FORTHCOMING FRIENDS’ EVENTS Editorial: Paul Cooper, [email protected] ISSUE NO 14 AUTUMN/WINTER 2012 Design and production: Studio 4, [email protected] Thursday 8th November 2012 - Members’ Annual General Meeting Photography: Simon Aguss (High Weald AONB Unit), 8.00 p.m. at Nutley War Memorial Hall. Paul Cooper, Iain Faulkner, Chris Marrable. ASHDOWN FOREST Only printed on paper from sustainable forests. Wednesday 13th March 2013 - The Natural History of the Ashdown Forest All paper used is FSC Certified and produced only at mills holding ISO 14001 certification. Celebrating over 125 years of care for the Forest www.ashdownforest.org 8.00 p.m. at Crowborough Community Centre, Pine Grove, Crowborough Ranger Rich Allum has worked on the Forest since 2005 and is the South Chase Ranger. We are grateful to Natural England for supporting Ashdown Forest Life. This is an opportunity to learn what it is that makes this area so special. life Sunday 21st April 2013 - A Bird Walk on the Ashdown Forest 9.00 a.m. location to be decided This site is part of the European Natura 2000 Network. It has been designated because it hosts some of Europe’s most Members of the Ashdown Forest Bird Group will lead us as they point out birds that can be seen and threatened species and habitats. All 27 countries of the EU are heard that morning. Please note the start of this walk will be decided in the days before the walk. working together through the Network 2000 Network to safeguard Please let Pat Arnold know your email address or phone her shortly beforehand for details. Europe's rich and diverse natural heritage for the benefit of all. See www.natura.org. Sunday 19th May 2013- A Friends Walk on the Ashdown Forest 10.00 a.m. from Long car park. We will explore the Vachery Gardens, Braeberry Ponds and the plot of land at Chelwood Gate purchased by The Friends in 2012. The walk will be about 4 miles and take 2 to 3 hours. Please bring stout footwear and suitable protective clothing. WELCOME FROM OUR NEW DIRECTOR Thursday 30th May 2013 - Bats and the work of the Sussex Bat Hospital THE CONSERVATORS OF ASHDOWN FOREST SHEEP NEWS Ashdown Forest Centre, Wych Cross, Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5JP 2.30 p.m. at the Ashdown Forest Centre Education Barn T: 01342 823583 E: [email protected] THE THREATENED HABITATS OF THE FOREST Jenny Clark will give us an insight into her work with the hospital and bring some bats to show us. www.ashdownforest.org This event is free for members and accompanying children although, as places are limited, booking DOGS AND THE FOREST Follow news on the Forest via Facebook and Twitter! is essential. A retiring collection will be made, the proceeds going to the bat hospital. NEWS Please note all events other than the meetings at Nutley and Crowborough must be pre-booked. For further DIARY DATES information and to book a place on any of the above events, which are free to members (£5 for non-members or join on the day), please contact Pat Arnold on 01892 611414 or email : [email protected]. Cover - A Friends' walk setting out from the Forest Centre The sheep and cattle (inset) have Welcome enjoyed excellent grazing this summer. I find it hard to range of programmes and projects, latterly with been working with the Board, the newly formed Forest believe that I will a focus on heritage, families, young people, Centre Development Committee and the staff team, to Sheep news have already been partnerships and education. thoroughly investigate all the options available to us The very wet summer has meant that there was a huge in my post for 6 in order to ensure we continue to provide first class growth of grass this year, and our Hebridean sheep flock months – the days So, what have I been doing since the 1st May? Firstly, management and protection of the Forest, as well as and the Highland bullocks have had a good summer. One have just flown by getting to know the staff team, the Conservators, and conserving ‘it as a quiet and natural area of ewe had her ear torn off by an uncontrolled dog, which is and, as Ros said in our volunteers - what a great team we have; outstanding beauty’ for both current and completely unacceptable, but otherwise we have escaped the last edition, experienced, knowledgeable, hardworking and future generations. without major incidents. I can confirm that passionate about the Forest. Secondly, getting to know no two days have the Forest. Although I have lived in Wealden for many For a number of reasons this is a period of The Highland cattle will go home for the winter and the been the same! years and visited the Forest on many occasions with my uncertainty and potential change – I hope that Hebridean sheep flock comes off the heath to winter on It has been a children, grandchildren and visitors, I can honestly say by the next edition I will be able to update you on grasslands around the Forest. We still lack any proper base pleasure to meet so many of you here at the Forest that I have since been to places I never knew existed some definite plans for the future both regarding for our grazing enterprise so if you know of any unused yardage or buildings we would be interested, preferably Centre and at various Forest events and activities - (and I have barely explored yet) – it is truly a unique the Forest Centre development and other with accommodation for staff. thank you for your warm welcome. and magical place whatever the weather! Thirdly, programmes of work. I have been making contact with key individuals, A little bit about my background – I have lived in groups and organisations to explore the issues A plea before signing off! We are always looking to East Sussex for nearly 40 years, firstly in Chiddingly affecting us both now and, in this uncertain world, extend our volunteer team – we have a range of and for the last 35 years in Warbleton, near in the future – the forming of strong partnerships opportunities available and some new ideas in the Heathfield. Until my post was made redundant in and co-operative working have to be a significant pipeline so, if you are interested in supporting us with January this year I worked for over 20 years for element in any future planning. a few hours of your time, then do please get in touch Action in Rural Sussex ( AirS) – a medium sized, with Tracy at the Forest Centre. rural community development charity, employing some Many of you will be aware that much of my time 40 staff across East and West Sussex. During my time has been taken up with meetings and discussions Pat Buesnel, Director there I developed, worked on and managed a wide regarding future Forest Centre development. I have [email protected] The threatened habitats of Ashdown Forest Ashdown Forest is all common land and the Board of Conservators is responsible for managing it. The Board was first established in 1887 to protect the rights of the Commoners and establish the Bye- laws. The Forest is actually owned by the Ashdown Forest Trust for the benefit of the public and was set up when Earl De La Warr decided to sell the Forest in 1988. The Forest is part of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is included within the European Natura HEATHLAND 2000 Network because it hosts some of Europe’s most Heathland plant species frequently adapted to thrive under the Commoners’ farming system. Bracken, threatened species and habitats. almost certainly the most frequent species on the whole Forest, was managed by the Commoners as a straw substitute. Once it was no longer cut and collected, it spread. It expanded further due to arson fires The High Weald is one of the most wooded areas in the UK which suppressed competing vegetation. but, over the centuries, the Commoners on the Forest have maintained areas of heathland through a combination of Gorse, protected by its spikes, spreads especially where the ground is disturbed. Unlike bracken, it has a firewood collection, grazing, bracken cutting and burning. high wildlife value in its younger stages, supporting species such as the Dartford warbler. Gorse is a Today, the Forest is made up of around 1000 hectares of ‘legume’, compensating for the infertile Forest soils by collecting nitrogen directly from the surroundings. woodland and 1500 hectares of heathland. This heathland is There are two species on the Forest; the tough European gorse and the softer and more delicate dwarf one of the rarest habitats in Britain and the conservation work gorse. Though somewhat protected by its spikes, gorse would have been an important nutritious food for carried out by the Conservators and their team of dedicated the Commoners’ animals in the winter. staff and volunteers, is vital for its survival. The Conservators depend on grant funding and support from outside sources Gorse and bracken both prefer a somewhat drier habitat where they are joined by plants such as bell such as the Society of the Friends of Ashdown Forest. heather, heath milkwort and sheep’s sorrel. Other species thrive only because grazing animals help to suppress surrounding vegetation. Marsh orchids and marsh gentians cannot usually compete with the As well as the heathland, the Forest has 2 other main habitats; ubiquitous purple moor grass but survive very well when sheep and cattle graze the grass down to a less woodland and wet heath or bog, which support their own competitive level.