Welcome
Covering over 10 square miles, Ashdown Forest is one of the largest open access areas in Southeast England. Situated within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, its lowland heathland and deciduous woodland habitats are home to many rare and threatened species.
A registered charity, the Ashdown Forest Foundation was set up in 2019 to raise vital funds to help protect this jewel in the crown of the Sussex landscape for current and future generations.
TV and radio presenter Katie Derham shares her view on the importance of protecting this very special location.
What we do
Our mission is to raise awareness and funds to conserve and enhance the Forest for enjoyment, education, health, and recreation for now and generations to come.
Known to millions as the magical landscape that inspired one of the world’s best loved children’s stories, Winnie-the-Pooh, without your help Ashdown Forest as we know and love it will not survive. We invite you to help us preserve and enhance this beautiful Forest for all, for the future.
How to support us
There are many ways to support The Ashdown Forest Foundation, from individual or corporate donations to gifts in memory; from setting up a long-term legacy gift to taking part in the weekly Wealden lottery. Or perhaps you would like to donate your time as a volunteer?
In whatever way you choose to support us, no matter how big or small your gift, your contribution will play a vital role in helping to increase and protect this rare lowland heathland habitat and its endangered wildlife, to improve biodiversity and bio-abundance, and to conserve this beautiful landscape for public enjoyment and recreation, raising the quality of life and well-being in the community.
Thank you to Craig Payne for creating a stunning exhibition of photographs in support of Ashdown Forest
Between November 2024 and April 2025, the Ashdown Forest Centre hosted an exhibition of stunning new photographs by local photographer Craig Payne. Marking the second anniversary of the publication of his celebrated book Through the Seasons, the exhibition displayed a new collection of never-before-seen photographs of Ashdown Forest captured by Craig over the last year.
Prints of the photos were available to order, with 50% of profits directly supporting the Foundation. Copies of Craig’s book and a selection of beautiful greetings cards are still available to buy in the Visitor Centre shop. The Foundation would like to extend our warmest thanks to Craig for his extensive support for the Forest and his enthusiasm for helping raise funds for the Foundation – thank you, Craig!
