Grazing Update🐏

Our first group of sheep are out on the Forest at Kennedy Clump...🐏

●Pink = Kennedy Clump 🐏
●Green = Reservoir 🐎
●Turquoise = Churlwood car park
●Blue = Reservoir car park
●Red = A275

📌The enclosure is situated at the top of the A275, opposite Reservoir grazing enclosure, and is electrically fenced.

To find out more about the location of all livestock grazing on Ashdown Forest, see the maps below and also on our website at https://ashdownforest.org/grazing-status/ where you'll also find a video with more information about our NoFence virtual grazing system.

🐾 As always, please keep dogs under close control around livestock 🐾

For more on how to enjoy Ashdown Forest with your dog, download our new code of conduct guide here - https://ashdownforest.org/dog-walking/ - or pick one up at the Forest Centre at Wych Cross.

Forest Riding Association

27/05/2026

Fire chiefs are urging people to take care in the countryside as wildfire risk rises during the heatwave.

More here: https://bbc.in/4f5JH1V

26/05/2026

🎟️ Tickets for The Big One Hundred at Ashdown Forest are on sale now! 🎟️

Join us at Ashdown Forest on 18–19 July for The Big One Hundred, a weekend of adventure, creativity and discovery for the whole family.

This year, we’ll be introducing a brand new character inspired by the landscape, wildlife and special species that call the Forest home. Expect performances, workshops, interactive activities and plenty of opportunities to explore and play together.

Families are invited to take part in activities and learning more about the Forest - complete them all and become an official Ashdown Explorer!

Click the link below to get your tickets, but be quick - availability is limited!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-big-one-hundred-at-ashdown-forest-tickets-1990000191141?aff=oddtdtcreator

Can’t make it to Ashdown Forest? The Big One Hundred will also be touring across Wealden this summer:

📍 Hailsham Town Centre: 26 July
📍 Sheffield Park and Garden: 1 August
📍 Weald on the Field in Uckfield: 8 August
📍 Herstmonceux Castle: 22–23 August

Find out more and book tickets here:
thebigonehundred.co.uk

25/05/2026

Half term is here! Have you got plans to keep your 5-12 year olds busy and having fun? 😀

Join us for Wild Wednesday on the Forest and learn all about the world of amphibians! 🐸

Come again for Nature Thursday and discover Ashdown Forest’s reptiles and find out why they love the heat so much. 🦎

Located at the Forest Centre in Wych Cross, both sessions run from 10am to midday and cost just £10 per child (to be accompanied by an adult, parking is included).

Find out more and book here for Weds: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wild-wednesdays-tickets-1979717809260

And here for Thurs: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nature-thursdays-tickets-1979660118706

Last few tickets remaining - see you there! 👋

📷 Photo of a common lizard on Ashdown Forest courtesy of Dan Graeme

23/05/2026

It’s going to be a scorcher this weekend…

Are you ?

Please read this important advice from East Sussex Fire and Rescue…

Thank you! 🙏