The Ashdown Forest Foundation

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The Ashdown Forest Foundation

The Ashdown Forest Foundation is the charitable arm of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest. We are growing! Do you have a couple of hours a month to volunteer?

The Ashdown Forest Foundation aims to protect the Forest for future generations through engagement, education and philanthropy. Make interesting new friends and contribute your skills to committees for event planning, grant writing, and more. Please drop a line to learn more and tell us about your skills and experience to [email protected]. Charity Number: 1183829
Company Number: 11624110
A Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee.

02/09/2026

BUY A PIECE OF ART AND HELP SUPPORT ASHDOWN FOREST!

STUDIO 1 — ASHDOWN FOREST CENTRE

And finally, we’re back where we started with Studio 1 — but this one is a little different!

Throughout the Ashdown Forest Open Studios weekend, the Ashdown Forest Centre will be hosting a special exhibition featuring work generously donated by a selection of our participating artists. A small selection of these pieces can be seen above.

And the exciting bit? Every piece is going up for auction!

Our online art auction goes live on 4th September, giving you the opportunity to bid on an original piece of art while also supporting the landscape that has inspired so many of the artists taking part in this year’s Open Studios.

100% of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Ashdown Forest Foundation.

The donated artworks will be on display at the Ashdown Forest Centre throughout the Open Studios weekend, so do pop in and see them in person before deciding which one might need to come home with you!

Ashdown Forest Centre
📅 5th & 6th September
⏰ 10am–5pm

Studios 2 - 20
📅 4th, 5th & 6th September
⏰ 10am–5pm

See it. Love it. Bid on it. Support the Forest.

Visit Studio 1 at the Ashdown Forest Centre to see all the donated artworks in person, then simply scan the QR code in this post to visit the online auction.

You can also find the auction through the link in the comments.

Save this post, share it with your art-loving friends and get ready to bid from 4th September!

28/08/2026

Our partners The East Grinstead Bookshop have some brilliant events coming up to celebrate 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh.

Join Neil Reed, owner of Pooh Corner, on Wednesday 2nd September, as he shares his insights into the little-known world of Daphne Milne, wife of A. A. Milne and mother of Christopher Robin.

You can find out more about this and other upcoming events at http://www.eastgrinsteadbookshop.co.uk

The Bookshop
Ashdown Forest
Pooh Corner Hartfield

27/08/2026

The first Ashdown Forest Open Studios is coming soon! Artists at 20 venues around the Forest are opening their doors on the 4th, 5th and 6th September.

Join us at The Ashdown Forest Centre on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September for a special exhibition and a chance to bid for artworks in our silent auction!

Find out more: http://www.ashdownforestopenstudios.co.uk

Ashdown Forest
Ashdown Forest Open Studios

26/08/2026

Last few tickets still available for Cotchford Farm Open Garden on Sunday 13th September (Saturday tickets are now sold out!).

Join us for an exclusive final chance to explore the magical grounds of A. A. Milne's home, where so many wonderful stories began; and celebrate 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh together.

Get your tickets now at:
https://theashdownforestfoundation.beaconforms.com/form/54835de2

Cotchford Farm
Ashdown Forest

20/08/2026

👉 You can be a hero in The Next Chapter of Ashdown Forest's story.

Donations to our Crowdfunder are being DOUBLED right now!

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ashdown-forest-the-next-chapter #

Help support the Forest's conservation grazing programme and restore this iconic landscape.

These beautiful grazing animals can often be seen working on the Forest! Alongside the Conservation team, they play a hugely important role in managing invasive plant species and restoring habitats for the Forest's rare birds and animals.

The mix of ponies, sheep and cattle means that different plant species can be managed across the Forest's varied landscape, without the invasive use of heavy machinery. And, of course, the animals love to spend their days grazing in this open landscape!

Your support helps the Forest's grazing team to ensure they are healthy, happy and able to reach the places where they are most needed.

Please donate today and help support the future of Ashdown Forest.

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ashdown-forest-the-next-chapter #

18/08/2026

👉 You can be a hero in The Next Chapter of Ashdown Forest's story.

Donations to our Crowdfunder are being DOUBLED right now!

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ashdown-forest-the-next-chapter #

Your support means we can do more to protect our iconic Forest birds like the Nightjar, Dartford warbler and Honey-buzzard.

Ashdown Forest is known for its protected bird species, and recent conservation successes like increased populations of ground-nesting birds, and this year's wonderful Honey-buzzard nestcam.

Birds like the Nightjar and Dartford warbler rely on low-growing native heathland plants to help protect their nests. This, though, makes them vulnerable to danger including human activity, predators and wildfires.

The Forest teams are working to restore habitats for these endangered birds and to prevent threats such as wildfires. This hugely important conservation work needs your support to continue.

Please donate today and help support the future of Ashdown Forest.

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ashdown-forest-the-next-chapter #

16/08/2026

Donations to our Crowdfunder are being DOUBLED right now!

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ashdown-forest-the-next-chapter #

👉 You can be a hero in The Next Chapter of Ashdown Forest's story.

Your support means we can do more to protect amazing Forest creatures like the (very cute) Hazel dormouse.

This tiny, golden-brown woodland mammal is known for its large dark eyes, delicate whiskers and hidden life among the branches. Active mainly at night, it feeds on flowers, fruits, nuts and insects. Dormice help the Forest by spreading pollen and seeds as they move through trees.

Sadly, dormouse numbers are in serious decline. The loss of ancient woodland and hedgerows is thought to be a major cause, as dormice are reluctant to cross wide, open spaces, leading to isolated populations with reduced genetic diversity and a greater risk of extinction.

Our goal is to restore a sustainable and resilient population of Hazel dormice on Ashdown Forest.

Your support helps the Forest team to manage overgrown scrub and remove invasive plant species that take over dormouse habitats, helping these little creatures to find a place to make their nests and feed.

Together, we can help this little dormouse to thrive. Please donate today and help support the future of Ashdown Forest.

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ashdown-forest-the-next-chapter #

15/08/2026

Last chance to get your tickets for the Wealden Community Lottery's summer SuperDraw.

Every ticket helps support The Ashdown Forest Foundation:
https://www.wealdencommunitylottery.co.uk/support/ashdown-forest-foundation

14/08/2026

Donations to our Crowdfunder are being DOUBLED right now!

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ashdown-forest-the-next-chapter #

👉 You can be a hero in The Next Chapter of Ashdown Forest's story.

Your support means we can do more to protect amazing Forest creatures like the Silver-studded Blue butterfly.

This gorgeous electric-blue butterfly is one of the heathland’s special summer sights, flying from June to late August over open patches of heather. The Silver-studded Blue is named after the tiny silvery-blue reflective “studs” on the underside of its wings.

The Silver-studded Blue is in danger - its habitat is under threat from invasive overgrowth which prevents the low-flying butterfly from finding the open spaces which help it to thrive.

This summer, wildfires raging across the UK are putting species like this at risk, and this week we have entered yet another heatwave that threatens the Forest.

Our teams work tirelessly to manage firebreaks and clear invasive growth to protect the Forest, but they need your help to ensure this vital work continues.

Please donate today and help support the future of Ashdown Forest.

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ashdown-forest-the-next-chapter #

13/08/2026

Enter the Wealden Community Lottery Super Draw this weekend for a chance to win a £2,000 Luxury Holiday or a cash alternative.

50p from every ticket also supports The Foundation when you buy at
https://www.wealdencommunitylottery.co.uk/support/ashdown-forest-foundation

Address

The Ashdown Forest Centre, Colemans Hatch Road
Wych Cross
RH185JP

Telephone

+441342823583

Website

https://ashdownforestfdn.org/

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