Winnie the Pooh Country
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Site of Special Scientific Interest, and a Special Protection Area for Birds, Ashdown Forest is the single largest tract of open land in the South East. Once a royal hunting ground, it is now one of the few remaining areas of lowland heath left in Europe. This heathland was originally created when the woodlands were cut for charcoal for the once prosperous Iron Industry. A walker’s paradise, visitors are free to walk wherever they like over the 6,500 acres of the Forest. There are over fifty free car parks, many with picnic tables.
There are stunning views both to the South Downs and the High Weald particularly from the ‘Four Counties’ car park. Whatever the season, from the green of spring to the purple hues of the flowering heather in late summer the forest is a beautiful place to visit. Over the years the Forest has provided the setting and inspiration for many a story including some of the Sherlock Holmes novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, whilst AA Milne captured the imagination of children across the world by writing about his son, Christopher Robin and his friendship with a certain Pooh Bear.
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