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Wildlife Area

Ashdown Forest

An ancient area of heathland and woodland in the centre of the High Weald. Home to deer, rare birds and diverse flora.

Ashdown Forest is one of the largest free public access spaces in the South East, covering over 6,500 acres of heathland, woodland and valleys. A designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Protection Area, it supports an extraordinary range of wildlife including Dartford warblers, nightjars, woodlarks, fallow deer, adders and a rich diversity of butterflies and dragonflies.

The forest is best known as the inspiration for A.A. Milne's Hundred Acre Wood, but for naturalists it's a treasure trove of lowland heath — one of Europe's rarest habitats. Below are recent wildlife sightings from the area.

Sightings in Ashdown Forest

30 sightings · coarse locations

High Weald, Sussex

Approximate locations shown

Common Buzzard

Uckfield, England, GB

European Wood Mouse

The Bluebells, Forest Row, England, GB

birch polypore

Coleman's Hatch, Hartfield TN7 4ER, UK

Long-bodied Cellar Spider

The Bluebells, Forest Row, England, GB

Common Slowworm

The Bluebells, Forest Row, England, GB

Azure Damselfly

Vanguard Way, Forest Row, England, GB

Azure Damselfly

Vanguard Way, Hartfield, England, GB

Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion and Salsify Tribe

Vanguard Way, Hartfield, England, GB

Hairy Hawkbit

Hartfield, England, GB

Barred Grass Snake

Forest Row, England, GB

Lime Hawkmoth

Upper Close, Forest Row RH18 5DY, UK

common earthball

Forest Row, England, GB

common hedge-nettle

High Weald AONB, Forest Row, England, GB

Gatekeeper

East Sussex, UK

Common Shrew

High Weald AONB, Forest Row, England, GB

Meadow Brown

The Bluebells, Forest Row, England, GB

Common Brimstone

The Bluebells, Forest Row, England, GB

Artist's Brackets, Reishi, and Allies

Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

Stereaceae

Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

slime molds

Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

Viviparous Lizard

Forest Row, England, GB

Black Stone Flower

Hartfield, England, GB

birch polypore

Forest Row, England, GB

King Alfred's Cakes

East Sussex, England, GB

Beautiful Demoiselle

Hartfield, England, GB

King Alfred's Cakes

Hartfield, England, GB

Daedaleopsis confragosa confragosa

East Sussex, England, GB

Bell Heather

Forest Row, England, GB

Cross-leaved Heath

Forest Row, England, GB

common earthball

Forest Row, England, GB

Locations are approximate to protect wildlife

Recent Sightings

Wildlife spotted in and around Ashdown Forest

Filter:
30 sightings
Common Buzzard
iNaturalist

Common Buzzard

Buteo buteo

Uckfield, England, GB

june!

European Wood Mouse
iNaturalist

European Wood Mouse

Apodemus sylvaticus

The Bluebells, Forest Row, England, GB

richardtfr

birch polypore
iNaturalist

birch polypore

Fomitopsis betulina

Coleman's Hatch, Hartfield TN7 4ER, UK

Ben Griffiths

Long-bodied Cellar Spider
iNaturalist

Long-bodied Cellar Spider

Pholcus phalangioides

The Bluebells, Forest Row, England, GB

richardtfr

Common Slowworm
iNaturalist

Common Slowworm

Anguis fragilis

The Bluebells, Forest Row, England, GB

richardtfr

Azure Damselfly
iNaturalist

Azure Damselfly

Coenagrion puella

Vanguard Way, Forest Row, England, GB

Richard Seltzer

Azure Damselfly
iNaturalist

Azure Damselfly

Coenagrion puella

Vanguard Way, Hartfield, England, GB

Richard Seltzer

Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion and Salsify Tribe
iNaturalist

Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion and Salsify Tribe

Cichorieae

Vanguard Way, Hartfield, England, GB

Richard Seltzer

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