Around the Weald
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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

26 sightings · coarse locations

High Weald, Sussex

Approximate locations shown

Rosemary Beetle

Forest Row RH18 5BN, UK

Speckled Wood

Broadstone Court, Forest Row, England, GB

Beautiful Demoiselle

Warren Heights, Forest Row, England, GB

Beautiful Demoiselle

Warren Heights, Forest Row, England, GB

Common Blue Damselfly

Ashdown Forest, Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

Dunnock

Ashdown Forest, Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

Bell Heather

Ashdown Forest, Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

Silver-studded Blue

Ashdown Forest, Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

Common Buzzard

Ashdown Forest, Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

Eurasian Skylark

Ashdown Forest, Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

Sweet Chestnut

Forest Row

Brown Oak Tortrix

The Bluebells, Forest Row, England, GB

Four-spotted Cave Ichneumon

The Bluebells, Forest Row, England, GB

Common Spotted Orchid

The Bluebells, Forest Row, England, GB

Sloe Bug

The Bluebells, Forest Row, England, GB

Tutsan

Broadstone, Forest Row, England, GB

Common Gilled Mushrooms and Allies

Oak Gables, Forest Row, England, GB

Cepaea

The Bluebells, Forest Row, England, GB

heath spotted orchid

The Conservators of Ashdown Forest, Wych Cross RH18 5JP, UK

heath spotted orchid

The Conservators of Ashdown Forest, Wych Cross RH18 5JP, UK

heath spotted orchid

The Conservators of Ashdown Forest, Wych Cross RH18 5JP, UK

Gymnadenia subg. Gymnadenia

The Conservators of Ashdown Forest, Wych Cross RH18 5JP, UK

round-leaved sundew

Hartfield TN7 4JG, UK

round-leaved sundew

Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

round-leaved sundew

Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

heath spotted orchid

Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

Locations are approximate to protect wildlife

Recent Sightings

Wildlife spotted in and around Ashdown Forest

Filter:
30 sightings
Rosemary Beetle
iNaturalist

Rosemary Beetle

Chrysolina americana

Forest Row RH18 5BN, UK

Chris Leeming

Speckled Wood
iNaturalist

Speckled Wood

Pararge aegeria

Broadstone Court, Forest Row, England, GB

richardtfr

Beautiful Demoiselle
iNaturalist

Beautiful Demoiselle

Calopteryx virgo

Warren Heights, Forest Row, England, GB

richardtfr

Beautiful Demoiselle
iNaturalist

Beautiful Demoiselle

Calopteryx virgo

Warren Heights, Forest Row, England, GB

richardtfr

Ichneumonini
iNaturalist

Ichneumonini

Ichneumonini

Wretham House, Forest Row, England, GB

jefftwentyman

Common Blue Damselfly
iNaturalist

Common Blue Damselfly

Enallagma cyathigerum

Ashdown Forest, Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

Marie Tarrant

Dunnock
iNaturalist

Dunnock

Prunella modularis

Ashdown Forest, Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

Marie Tarrant

Bell Heather
iNaturalist

Bell Heather

Erica cinerea

Ashdown Forest, Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP, UK

Marie Tarrant

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