Welcome to our final newsletter of 2025!
It’s been a busy year on the Forest and – thanks in no small part to supporters like you – we are proud to have been able to help the Forest t4am to deliver a number of significant projects.
Community Projects
The Foundation has helped provide funding for the Forest Centre’s new gateway, which apart from being a great welcome to the Forest, it is part of an on-going project to improve access (see more below). In the summer, we raised funds to enable the Education team to work with more young people who are learning practical conservation skills out on the Forest.
Conservation & Forest Team Support
Behind the scenes, we’ve provided new office equipment for the team as well as funding new uniforms. The Foundation has also continues to directly fund conservation projects such as the Dartmoor pony grazing scheme, which plays a huge part in maintaining the Forest landscape and habitats for endangered species.
Your continued support helps us to care for the magical landscape on Ashdown Forest, and keeps it open and accessible for everyone. Thank you. As we move into 2026, keep your eye out for new events and projects across the Forest as, inspired by Winnie-the-Pooh’s 100th birthday this December, we look at how we can support the conservation of the Forest for the next 100 years.
And finally, it’s time to wish …
Happy birthday to Winnie-the-Pooh on the 24th December
and a Merry Christmas and Happy & Healthy New Year to you all
on behalf of The Ashdown Forest Foundation Team
Robin St Clair Jones, Chair & Trustee
Help Improve Access for Everyone on Ashdown Forest
This New Year, The Ashdown Forest team wants to make the Forest more accessible with all-weather trails, so that more people can benefit from spending time in nature, and you can help make this happen.
Everyone knows how good it feels to spend time in the Great Outdoors, hearing the sounds of nature all around us, breathing in the fresh scent of trees or flowers, and letting our eyes rest on the far horizon. It opens our lungs, calms our minds and gives us space to think and feel.
Ashdown Forest provides all of this, and more; and this walkways project will make it possible for everyone to experience.
The team has already updated the facilities and access at the Forest Centre with funding support from The Friends of Ashdown Forest and the High Weald National Landscape Partnership. This included the new gateway and accessible entranceway via a new ramp and deck to the Forest Centre, and importantly a Changing Places accessible toilet.
The next stage is to do the same for the Forest itself, creating two new all-weather trails to improve access for everyone who struggles to walk because of uneven ground.
Path 1 connects the new Forest Centre gateway with two nearby car parks, as well as diverting a short way into the Forest landscape where you’ll be able to enjoy a truly spectacular view.
Path 2 improves access to the A.A. Milne memorial and connects walkers to some important places for our favourite bear; not forgetting to the equally beautiful views along this ridge. Now anyone can take a moment to sit and breathe and perhaps have creative inspiration strike!
Funding Goal: £10,000
We hope that you will join us in giving more people the opportunity to see and experience the wonders of nature on Ashdown Forest. Please support this project today and help us reach our target of raising £10,000 towards this important work.
